Is it true that You can inherit someone`s house when they like You and they die? The inheritance letters I have received make no mention of it, but some people say it can happen.

I've never heard of it!

I've personally never encountered it and I've killed Ysolda more then a few times after doing her sidequest. And looking at the UESP, I say someone is yanking your chain.

You cannot.

Nothing is really stopping you from taking over the house of the person who the letter was about. Other than the ownership issues of the containers. However, the game is not officially giving you a dwelling with these letters.

i got 100 gold from a beggar once

but no house

I tried to use

house after the quest but the bed was marked as owned. Is this not always the case? Are you saying that when a NPC dies, the ownership of their 'stuff' can change so their bed is available, looting isn't stealing etc? I've seen various NPCs die but I haven't bothered checking their homes/property. This may offer an alternative storage strategy for a stealthy thief/assassin who doesn't want to be on the grid by purchasing property...

Ha he was faking his plight. Mr Pelagia left me 100 g I think i sold him 2 of his own cabbages once. No idea how he died. Best employer ever

I think it depends on the house and NPCs. I've never inherited a house, but sometimes you can sleep in one.

I was very upset that Drelas cottage cannot be claimed once you kill him. Had to settle with Alchemists shack.

Unfortunately no. Since Oblivion, it has become more trouble than it's worth to take over some random house like we could in Morrowind. The house and it's contents remains owned even after death. At least in Morrowind, the game ignored the ownership of the containers in a house (only cared about Merchant Chests) so we could take over any house that we fancied.

I suppose if on pc you could always open up the ck an change the ownership of a house.