Landord may leave their last flat to their tenant. That set me thinking.

An email arrived this week from a Property118 member who had once managed thirteen properties. They now have just one, and they were replying to our invitation to try the new inheritance and portfolio resilience assessment. With no children and most of the properties already sold, they did not think an assessment about keeping a portfolio in the family was really for them. Fair enough. They explained that much of her estate would go to charities and a couple of nieces and nephews.

Then there was the remaining flat and considering leaving that to the tenant, whom was described as vulnerable.

That was the part which touched me. Here was a landlord thinking about what would happen to the person living in her property after they had gone, and considering giving them the home itself.

My reply thanked them for sharing her plans and congratulated on having made the transition from thirteen properties to one. I hoped they were enjoying the freedom that came with fewer responsibilities. On the thought of leaving the flat to her tenant, these were the words I chose:

It says a great deal about the person behind the property ownership, and the security that could give someone vulnerable would be an extraordinary legacy. It is the sort of kindness that rarely makes the headlines about landlords.

I think that last point deserves saying more often. There is a human story behind every tenancy, and sometimes a short email tells you far more about the people involved than pages of commentary about the private rented sector.

The decision is not final. It is something being considered, and their money and property are theirs to make decisions about. What struck me was the thought she was giving to the people who might benefit. The tenant, relatives and chosen charities all had a place in those thoughts.

We come across quite a few people whose circumstances prompt similar conversations. Some have no children; others have already made provision for their families. After years of building a business and dealing with all the work that entails, they find themselves thinking about what they would like their wealth to achieve once their own needs have been met.

The email also made me think about Property118. I have put a large part of my life into it since founding it in 2009, and I would like its work to carry on long after my involvement has ended.

Regular readers will know why. Somebody asks a question, another member shares an experience, and a discussion develops which can help far more people than those taking part. You may have been one of the quiet readers who found something useful without ever posting a comment. Perhaps a contribution helped you spot a problem, ask your accountant a better question or feel more confident about a decision. That sharing of experience is what I wanted Property118 to encourage from the beginning.

Keeping it available takes money as well as goodwill. There are people doing the work and bills to pay.

Property118 is a privately owned commercial business. We are neither a charity nor a not-for-profit organisation. Alongside our commercial income, we rely heavily on voluntary donations to help provide services to members free of charge. As our support page explains, those contributions help sustain the news, practical information and platform through which members share their knowledge.

That brings me to the thought I would like to put to you. If Property118 has been useful in your life, perhaps helping its work continue is something you might consider when deciding what to leave behind.

It could be a small provision alongside gifts to family, friends and organisations you already support. Your own security and the needs of anyone who depends on you come first, of course. After that, the choice is yours.

A legacy to Property118 would be a gift to the business. It would not receive the inheritance tax exemption available to qualifying charitable legacies, and donations to us do not qualify for Gift Aid. I want anyone considering it to understand that clearly.

If the idea appeals, email me privately. We can explain the work you could help support and provide the company details for your independent lawyer. Any particular conditions on how a gift would be used would need to be discussed and agreed beforehand, with wording that also considers what should happen if the business or its activities change.

I am glad that member took the time to reply. The thought of her tenant possibly becoming the owner of the flat will stay with me, because it is such a personal way of considering another person’s future.

It also prompted a question about my own legacy. I would like someone looking for help years from now to find Property118 still here, with experienced people willing to share what they know. If that is something you would value too, perhaps it deserves a place in your thoughts.

What would you like your money to do after you have gone?