Money found in the loft

blckbrd

If OP's friend found something inconvenient that he wasn't interested in and wanted shot of without cost to himself, he'd probably notify the seller, right..?
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The issue is that it's a substantial amount of money that is being seen as a windfall. Finding a few quid in the street and keeping it - without knowledge of who has lost/left it - might arguably be OK if you're that way inclined. But the £8k would have been purposefully hidden by... someone.

There is a crime of 'theft by finding' but who's going to know that wads of notes that went out of circulation in 2003 even exist?

In OP's friend's shoes, I like to think I'd hand it into the police so I could claim it later... Yes, I would like to think that, but then even the clergy are telling 'desperate' people it's OK shoplift from chains these days so maybe/probably I'd pay it in to an account somewhere... maybe...

MissMoneypenny

guy0wen wrote: »

I think the old lady who died there (death certificate was in the HIPS) left it up there and did not tell anyone about it.

It might have been the person before the old lady, that hid the money in the loft.

Fire_Fox

googler wrote: »

It's not 'lost' property. It was found in a house that previously belonged to someone who can easily be identified, either through the solicitor/agent whom the house was bought from, or by other means. It obviously belonged to the immediately previous owner, or a prior owner, unless the owners were stashing it for someone else.

The first thing the officers will say, after they've asked "Where did you find it?" is "Have you contacted the previous owner, their agents or their estate?"

Unless you're suggesting the OP's friend lies to the police about where he found it ....?

The most likely rightful owner is dead so not really contactable. Nobody still alive is going to have forgotten stashing eight grand in the loft, and nobody in their right mind is going to say it isn't theirs if you ring them up and offer them the money. :rolleyes:

The police can ask whatever they want it isn't the finders legal responsibility to trace the loser, it's simply their job to hand the money into the authorities as lost property. If the police want to try and trace the owner they can; if they want to check the money is not the proceeds of crime they can.

G_M

QUOTE=G_M;28126491]44 posts. 44 opinions.

mlz1413
But nothing from OP!

Nah - but I reckon the original post was a wind-up...

Fire_Fox

guy0wen wrote: »

A friend of mine has recently moved into an old property that has been vacant for about 6 months and during some insulation works in the loft found a substancial amount of money mainly the old style £10 notes in 2 old coffee tins he found up there. He said there is at least £8,000 if not a bit more.

It has also propted him to lift and inspect under all the floor boards and in all the voids throuhghtout the property incase there is alot more. There could potentially be £1000's more if the old woman has hoarded her life savings for years.

I think the old lady who died there (death certificate was in the HIPS) left it up there and did not tell anyone about it.

From the OPs first ever post:

guy0wen wrote: »

Have been readin the forums for 6 months since I started looking at buying my first house. Finnally completed and moved in July this year and have started a major refurbishment project on the place.

He will advise opening up and checking everything in an old property. I am a building surveyor my self and have writtten the same in many reports. If your living in a old property there can be alot of problems, with rot, damp etc, as long as its not dry rot or active beetle infestation you'll be OK for the time being.

I moved into a 100 year old house 6 months ago and got the same on my valuation report about investigating cracks, it was clear to me thought that evry house on the street had the same cracks in the same places and none of them had collapsed.

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Just goes to show how dodgy Building Surveyors are.......

stebiz

As a Metal Detectorist who often finds valuable items, I would think it would fall into the Treasure Act (1996). If it is not over 300 years old (which it obviously isn't) then it would be split between the finder (your mate) and the land owner (your mate).

I'd be made up and would certainly keep it.

Stebiz

GDB2222

There's a world of difference between finding stuff that's been buried for many years and finding some stuff where you know who the owner is. The finder in this case clearly has a duty to return this money to the executors.

stebiz

GDB2222 wrote: »

There's a world of difference between finding stuff that's been buried for many years and finding some stuff where you know who the owner is. The finder in this case clearly has a duty to return this money to the executors.

The owner is dead and how do we know it was her money???

GDB2222

No, the old lady's estate is the owner. As to ownership, when did the lady move in, when were these notes printed, etc?