When someone dies abroad, the focus is immediately and rightly on the repatriation of the body and the insurance claim. But within hours, families also face a set of practical problems that nobody planned for: a hire car sitting in an airport car park, a rented villa with a week still booked and paid for, or a hotel room full of the deceased’s belongings. These problems have practical and sometimes financial consequences if not handled promptly.
The Hire Car
Notify the Rental Company Immediately
The hire car agreement is a contract between the deceased and the rental company. Death terminates the contract, but the rental company still needs to be informed so the car can be collected and the agreement formally closed. Leaving the car unnotified can result in additional daily charges continuing to accrue, and in some cases the vehicle being reported as abandoned or even as potentially stolen.
Contact the rental company’s customer service line as soon as possible. Provide the rental agreement number and explain the circumstances. Ask them to confirm in writing that the contract is terminated as of the date of death and that no further charges will apply.
Most major international rental companies have bereavement procedures and will waive additional charges on proof of death. Ask explicitly for any additional charges to be waived on compassionate grounds and request a final invoice.
The Insurance Question
Hire cars typically come with Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and, in some countries, Theft Protection. These cover the vehicle but are not life insurance. If the deceased was the sole named driver and the car is now being collected by a family member, ensure that person is either added to the rental agreement by the company or that the company is collecting the vehicle directly. A family member driving an undeclared hire car on their own insurance is taking a risk.
If the deceased took out travel insurance that included a “personal accident” benefit, this has nothing to do with the hire car. But if the hire car was involved in an incident that caused or contributed to the death, the rental company’s liability and the travel insurer’s position become relevant and you should preserve all documentation.
Personal Effects in the Car
The car may contain the deceased’s luggage, documents, medication, or valuables. Before the rental company collects the vehicle, ensure all personal effects are removed. If you cannot be present in person, ask the British Embassy or a local representative (perhaps arranged through the repatriation company) to supervise the return and make an inventory. This protects against later claims that items were lost.
The Rented Villa or Apartment
Notify the Owner or Rental Platform
If the property was booked through a platform such as Airbnb, Vrbo, or Booking.com, contact the platform directly. Most have bereavement policies that allow cancellation without penalty and refund of any prepaid nights not used. Keep a copy of the death certificate (or the Embassy’s consular notification) as this will be required to support the refund request.
For a property booked directly with an owner or management company, write to them formally explaining the circumstances and requesting a refund of prepaid amounts for the unused period. There is no automatic legal entitlement to a refund in most countries, but reasonable owners and management companies will accommodate this. Many rental contracts in popular tourist destinations include a force majeure or exceptional circumstances clause; death of the renting party typically qualifies.
The Deposit
If a damage deposit was paid, request its return in writing once the property has been vacated and inspected. Ensure the property is left in a reasonable condition; a family member, the repatriation company’s local contact, or a neighbour known to the deceased can conduct a brief check-out inspection if an authorised person cannot attend in person.
Personal Effects and Belongings
A rental property may contain significant personal effects including clothing, medication, documents, laptops, passports, and valuables. These form part of the estate of the deceased. Do not leave them behind.
If no family member can travel to collect them, options include:
- Asking the British Embassy to assist with a consular inventory and secure storage (available in some posts but not all)
- Instructing a local solicitor or agent to collect and ship the effects to the UK
- Asking the property owner to hold the effects securely pending collection
Personal effects shipped to the UK are subject to customs rules. Inherited goods brought into the UK by the estate of a deceased person may qualify for import duty relief under HMRC Notice 368 (Transfer of Residence). The shipment must be declared correctly at the Border.
The Hotel Room
Hotels have established procedures for deaths on their premises. The hotel’s duty manager will have notified local police, secured the room, and made an inventory of contents. The room will typically be held off-sale while the investigation is ongoing.
Request a copy of the hotel’s inventory in writing. When the room is cleared, ensure a family representative (or the repatriation company’s local contact) is present or that a hotel staff member signs off the clearance in writing.
Hotels are generally cooperative in bereavement situations and will not charge additional nights after the death if the room is vacated promptly. If the hotel is billing additional nights, this is a matter for the travel insurer (accommodation costs after death may be covered) or for direct dispute with the hotel. The British Embassy can sometimes assist in resolving disputes with local businesses in extreme cases.
Documentation for the Estate
All communications with rental companies, property owners, and hotels should be kept as evidence for the estate administration. Refunded deposits and waived charges may have nominal value as assets or liabilities of the estate. A UK solicitor handling the estate administration will need to account for these.
Keep a running log of every call and email on this topic, including dates, company names, reference numbers, and what was agreed. The estate administration process, particularly for deceased persons with assets or liabilities in multiple countries, benefits considerably from an organised paper trail.
Sources: Association of British Travel Agents, Bereavement and Travel Disruption Guidance, abta.com, 2023. HMRC, Transfer of Residence Relief, Notice 368, gov.uk, 2022. FCDO, When Someone Dies Abroad: Practical Matters, gov.uk, accessed May 2026. Citizens Advice, Your Rights When You’ve Paid in Advance, citizensadvice.org.uk, 2024.