URGENT - Being denied access to jointly owned property

Mondayschild

Hi

Need some urgent help.

My dad died and left me and my sister his house. The house is yet to be transferred into our names.

Until probate was sorted out, I put all bills in my name. The house was empty but for insurance purposes we had to put the central heating on a few hours day so the pipes didnt burst and we put timer lights on.

My sister and I fell out and she has now taken over the house and changed the locks. I believe she may be also renting rooms out to illegal immigrants.

I want to take my name off of the utilities as she is living there so they should be her problem, but I need a meter reading. My main concern right now is not that she is living there. I just dont want her running up bills in my name.

She wont allow me access and can be quite violent. What are my rights? Can I force entry? Can I ask for them to cut off the utilities? The police are saying it's a civil matter and wont escort me there. I am scared she may harm me so want an escort just to take the meter readings.

Somebody please help me?

gratefulforhelp_2

Can you not send round the utility companies to take a reading? They do have right of access at reasonable hours/notice I believe.

Mondayschild

gratefulforhelp wrote: »

Can you not send round the utility companies to take a reading? They do have right of access at reasonable hours/notice I believe.

I will try that tomorrow but if she is not in or denies them access then what do I do?

I just want my name off of the utilities.

amersall

Is a solicitor doing the probate?, as they may help with this. You should have left utilities in your dads name, and they would be settled out of the estate.This is what i did when my mum died.

Tropez

Mondayschild wrote: »

I will try that tomorrow but if she is not in or denies them access then what do I do?

I just want my name off of the utilities.

Contact a solicitor and inform the utility companies involved that there is a dispute regarding occupancy of the property and that the solicitor is looking at legal options and in the mean time ask them if they could terminate your services. Most companies would be receptive to this. As stated above, you can ask that the utility company send somebody to read the meter.

You should also consider lodging an anonymous complaint regarding your belief that illegal immigrants are living in the property.

Mondayschild

amersall wrote: »

Is a solicitor doing the probate?, as they may help with this. You should have left utilities in your dads name, and they would be settled out of the estate.This is what i did when my mum died.

Yes, a solicitor is doing the probate. The problem is that probate is taking over 1.5 years and the utility providers kept on asking me when it's going to be finished and that the bills need to go into someone's name.

Could I call the utility providers and explain that probate is taking longer than was originally thought and I cant pay the bills anymore. I dont live there and can prove it.

amersall

My mums probate took nearly 2 years, but we just passed utilities to the solicitor. When everything was sorted out they were paid out of the estate. As these are now in your name you will have to pay these as they are not your dads.Did the gas and electric companies make you change the name? if they did then i would put a complaint in to the energy companies, as they shouldnt do that, the person who lived at the property is liable for these. I am suprised the solicitor did not ask you for all bills and paperwork your dad had, ours did. I can sympathise with you and i know how you feel, as i fell out with my brothers and sister over the way they acted when my mum died. I disowned them. and all i can say is "i am glad you can choose your friends"!. And report your sis if you think she is housing anyone there, i would x.

amersall

Mondayschild wrote: »

Yes, a solicitor is doing the probate. The problem is that probate is taking over 1.5 years and the utility providers kept on asking me when it's going to be finished and that the bills need to go into someone's name.

Could I call the utility providers and explain that probate is taking longer than was originally thought and I cant pay the bills anymore. I dont live there and can prove it.

If i were you, i would ring the solicitor and get them to phone the utilities and get the name changed back. They should be able to do this for you.

Mondayschild

amersall wrote: »

My mums probate took nearly 2 years, but we just passed utilities to the solicitor. When everything was sorted out they were paid out of the estate. As these are now in your name you will have to pay these as they are not your dads.Did the gas and electric companies make you change the name? if they did then i would put a complaint in to the energy companies, as they shouldnt do that, the person who lived at the property is liable for these. I am suprised the solicitor did not ask you for all bills and paperwork your dad had, ours did. I can sympathise with you and i know how you feel, as i fell out with my brothers and sister over the way they acted when my mum died. I disowned them. and all i can say is "i am glad you can choose your friends"!. And report your sis if you think she is housing anyone there, i would x.

The solicitor said that as we will be benefitting from the house eventually that the bills should be paid by us. She would only pay for the home insurance. Is this correct?

I dont see why I cant phone the utility providers tomorrow and ask them to close my account and put all bills in the name of "the occupier".

The gas company kept on bothering me about probate taking so long and also said that there is a limited period of time for the account to remain in my dads name.

Mondayschild

amersall wrote: »

If i were you, i would ring the solicitor and get them to phone the utilities and get the name changed back. They should be able to do this for you.

I'll try this tomorrow.

Thanks

Mondayschild

Tropez wrote: »

Contact a solicitor and inform the utility companies involved that there is a dispute regarding occupancy of the property and that the solicitor is looking at legal options and in the mean time ask them if they could terminate your services. Most companies would be receptive to this. As stated above, you can ask that the utility company send somebody to read the meter.

You should also consider lodging an anonymous complaint regarding your belief that illegal immigrants are living in the property.

Thanks for your help.

I am in tears here. How can someone who is supposed to be your blood be so wicked.