A growing yet often overlooked problem is quietly emerging within the U.S. housing market — the issue of “heirs’ property”. The term refers to land and homes passed down without formal wills, often resulting in complex ownership and vulnerability to land loss.

Washington CORE recently spoke with Mr. Peter A. Tatian, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute and U.S. housing policy expert, to learn how heirs’ property situations develop, why they persist, and what solutions might help families living on such properties to protect their home ownership rights. Tatian explained how these “tangled titles” disproportionately affect Black and low-income families. Without clear legal ownership, families often struggle to pay property taxes, access disaster aid or home improvement programs.

The interview further explored community initiatives and policy efforts aimed at addressing these issues — including Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act (UPHPA), community organizers’ advocacy programs, and education on legacy planning.

By shedding light on this hidden but critical housing challenge, Tatian emphasized the importance of protecting generational wealth and ensuring that families can retain and benefit from their inherited homes.