Elderly female landlord leaves most of her property to tenants

An 87-year-old woman from Le Miers in Limburg owned a large property in nearby Vals, most of which she left to her tenants in her will.

Anneliese Hopmans earned her money from running a successful fruit and vegetable business and owned several properties in the community. She never married or had children and became increasingly estranged from her family over the years, The Telegraph reported.

One happy new owner is father-of-two Bram Brekelmans, who sold his home to the woman four years ago following his divorce.

Blakemans, a classroom assistant, then asked her if he could rent the house. “I had only met her once, so we didn’t know each other at all. And then she offered me this house. In a world where you have to be shameless to get ahead, it’s really comforting to have people like that,” he told telegraph.

The Breckmans sold the house for a low price in exchange for a leasehold, and if it were sold today it would fetch close to €290,000. “I only had to pay €75,000 in inheritance tax, which I converted into a mortgage. I’ve actually got €200,000, which is great,” he said.

“The whole village was in an uproar,” said Blakemans, who said the notary administering the woman’s estate told him “he had a whole list to go through.” “I heard she may have as many as 16 properties, but no immediate family. They’re all tenants. It’s unbelievable.”

Blakemans said he has no plans to sell the home. “On the contrary, I’m doing everything I can to keep it.”