AS the UK faces the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, Bradford residents are among the most likely to inherit a small fortune that they don’t know about, according to the latest quarterly Unclaimed Estates Index by Anglia Research.

Probate genealogy firm Anglia Research, more commonly known as “heir hunters”, has compiled an index of the UK cities and boroughs where most people have died intestate – and no rightful heir has been found.

Using the Bona Vacantia List (Latin for vacant or unclaimed goods list), Anglia Research uncovered that Bradford has a whopping 92 unclaimed estates, an increase on the end of 2019. Bradford is eighth highest on the UK cities list.

With each estate being potentially worth thousands to the rightful beneficiary, it’s no exaggeration to say that Bradford residents could be sitting on a gold mine without realising it.

The top five locations remain unchanged from last quarter – Leeds, Birmingham, Camden, Westminster and Lambeth – but the number of unclaimed estates in each has increased.

Although it’s not possible to attribute COVID-19 as the cause of death for those who died intestate, it is not unthinkable that the ongoing pandemic played its part in increasing the number of unclaimed estates.

All of the top five locations are situated within the regions that have been most impacted by COVID-19 and the restrictions on movement and rising unexpected death count would likely lead to a spike in the number of unclaimed estates.

Anglia Research also used the Bona Vacantia list to determine the most popular last names shared by those who died without a will.

There are currently 147 people with the last name Smith who died without a will, heralding a potential inheritance for those who share the most popular name in Britain.

The other top spots are taken by those with the last name Jones, coming in second place at 97, and Taylor, which comes third at 71.