Empty house

Chibb

I want to buy a house near mine. A old couple used to live there many years ago but both now deceased. I've been in touch with council about it - they replied saying the property is in probate (has been for the last 10 years!) but they don't seem to have contact details for solicitors or family member. The elderly couple used to have a son who lived in the house for a short while and then just disappeared.

I contacted the land registry who wasn't very helpfully so had to download title register of the house on which I found freeholders details. I've wrote to them about the current situation and waiting for a reply.

The house has been empty for too long and I fear squatters may have their eyes on the property - back windows have been broken, we get people hanging around the back late at night drinking/smoking pot etc.

Can anyone on here please help or give me some advice on who to contact to make an offer for the house?

Many thanks.

notrouble

If the will has not been sorted out, then the Executers of the will.

If no will, then the Probate Office will issue Letters of Administration to someone to manage the Estate.

Land_Registry

I'm sorry that you found us unhelpful. We would normally be able to offer some assistance although if you contacted us to establish who owned the property then you would have needed to use either our online or postal services to establish that information - we cannot supply this over the phone for example

Based on your posting it is unclear as to what the specific circumstances are re this property although it seems likely that neither the deceased couple nor their son were the registered owners.

On that basis it seems odd that the property would be in probate as not part of their estate. It is also unclear why the council would be aware but you may be suggesting that they were council tenants?

If there is a freeholder as you suggest and the deceased couple were the tenants (leaseholder) then their lease may well have come to an end on their passing. The freeholder may be in a position to have the lease determined and then able to sell the property or create a fresh lease to sell.

As notrouble implies you can always check the Probate Registry but before doing so it is important to understand what, if any, legal ownership of the property the deceased couple had.

If you can supply a bit more information re the actual property and the deceased couple's legal interest then other posters may be able to assist further.

Chibb

The registered owner of the property is fairhold ltd - based in london. Got this info from the title register. The lease is for 999 years begining 1890.


Also just completed a form for title Plans which ive posted to land registry.

00ec25

Chibb wrote: »

The registered owner of the property is fairhold ltd - based in london. Got this info from the title register. The lease is for 999 years begining 1890.


Also just completed a form for title Plans which ive posted to land registry.

so write to the company and see if they will sell it to you, no other way to legally acquire it
details from companies house show that company name is still trading and is ... a property investment company who buys and sells their own property.
of course it may turn out that the "disappeared" son is the MD of the company and is keeping his parents house for sentimental reasons but sheltered inside the company for tax efficiency!

http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/4f1188a905d1f44b689d59e8aa6e96bc/compdetails

Land_Registry

Chibb wrote: »

The registered owner of the property is fairhold ltd - based in london. Got this info from the title register. The lease is for 999 years begining 1890.

The additional information goes some of the way to explaining the circumstances although it might be helpful to clarify things a bit more without revealing the address of the property.

My concern is that you may not have all the information you need (irrespective of the plan now requested)

Are you looking at the freehold title with Fairhold Limited shown as the registered proprietors in the B Register (there is an A and B register and often a C register as well). Or

Are you looking at the leasehold register with the details of the lease, inc the date, term and the original parties to the original lease (and Fairhold Limited shown as party 1?

Chibb

Fairhold have been in touch today just to let me know they've received my letter and will be in touch with me in the next week or two.

Im not too sure about register a, b or c tbh all that ive seen is the lease and registered owners on the title register.

Also the elderly couple's son who lived there for a short period is very ill ive been told - has mental health issues, hence moved into care. Thos is what ive been told but not 100% sure - what i do know f

Sorry guys i know i aint too helpful at the moment - because im just as puzzled as you guys I about the whole thing! But sure i'll get to the bottom of this before it's too late.

Chibb

Sorry didnt complete that - what i do know about the deceased couple son is he had serious drinking Problems and was struggling to cope with life because shortly after his partner decided to leave him.

Chibb

Land_Registry_representative wrote: »

The additional information goes some of the way to explaining the circumstances although it might be helpful to clarify things a bit more without revealing the address of the property.

My concern is that you may not have all the information you need (irrespective of the plan now requested)

Are you looking at the freehold title with Fairhold Limited shown as the registered proprietors in the B Register (there is an A and B register and often a C register as well). Or

Are you looking at the leasehold register with the details of the lease, inc the date, term and the original parties to the original lease (and Fairhold Limited shown as party 1?

Yes you're right - I don't have all the info etc I may need just yet, just a waiting game now really. So what happens if we can't track the deceased son? Who would deal with this whole mess?


Folks have started fly tipping around the back too - whole place is just a huge mess & just getting worse! Stressful

sailerboy

Chibb wrote: »

...
I contacted the land registry who wasn't very helpfully so had to download title register of the house on which I found freeholders details.

Not sure what 'help' you expected. The LR record ownership etc via the Title register. All they can do is tell you how to get it, which you seem to have done!

Im not too sure about register a, b or c tbh all that ive seen is the lease and registered owners on the title register.

If you have the Title register, all you need do is read it. Does it have sections A, B, and C? !!!!

Are you looking at the freehold title with Fairhold Limited shown as the registered proprietors in the B Register (there is an A and B register and often a C register as well). Or

Are you looking at the leasehold register with the details of the lease, inc the date, term and the original parties to the original lease (and Fairhold Limited shown as party 1?

A very relevant question which you don't seem to have answered.

Folks have started fly tipping around the back too - whole place is just a huge mess & just getting worse! Stressful

Not sure why that is relevant, let alone less stressful. Unless it's causing a health hazard in which case notify environmental Health.

Chibb

Sailor boy someone dumping crap in my neighbour's garden isnt relevant?
It might not be to you but it is to me - ive worked hard to pay off for my house - its estimated value is ITRO 170k! The state the property is in next door isnt helping me or anyone else on the street for that matter. Its an eyesore and needs to be sorted out.