Finding out the owner of a 'derelict' property?

Lionel_Thinkbag

I've seen a few properties out and about that look derelict, as in windows blown in etc but they don't seem to appear on auction sites or rightmove.

One in particular is a terraced house in an otherwise well kept street, the neighbours must hate it.

How would one go about finding out who owns these properties? Assuming somebody does of course. Putting a note through the door probably wouldn't work as it looks like nobody ever goes there.

olly300

Go and talk to the neighbours. Explain you want to buy it. They will gladly give you as many details they know about the house. Leave your name and contact details with them.

Then look on the land registry if you know the address. Though depending when the house was brought nothing may be there.

sandsni

You could try the relevant council who might have some details of the owners. Aren't they all trying to get owners to sort out their derelict properties (or was that just on the telly?).

Land_Registry

You can check whether the proeprty is registered and if it is who are recorded as the legal owners. Our online FAQ explains the process.

As olly300 says though if the property is unregistered then we won't have any information and your best bet is making enquiries locally.

The online service does not charge you (£3) unless information is available and you choose to view it.

Richard_Watters

I've done this a few times. If the property is unregistered, the council won't tell you the name of the owner due to data protection.

If you knock on neighbours' doors, you'll usually find someone who knows the name of the owner although they might not know where they live. Then use 192.com.

If this draws a blank, you can even start the process of claiming the property through adverse possession by sticking a notice to this effect on the front door. This invariably gets a response!

Lionel_Thinkbag

Thanks for the replies guys.

I did check on the land registry. Looks like the property is owned by some property management company in Staffordshire. I looked them up, no email or website, and just a po box to write to. Yahoo reviews are less than glowing, basically give the impression they're very rude and inefficient. So I think im going to have to gird my loins to make that enquiry! lol

wannahouse

If you're going to need a mortgage to buy it Lionel, then you may have problems!!!

we are currently trying to buy a property that has been empty 5 yrs with a mortgage, and so far its taken 5 mths, and we've had to jump through all sorts of hoops!
The valuer is a flaming idiot, who has thrown every trick in the book at us to try to stop us being able to buy it, including lying on his report claiming "presence of Japanese Knotweed" when ofcourse there is not- not even anything that resembles it, so we had to pay for another specialist survey to prove that to the bank too...
We have had a full building survey done by someone that is a Fellow member of RICS , that knows alot about old and historic buildings, and the stupid valuer is cross about his report as it negates all the things that the valuer was "concerned about", so now he is trying to claim the 75 page report is "not extensive enough!" flaming idiot!!!

anyway, if we do manage to get there, we are going to have to exchange on a conditional mortgage offer (they won't release the funds unless certain things are done BEFORE completion) and spend around £30,000 sorting some things to make the bank happy before they'll release the funds...
are we crazy...ah...YES, but we're risk takers and we'll get a great property in the end if we manage to get our hands on it...

do you have the money to do all of this if you want to buy a fixer upper-er?
Or should you maybe look for a renovation/build type mortgage that will let you buy a dump and release money in stages? (we couldn't do this this time for various reasons)
Despite us being crazy and happy to take a gamble, it is discouraging to still be at this 5 months in to things! but we are determined that IF it is possible to do it, we will, and we won't give up until theres no where else to go...
Just some things to think about before you go doing credit applications left right and centre to buy a wreck!

Lionel_Thinkbag

We're looking at the different options, tbh this property was more of a curiousity thing, by the looks of it it wouldn't be mortgageable, and while somewhere like the Buildstore might go for it, we wouldn't really be able to afford somewhere to live in the meantime while it was getting done up (unless we moved in with my family and.....well I want to avoid that at all costs! lol)

Sounds like you've been through hell there, I hope it all turns out for the best in the end.

Anyway it's a real shame that this property is being left to rack and ruin. If your curious its Hougoumont Avenue in Waterloo, Liverpool. You'll probably be able to see the property as it sticks out like a sore thumb (its the terraced houses on the right up towards the station end) and its actually in better condition on google maps than it is in real life, when I went by there a few weeks ago the front door had been kicked in at the bottom and there were more windows broken. There should be a law about letting properties get in that state

wannahouse

ah, pebble dashed with a green front door?