Let’s imagine you’ve recently inherited a property. On paper, it’s worth around £165,000 — but in reality, it’s tired, dated, and in need of work.

The questions most people ask in this situation:

• Should I do it up and sell it?
• Should I sell the house as it is?
• Should I rent it out and become a landlord?

If you’re searching things like “what to do with an inherited house UK”, “should I renovate before selling”, or “can I let out an inherited property” — this is exactly the decision process you’re going through.

Here are the options you might want to consider:

1. Should I Do Up the House Before Selling?

At first glance, this feels like the obvious route.

If the house is worth £165,000 in its current condition, surely doing it up could push it to £190,000+?

But the reality is more complicated.

The real costs of renovating before selling

To bring a tired property up to a modern standard, you’re likely looking at:

• New kitchen: £5,000–£10,000
• Bathroom: £3,000–£6,000
• Rewiring / boiler upgrades: £3,000–£8,000
• Flooring, plastering, decorating: £5,000+

👉 It’s very easy to spend £20,000–£40,000 before you even list it.

The time factor

• 2–6 months to complete works
• Delays, tradespeople, project management stress
• Ongoing bills during this time (more on that later)

Will you actually make more money?

In the current UK housing market, especially in many North West towns:

• Buyers are price-sensitive
• Mortgage affordability is tighter
• “Done up” doesn’t always mean “premium price”

You might spend £30,000… and only increase the value by £20,000–£25,000.

👉 In some cases, you don’t make significantly more than you spend — you just take on risk and hassle.

When it does make sense

Renovating can work if:

• The property is structurally sound
• It’s in a strong demand area
• You can manage costs tightly

But for many inherited homes, especially older ones, it’s not the straightforward win it seems.

2. Should I Sell the House As It Is?

This is where a lot of people end up — especially if they want a simpler, faster solution.

Why people choose to sell inherited property quickly

Holding onto the property comes with ongoing costs:

• Council tax
• Insurance
• Utilities
• Maintenance
• Empty property risks

👉 Even a few months can cost thousands.

For many, the priority becomes:

• Access cash quickly
• Avoid ongoing costs
• Reduce stress and involvement

Is the property suitable for a mortgage buyer?

This is the key question that affects everything.

If the property IS mortgageable:

• Structurally sound
• Kitchen/bathroom usable
• No major defects

👉 You can sell on the open market to owner occupiers

Pros:

• Higher price potential
• Wider buyer pool

Cons:

• Chains can collapse
• Surveys often down-value or uncover issues
• Sales can take months

If the property is NOT mortgageable:

Common issues:

• Structural problems
• Damp / subsidence
• Non-standard construction
• No working kitchen/bathroom

👉 This limits you to cash buyers / investors

And this is where things change:

• Surveys will highlight issues
• Owner occupiers are put off
• Sales fall through more often

Best ways to sell depending on condition

1. Estate agent (best condition properties)

• Target: owner occupiers
• Priority: best price
• Risk: delays, fall-throughs

2. Auction (distressed properties)

• Target: investors
• Priority: speed + certainty
• Typical outcome: ~70% of market value

3. National Residential (middle ground)

• Target: investors and chain free owner occupiers
• Priority: speed + reliability + stronger price

👉 Typically around 85% of market value, without the uncertainty of auctions.

This is particularly relevant if:

• The property needs work
• You want to avoid months of delays
• You don’t want to manage a renovation

Who is the right buyer for your property?

It comes down to priorities: