At what point does the benefit of an inherited property transfer

At what point does the benefit of an inherited property transfer to the person inheriting it?

Situation: Two people living together as "life partners" - they live in a property together. The property is owned outright by one of the partners who writes a will in which he leaves the property in its entirety to the other partner. He has various other assets which are left to a number of other people including sufficient funds to meet any debts. He dies.

At what point do the benefits associated to that property transfer. Am I right in thinking that this would be at the point of death - all be it that there is a process to go through to properly execute the legals around the death and the will.

If it is at the point of death then again I assume that no other party (the executors of the will) would have the right to impose a rent on the partner that continues to live in the property pending the completion of the legalities around the inheritance.

Is that a correct assumption?


If that assumption is correct the presumably the responsibility for paying regular bills - service charge and so forth would become the responsibility / debt of the partner remaining in the building?

Is that a correct assumption?