Report the death or bankruptcy of a water resources licence holder
Use this service to tell the Environment Agency about the death or bankruptcy of a water resources licence holder.
Applies to England
When a licence holder declares bankruptcy or dies, their water resource licences become the responsibility of their personal representative.
The personal representative will either be:
- an executor or administrator where the licence holder has died
- a trustee if the licence holder declares bankruptcy
Report a death
If you are an executor of a will, you have 15 months from the date of death to tell the Environment Agency you are the new licence holder.
If you are an administrator, you have 15 months from the date of grant of the letters of administration to tell us you are the new licence holder.
Report a bankruptcy
If you are a trustee in bankruptcy, you have 15 months from the date of the bankruptcy order to tell us you are the new licence holder.
If you do not tell us within 15 months
If you do not tell us within 15 months, the licence will end and we may charge you any amount outstanding on the account. You will have to apply for a new licence if you still need one and there is no guarantee one will be issued, or that it will not be more restrictive.
Change a water abstraction or impoundment licence
You can make further changes to the licence once it becomes your responsibility such as revoking, transferring or varying it.
Before you start
If you’re reporting a death, you need to provide:
- the name of the licence holder
- the licence number
- the date of death
- contact details for all administrators and the date of grant of the letters of administration if the person who died did not leave a will
- contact details for all executors if the person who died left a will
If you’re reporting a bankruptcy, you need to provide:
- the name of the licence holder
- the licence number
- the date when the bankruptcy order was issued
- contact details for all trustees in bankruptcy
The Environment Agency will add the names and addresses of all personal representatives to the water resources licence.
Report online
Get help
For help using this service:
Environment Agency helpline
Email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
Telephone 03708 506 506
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.