Brits share eight things they don't want to inherit from a loved one

Key takeaways

• Clutter is the most dreaded inheritance, with 29% of Brits saying boxes of belongings and paperwork would feel like a burden.

• Items with ongoing costs (24%), poor-condition property (17%), and mismatched furniture (17%) also rank high on the list.

• Pets (16%) are seen as more inconvenient to inherit than heirlooms (13%) or digital assets like cryptocurrency (11%).

A new survey of 2,000 UK adults reveals that clutter tops the list of unwanted inheritances, with more than a quarter of people (29%) saying boxes of old belongings and paperwork would leave them feeling more burdened than anything else.

The findings highlight a shift in how people view inheritances – as potential responsibilities rather than purely financial gain.

The things people would rather avoid inheriting the most

Aside from clutter, almost a quarter of the country (24%) also says items with ongoing costs are among those they dread most being left in a will, such as belongings that require heavy maintenance or things requiring long-term storage.

More than one in six people (17%) dread inheriting a property in poor condition or furniture that doesn’t match their current home or taste.

Pets more of a problem to inherit than heirlooms

Pets are considered more of an inconvenience to inherit than both family heirlooms (13%) and confusing digital assets, such as cryptocurrency (11%).

One in six Brits (16%) say they would feel burdened by inheriting someone’s pet, with some areas of the UK being more concerned than others.

Plymouth leads the way with one in four residents (25%) saying they would feel unhappy taking on the care of a pet left to them, closely followed by Edinburgh (23%). Liverpool is the least likely to feel burdened if a loved one left them a pet in a will, with just 10% saying it would bother them.

Where in the UK has the most clutter anxiety?

Regionally, the South East has the highest clutter anxiety, with more than a third of people from this region (37%) saying it would be the worst thing to inherit.

Meanwhile, the East Midlands is the most relaxed region about taking on the responsibility for a loved one’s personal belongings (22%); it’s also the region with the highest percentage of people who say nothing about an inheritance would burden them (28%).

When it comes to UK cities, Sheffield is the UK’s most easy-going city when it comes to inheritance worries, with nearly one in three residents (32%) saying nothing would leave them feeling burdened if it was passed down to them.

London sits at the other extreme, where just 17% say the same, making Londoners collectively the most likely to find something left to them in an inheritance unwelcome.

Kara Gammell
Personal Finance & Insurance Expert

The best thing you can leave your loved ones is a plan

Inheritance conversations tend to focus to heavily on what people will gain, but our research shows that the reality can be more complicated.

Taking on a pet, maintaining a property in disrepair or sorting through years of belongings can create both emotional and financial pressure.

That's why it’s important to think carefully about what you are leaving behind, have open conversations while you still can and ensure your will clearly reflects your wishes.

A well-planned will isn’t just about dividing up money; it’s about making things easier for the people you care about most.

While life insurance can’t solve every challenge, it can play an important role in easing the financial impact of these responsibilities - for example by helping loved ones cover urgent costs, manage ongoing bills, or avoid difficult financial decisions at an already emotional time.

It’s about giving your family more flexibility and breathing space when they need it most.

^{Methodology
Survey of 2,000 UK adults conducted by Censuswide on behalf of MoneySuperMarket. All data correct as of April 2026.}