Report the death or bankruptcy of a water resources licence holder

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:

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.

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, 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.

If you’re reporting a death, you need to provide:

If you’re reporting a bankruptcy, you need to provide:

The Environment Agency will add the names and addresses of all personal representatives to the water resources licence.