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More than 5,000 estates lie unclaimed in UK (Image: Getty)<\/p>\n
Thousands of estates across the UK are currently lying unclaimed<\/a>, totalling an estimated value of nearly \u00a31.5billion.<\/p>\n Records show that as many as 5,472 estates are waiting for heirs nationwide as of February 2026. Legal experts have urged families to check whether they could be entitled to inherit – and make sure their own affairs are in order<\/a> to prevent their estates from suffering the same fates. Richard Bate, a private wealth lawyer at Weightmans,<\/a> said: “Creating a will is more than just a legal necessity; it’s a critical component of financial wellness. Without a clear will, you’re leaving the fate of your assets up to the courts, which can lead to long, stressful disputes among your potential heirs.”<\/p>\n Read more: ‘Inheritance tax change in weeks \u2013 steps to take if you’re at risk of HMRC bill’ <\/a><\/p>\n London tops the list of unclaimed estates, with a staggering 1,612 still awaiting heirs. (Image: Getty)<\/p>\n Experts at Weightmans analysed the areas with the most unclaimed estates. London tops the list with a staggering 1,612 estates still awaiting heirs.<\/p>\n Surrey ranks second with 283, followed by the West Midlands with 253. In total, more than half of the top 20 areas are located in the South of England, highlighting a stark regional divide.<\/p>\n According to Weightmans\u2019 analysis, some of these estates have remained unresolved for decades, with the oldest dating back to 1974.<\/p>\n UK areas with the most unclaimed estates<\/p>\n London – 1,612Surrey – 283West Midlands – 253West Yorkshire – 245Wales – 221Essex – 216Kent – 204Middlesex – 198Hampshire -152East Sussex – 136Hertfordshire – 118Devon – 103Bristol – 81West Sussex – 78Nottinghamshire – 76South Yorkshire – 76Leicestershire – 73Staffordshire – 70Berkshire – 63Dorset – 63Somerset – 61Gloucestershire – 60.<\/p>\n Estates in London that haven\u2019t been claimed could be worth over \u00a31billion, according to Weightmans’ estimates.<\/p>\n With the average house price in the Capital around \u00a3656,000, according to selling figures on Rightmove, unclaimed estates in the area could amount to \u00a31,188,550,980 when joined together with the figures of London and Middlesex.<\/p>\n That figure is 151% higher than the second-ranked region, the South East, where unclaimed estates are estimated at \u00a3473million.<\/p>\n Even in regions with lower property prices, the unclaimed estate figures estimated by Weightmans remain significant. The North East, despite having one of the smallest totals, could still hold more than \u00a325million in unclaimed estates.<\/p>\n Estates in London that haven\u2019t been claimed could be worth over \u00a31billion, according to estimates (Image: Getty)<\/p>\n Why are so many estates going unclaimed?<\/p>\n![\"Street](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/street-view-of-trafalgar-square-6771188.jpg\" "\\"Street")
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