I've just read an article online concerning a Minister/Vicar whose home has been sold without his knowledge by someone who has stolen his identity - and he has been told by the Police that they can do nothing as it is 'a civil matter'. His neighbours rang and alerted him to the fact that the house lights were on and people were going in and out. When stolen cars have been sold on the Police can sieze them from the new owner as the car was not legally sold. Why is it any different for a house? Surely this is fraud on a grand scale, and the Police should find whoever stole the identity of this poor man and sold his house illegally. Land Registry have said that the new owner is now legally in posession - even though it was sold to him by someone who had no right to sell it, and was acting fraudulently. I've never read anything quite so alarming; how easily you could lose so much.
You don't need a key or even need to be in a property to sell it! Many people are happy to purchase without even viewing!
Link to government.uk site has been posted this is currently the only sure way of knowing if anyone is doing searches on your property!
According to the Bedford Today website, on 4th November the police arrested a man in his 20's (hiding under his bed) in connection with this crime. Fingers crossed it can now be resolved and Reverend Hall will at least get his home back. Unfortunately, his possessions are probably long gone.
Sashabel thank you for the link , I've registered my house
GreenGran78
The Land Registry told me that the deeds and documents for my house have never been lodged with them, when I tried to organise an alert. I have lived here for over 50 years. The house changed hand several times in fairly quick succession from being built to us buying it.
We were given a link to advice on how to register the property, but advised to use a solicitor. I wonder how much that will cost me!
GreenGran it is fairly straight forward to register the property yourself if you have all the original documentation - I've done it several times. You do need to get an accurate map of it, but it explains how to get one of those on the website.
The Land Registry told me that the deeds and documents for my house have never been lodged with them, when I tried to organise an alert. I have lived here for over 50 years. The house changed hand several times in fairly quick succession from being built to us buying it.
We were given a link to advice on how to register the property, but advised to use a solicitor. I wonder how much that will cost me!
I live in a small close where the neighbours are friendly. One of the bungalows is empty because the owner has had to go into care. Not only do we all keep watch but her son has given the key to someone to regularly go in.
What happened to Neighbourhood Watch.
There is quite a famous test case on this called Dreamvar v Mishcon DevReya. If you Google it there were lots of outcomes from this case that should have tightened the system. Sounds like there are still ways round it!
Many years ago, my brother in law sold his Mum’s house and gave her just 24 hours to move out. My OH was only 15 at the time. She found a near derelict house to rent and was eventually rehomed by the council. Some people are just evil.
Teacheranne - it makes no difference whether the property is leasehold or freehold. The site can be a bit sensitive to typed information so recheck and search for the address. It's wise to keep a check on the elderly relatives properties.
knspol
Read about this recently and so registered with the land registry and they notify you if any search is done on your house. Very easy to do and well worth a few minute sof your time.
I have registered an alert for my own house but could not add my mothers house ( currently rented out) as it is not freehold. I was not aware that was an issue.
For Information - the Land Registry Alert referred to here, only works for Properties in England.
I moved to Scotland from England, and there is a different system here, which does not operate in the same way.
I've also had difficulty registering an alert for a Property in England, which I still own and rent out, presumably because I no longer live in England.
What you need to do is register your property with Land Registry. They then notify you if there is any activity on you home, ie someone trying to register it for themselves or through their solicitor. Land Registry send me a six monthly update confirming no activity on the property. Costs nothing and is a recommended safety precaution against an offence such as this which is on the increase.
Read more here: www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-59069662
This is also even more astonishing when compared with just how difficult it is to remove Secure Tenant(s) from a Rented property even, say, if they have massive rent arrears. Legal Notice has to be served, proof supplied, actions taken previously and time elapsed. Go figure!
There apparently is a case going through the local Crown Court of someone that has been making a career of fraudulently selling houses that don't belong to him - some were owned by elderly people in homes or even one in hospital while seriously ill for weeks - their family only found out after they passed away and they went to what had been the deceased persons home to find the locks had been changed, house cleared of contents and scaffolding up to prepare for work on the roof, plus planning permission had been sought for an extension!
The family had not been to the house because they lived a distance away and only went to the hospital !
Read about this recently and so registered with the land registry and they notify you if any search is done on your house. Very easy to do and well worth a few minute sof your time.
Thank you for that information. I've just done it. My house is Mortgage free and I'm on my own. Although half the house is in Trust for my three daughters. I would like to think they wouldn't sell it over my head.
Oldwoman70
When I recently sold and purchased I had to provide extensive proof of my identity to my solicitor who said it was to prevent fraud and money laundering - perhaps this poor man has a case against the solicitors who acted in the sale
Yes, you have to produce all sorts of paperwork including photo ID. Surely the Land Registry has the owner's name? I suppose that a criminal could fraudulently obtain a passport or driving license, but this would surely mean that the process of buying the house involved fraud and was not valid?
I sometimes worry about our second home, but we have good neighbours who keep an eye on the place for us.
The Land Registry alert service is worth using.
Yet again police not wanting to do the job they are paid to do. Stolen identity is False representation - a criminal offence.
the man in the OP was a minister of religion.
the house was in england, and he was working in wales for several months, possibly with attached accommodation there.
it is a truly shocking story.
and apparently he cannot get his house back.
i don't understand how nemo dat quod non habet does not apply. but i guess it hinges on what exactly is regarded as proof of ownership. seems circular.
anyway, thanks for reminding us to set the alerts.
Twenty years ago, my father’s house was empty. The neighbour contacted me to say there were builders inside it. They claimed they were the owners because they were paying the council tax and showed the bill.
I went to the council offices and they confirmed that indeed this other person had paid the outstanding money owed. My fault as I didn’t know it has lapsed. I asked for the other person’s address so that it could be put in the hands of a solicitor as it was my father’s house. The reply was that because of a privacy law they were not allowed to divulge such information on the paper in front of them. .
I asked them to look out of the window and see my foreign car therefore did not have a lot of time in the UK, and then asked if they needed to go to the toilet, which they did. Ended well.
Have my property now listed on the LR. and receive an email every few months.
Doodledog, you don't have to own the property to set an alert - so it may be very useful to keep an eye on elderly relatives homes. I have one set on my son's rental flat (as well as mine) as he lives in NZ.
What about property purchased before it had to be registered with the Land Registry?
Thank you to Hetty58 for providing the link to the alert.
I had never heard of this service and have registered.
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