When someone dies what happens to the mortgage loan?

It is normal for people with a mortgage loan to have a life insurance to cover the amount of the loan. If this is the case the insurance will pay off the loan and the property will become part of the dead persons estate in its entirety and (after inheritance tax) the heirs will inherit it.

If there is no insurance then the outstanding balance of the mortgage becomes a charge on the estate of the deceased and if there is not enough money available to pay this, then the house will have to be sold to realise this money. If after the sale of the house the estate is still short of funds to cover the mortgage (after funeral expenses are met) then the mortgage company will have to take that loss.