House sold without permission...

ladyandthetramp

Hi All,

Hoping someone can help, I know this sounds far fetched....

My mums partner has just found out that his ex wife has sold their house without him knowing! It was jointly in both names, they split up around 8 years ago and he now lives the other side of the country with my mum, he cut off all contact with said ex wife but let her stay in the house as they have kids together (he doesnt see the kids (grown up ones) but thats for another thread) my mum found the house sale details on the internet.

I have no idea what can be done, how this has happened etc but was wondering if anyone can advise? They can not really afford a solicitor right now which is the first thing I said, so any help much appreciated

James_N

ladyandthetramp wrote: »

Hi All,

Hoping someone can help, I know this sounds far fetched....

My mums partner has just found out that his ex wife has sold their house without him knowing! It was jointly in both names, they split up around 8 years ago and he now lives the other side of the country with my mum, he cut off all contact with said ex wife but let her stay in the house as they have kids together (he doesnt see the kids (grown up ones) but thats for another thread) my mum found the house sale details on the internet.

I have no idea what can be done, how this has happened etc but was wondering if anyone can advise? They can not really afford a solicitor right now which is the first thing I said, so any help much appreciated

You have to act decisively and swiftly. Talk to a solicitor and speak to the land registry. Update on the situation - you say it was found on the internet - that doesn't necessarily mean there has been a buyer. If it has been "bought" it's become very messy indeed. You HAVE to have legal representation.

Read this:
http://www.landregistry.gov.uk/public/property-fraud

Especially this part:
"What to do if you think that you have already been the victim of property fraud
Contact Customer Support immediately. See Contact us for more information.
Contact a solicitor or a Citizens Advice Bureau and the police.
Get professional advice if you are not sure what to do.
0844 892 1111 (chargeable)"
Do it NOW if this is the true situation.

ladyandthetramp

Just looking at land registry now thank you, apparently mum said it has been sold, as it gives the price it sold for a year ago, I am confused as to how this could have happened, because surely he would have had to sign something?

James_N

ladyandthetramp wrote: »

Just looking at land registry now thank you, apparently mum said it has been sold, as it gives the price it sold for a year ago, I am confused as to how this could have happened, because surely he would have had to sign something?

This is how it might happen:

1. The property was not registered (from memory if bought before around 1988, depending on area).
2. Someone has falsified a signature
3. Conveyancer / solicitor has seriously failed to check things

Probably other avenues too - i am not legally qualified.

with #2 & #3 there is an easy route for action.

RAS

She may have got an order for sale claiming that she could not contact him to get permisison?

ladyandthetramp

She may have got an order for sale claiming that she could not contact him to get permisison?

I did wonder this, does that mean she is just allowed to sell it though?

James_N

ladyandthetramp wrote: »

She may have got an order for sale claiming that she could not contact him to get permisison?

I did wonder this, does that mean she is just allowed to sell it though?

Whoever is conducting the sale should check legal entitlement to proceed.
EA and solicitor both ... and check, not just take a word for it.
Would professional liability kick in for either?

Old_Git

are you sure it wasnt part off the divorce settlement .

ladyandthetramp

They haven't divorced yet, odd I know, and I am not sure of the reasons behind that tbh. I am now wondering if he did know of the sale and has either a)let her keep the profit or b) not told my mum about any profit made.

Ok so above doesn't make any sense in conjunction with the first post, as my mum was looking on the internet last night and found the details of the sale, not sure how but she did, and told him what she had found.

Its a bit complex but it makes sense in my head!

John_Pierpoint

There are several sites which get a feed from the Land Registry, this is one
http://www.zoopla.co.uk/

The land registry will sell you on line the details of who now owns the property - the on-line charge is about £4. It will also tell you the mortgage company (which should have double checked the legality of the sale. The wife is likely to be legally holding the proceeds of sale awaiting the claim from her husband.
Find the information about the latest sale, by using the address or clicking on the Land Registry site map/Ariel photo

DVardysShadow

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

The land registry will sell you on line the details of who now owns the property - the on-line charge is about £4.
Find it by using the address of clicking on the Land Registry site map/Ariel photo

Make sure you use http://www.landregistry.gov.uk/ - there are other sites which purport to do the same thing but actually charge inflated prices for scraping the same data from the land registry site