‘Cost of dying’ in UK hits record level as bereaved turn to crowdfunding to meet bills

In 2004 a simple funeral cost £1,835. Photograph: Jack Sullivan/Alamy

The “cost of dying” has hit a record high, prompting growing numbers of grieving UK families to turn to crowdfunding or sell possessions to help pay for a funeral, according to a report.

The average cost of a basic funeral has increased by 3.5% in a year to hit an “all-time high” of £4,285, according to the insurer SunLife, which has been monitoring UK funeral costs for two decades.