Around half of UK Homeowners Don’t Have A Valid Will

For many, writing a Will is something that is put off. Like many important things in life, it is something difficult to consider, especially having to think about what might happen when we are no longer around. People also often believe, wrongly, that writing a Will is complicated or expensive to deal with.

Sadly, we never know what life has in store for us and many of us never get around to this important task, making things so much more difficult and complicated for the loved ones we leave behind.

56% of all UK adults do not have a valid Will in place

In January 2025 the Money & Pensions Service, an ‘arm’s length’ body working with the Government revealed some worrying statistics about the take up of Wills in the UK. They found that 56% of all UK adults do not have a valid Will in place, and perhaps more surprisingly that 22% of over 65s have still not written their Will.

Many people claim they will not make a Will as they believe that they don’t have anything of value to pass on when they die. However, for most of us, a property is the largest and most valuable asset that we will ever own, yet people are still overlooking this fact and do nothing about it when it comes to protecting their assets once they pass away.

Having A Valid Will Is Important For Homeowners

In recent years, the average age of a first-time buyer has risen, proving that it is taking longer for people to own their own property. However, this has meant that many have already made a Will before purchasing their own property. Unfortunately, they then fail to update their Will to accurately reflect this change in circumstances.

This is compounded when people assume that the family home will simply pass on to their descendants, allowing their children on to the property ladder. Failing to address this through a valid Will then causes additional problems at a time of great distress. It also leaves your property open to potential claims from family members you may not wish to benefit from your Estate.

Use a Will to protect your property for your loved ones

A valid Will is a vital legal document that sets out all your wishes for after you have passed away. Many things change in life and much of this can occur after we have written our Wills, meaning that we will need to update it. Despite this, it is imperative that you consider every aspect of your life, your family, friends and your assets when writing your Will. When you pass away your property could be worth a significant amount more than it does now. Not considering what will happen to it when you pass away could cause large problems for your family.