Damage to vacant property (waiting on repo)

eklynne

Just had a pretty horrible experience
My old neighbour phoned me to tell me that the patio door in my old place (still waiting on repo, mortgage in arrears 18 months) had been smashed and that I should check it out.
So, off I trot to see the damage, well it's a massive sliding door, 8'x8', and right enough, smashed both panes leaving the property unsecured.
So, what do I do? I have no insurance on the place anymore (been out well over a year, pop round to check the mail every 2 weeks or so) and it doesn't appear that the mortgage provider is in any hurry to get the repossession ball rolling:(
I am not in a position to get this repaired, it cost over £1300 when it was put in 8 years ago but I can't leave it wide open.
Any ideas? My dad put some board up for me but it's hardly a long term solution.
Honestly, is this hassle ever going to end??

terryw

Any empty property is a target for vandals. If you intend to go bankrupt then it is not your problem, apart from the social aspect which might upset your ex-neighbours. But if not, I fear that you need to make the property look inhabited. The mortgage company will probably come looking for the shortfall and it would be sensible to try to minimize this as best you can.

You appear to still have the keys. Why not give these to the mortgage company so that they can check out the place?

eklynne

I was made BR 18 months ago. I left the property a month after BR and pop round every so often to see if the mortgage company have sent any correspondence as I was advised not to inform them of my new address.
The electricity is disconnected and it was a close knit neighbourhood so all the local kids know the place is empty, so it would be pointless trying to make it look lived in.
Do you think I should phone the local council, they know I'm not there anymore for council tax purposes, but would they carry out a repair on a private home? It's an ex-council property in a council owned block.

*edit
there is no shortfall, there's about 40k in equity in the property, which is baffling me as to why they are not hurrying the repo through.
Thanks for the reply.

debtinfo

Tell the OR and the mortgage company, they might have insurance on it, to protect their money

terryw

You are probably giving yourself worries by popping around as you are bankrupt and this is no longer your problem.

Probably the best bet is just to contact the police who will contact the key-holders to secure the place. Advise the neighbours to do the same in case of further damage - this will put pressure on the key-holders to secure the building.

I can understand your wish to retain a (spare?) set of keys but this could back-fire on you if you are reported as having entered the building. It is very common for the re-possessed to damage the property (I am not suggesting that you would do so) and your entry could lead to questioning.

The mortgage company will move at their own pace. Just put in redirection of mail so that you are not involved

Doucam

If you redirect your mail through the post office then you don't need to tell anyone your new address, but if you are on the electoral roll at your new address the mortgage co will find you anyway.

shazbo

Have you informed the police the house is empty? I dont know if it will help (not with this problem but for the future) but we were advised to let them know. For now though i would contact the mortgage company and tell them their property has been damaged and needs their attention.

Darnit_2

terryw wrote: »

You are probably giving yourself worries by popping around as you are bankrupt and this is no longer your problem.

Probably the best bet is just to contact the police who will contact the key-holders to secure the place. Advise the neighbours to do the same in case of further damage - this will put pressure on the key-holders to secure the building.

I can understand your wish to retain a (spare?) set of keys but this could back-fire on you if you are reported as having entered the building. It is very common for the re-possessed to damage the property (I am not suggesting that you would do so) and your entry could lead to questioning.


The mortgage company will move at their own pace. Just put in redirection of mail so that you are not involved

Actually Terry, the OP is entitled to enter and even live in the property until it is sold by the OR, repossessed either voluntarily signed over or by order of the courts. There is no issue with OP entering the property. The issue really is wether or not the OP cares to deal with the issue. If the OR hasn't signed the property back to the OP (which is unlikely as it has equity) then the OR is still the trustee and is responsible for the property. I would write to the OR and inform them of the damage and the associated costs. It might prompt them to deal with the issue. They are responsible for insuring it, or ensuring that the mortgage company do. But only buildings, not contents.

terryw

Darnit wrote: »

Actually Terry, the OP is entitled to enter and even live in the property until it is sold by the OR, repossessed either voluntarily signed over or by order of the courts. There is no issue with OP entering the property. The issue really is wether or not the OP cares to deal with the issue. If the OR hasn't signed the property back to the OP (which is unlikely as it has equity) then the OR is still the trustee and is responsible for the property. I would write to the OR and inform them of the damage and the associated costs. It might prompt them to deal with the issue. They are responsible for insuring it, or ensuring that the mortgage company do. But only buildings, not contents.

I agree with you. I am sorry that I did not make myself sufficiently clear.

If the OP is still in control and visiting the property with his own keys, then if and when the property is damaged the OP will be a likely suspect. (I am not suggesting for one moment that he is responsible). Hassle regarding this should be avoided in an ideal world.

The OP is in a cleft stick. For sensible neighbourly reasons as well as the fact that at the end of it all he wishes for the property to be sold at the best possible price, but be counter-managed against the fact that he wishes to walk away from the current problems and possible subsequent problems.

eklynne

Thank you all for the advice.
I applied in the PO today for mail redirection and called the AiB who has told me it is not my concern and that I should send them the keys?
Is this correct?
Going to pop round one more time tomorrow morning to give the place a final clean before being shot of it for good.
Thanks again for the advice, hopefully this is now my final hurdle of BR

Falze

eklynne wrote: »

Going to pop round one more time tomorrow morning to give the place a final clean before being shot of it for good.

Thats on my list of to do things. Ran out of time last week. Probabley be the week end now.

The Mrs even painted the kitchen the day before we moved out as it needed doing.

18 months is a long time with equity in. Are you sure you aren't still paying the mortgage by accident !!!!:D