Probate.Auction Launches Property Clinic: Supporting Charities with Challenging Property Assets
June 15, 2026Probate.Auction are launching a new Legacy Property Clinic and referral service, aimed at not just helping ILM members to manage difficult properties, but also supporting the sector at large. The ILM is delighted to be supporting this initiative.
Introducing the Legacy Property Clinic: Supporting Charities with Challenging Property Assets
The charity sector is facing an increasingly complex property landscape.
Legacy teams are often tasked with managing properties that vary significantly in condition, location and marketability. Whilst many properties sell without issue, others can become challenging, time-consuming and resource intensive. Some may have been sitting on the market for many months, others may be unmodernised, subject to leasehold complications, title issues or repeated fall-throughs.
These cases can create frustration for all involved and often leave charities facing difficult decisions around pricing, disposal strategy and the most appropriate route to achieve a successful outcome.
The Legacy Property Clinic was announced following Probate.Auction’s live property auction showcase at the 2026 ILM Annual Conference, where delegates saw first-hand how competitive bidding, transparency and certainty can help deliver positive outcomes for charities.
Building on the discussions and engagement from the conference, Probate.Auction, with the support of ILM, has launched the Legacy Property Clinic.
Matthew Lagden, ILM CEO said: “One of the strengths of the legacy sector is its willingness to share knowledge, embrace innovation and continually look for ways to improve outcomes for charities.
Property remains one of the most significant and sometimes most challenging assets that legacy teams are required to manage. Whilst many cases progress smoothly, there are occasions where additional specialist input can help unlock a route forward.
The Legacy Property Clinic provides ILM members with access to an additional source of expertise when dealing with complex, delayed or difficult property cases. ILM is pleased to support an initiative that is focused on helping charities make informed decisions and achieve the best possible outcomes from their legacy assets.”
Speaking on the inspiration behind the clinic, Nick Kalms, Co-Founder of Probate.Auction said:
“Over the last few years we’ve had the privilege of working with an increasing number of charity legacy teams across the UK. One thing we’ve consistently seen is that some properties simply don’t fit neatly into traditional disposal routes. They can become stuck, delayed or difficult to progress, creating frustration for everyone involved.
The Legacy Property Clinic was created to provide charities with access to specialist advice when those situations arise. It’s not about promoting auction as the answer to every problem; it’s about helping legacy teams understand their options, make informed decisions and ultimately achieve the best possible outcome for the charity.”
From Probate.Auction:
Why We Created the Clinic
Over recent years, Probate.Auction has worked alongside a growing number of charity legacy teams throughout the UK.
Through those relationships, one common theme has emerged: whilst charities have access to excellent professional advisers, there remains a need for a straightforward route through which difficult or underperforming property cases can be reviewed by specialists who understand the unique challenges associated with legacy property disposal.
The Legacy Property Clinic has been created to provide exactly that.
Rather than focusing on a particular method of sale, the clinic has been designed as an advisory service where charities can submit challenging properties for independent review and guidance.
The objective is straightforward: To help charities make informed decisions about difficult property assets and identify the most appropriate route forward.
When Might a Property Be Suitable?
The clinic has been established to assist with properties that may include:
- Extended periods on the market with limited progress
- Unmodernised or poor condition assets
- Short leasehold interests
- Structural concerns
- Tenanted properties
- Title or legal complexities
- Previous sale fall-throughs
- Restricted buyer demand
- Other factors affecting marketability
Every property is different and there is rarely a one-size-fits-all solution.
In some cases, a change in pricing strategy may be appropriate. In others, an alternative disposal route may be recommended. Sometimes the advice may simply be to continue with the current strategy.
Importantly, auction is not always the answer.
Our role is to help determine when it is the right tool and, equally, when it is not.
A Focus on Advice First
One of the key principles behind the clinic is that it remains advisory-led.
The charity sector rightly places significant emphasis on transparency, governance and demonstrating best value. The clinic has therefore been designed to support decision-making rather than promote a particular outcome.
Where auction is considered appropriate, charities will receive clear guidance as to why. Where another route may be preferable, that advice will be provided equally openly.
By focusing on evidence, market behaviour and practical experience, the clinic aims to provide charities with additional confidence when navigating more complex cases.
Supporting the Sector
The Legacy Property Clinic has also been structured to give something back to the sector.
For every eligible property submitted for review, Probate.Auction will make a £20 donation to the lead charity.
Where a property reviewed through the clinic subsequently proceeds to a successful auction sale through Probate.Auction, a further £400 donation will be made to the introducing charity and £100 will be donated to ILM.
The intention is not simply to create another referral programme, but to provide a practical support mechanism that encourages engagement with challenging property cases while contributing to the wider legacy community.
Looking Ahead
The launch of the Legacy Property Clinic represents a natural evolution of Probate.Auction’s commitment to the charity sector.
As the property market continues to evolve, charities will increasingly encounter cases where traditional disposal strategies do not always deliver the desired outcome.
By creating a dedicated review service focused specifically on difficult legacy property, we hope to provide an additional resource that helps charities navigate those challenges with greater confidence, greater clarity and ultimately better outcomes.
We look forward to working with ILM members and supporting legacy teams across the UK through this new initiative.
To submit a property for review or learn more about the Legacy Property Clinic, please visit the Legacy Property Clinic page or contact the Probate.Auction team directly.
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