Land registry fraud?

bedruzenka

Hi,
I found out yesterday that a company purchased a commercial building and used my residential address on their title register 3 years ago!
I received a letter addressed to a company (I’ve never heard of) to my address from a council regarding a commercial building. 

In this letter they are threatening a legal action, putting a charge on my property..

I called the council and informed them it was a mistake, no such company at my address.
They informed me that according to the land registry the company is registered at my address and kindly forwarded me the copy of the tittle register.
I called the land registry and they confirmed it was true and not a mistake on their system.
They also told me they don’t carry out any checks and anyone can put any address there.
They won’t remove my address in connection with this company.
I’ve searched the company on the companies house, completely different address on there, not even the same council.

Why would anyone do this?
I’m not sure what to do now? Do I report this company for fraud?
Any advise appreciated 
Thank you

user1977

Have you tried contacting the company? May just be a c0ck-up rather than fraud.

also, I presume the council would be putting a charge on the company’s property, not yours.

bedruzenka

Well I’m not sure. The letter stated the charge would put on (my residential address?). It didn’t state the commercial buildings address.
Yes, I will try to contact them but I’m not very hopeful.

user1977

The council couldn’t put a charge on a third party’s property. The contact address for a proprietor on the land registry does not have legal implications. Would seem odd as a fraud if they’ve got a different (and genuine?) address on Companies House, which is where most people would look first.

bedruzenka

Yes, I understand what you mean. But the council worker was adamant that they will pursue this matter at my address due to the land registry record. According to them the company (the director resides/owns?) my house. I told them about the different address on companies house and as they’ve already tried that and nothing got resolved they are now pursuing this matter at my address. This is why I doubt the address on companies house is genuine, it also changes every year, but has the same director who keeps opening and closing companies.

our_des

How long ago did you purchase your home? Have you checked the land registry for the title registers yourself? 

housebuyer143

bedruzenka said:

Yes, I understand what you mean. But the council worker was adamant that they will pursue this matter at my address due to the land registry record. According to them the company (the director resides/owns?) my house. I told them about the different address on companies house and as they’ve already tried that and nothing got resolved they are now pursuing this matter at my address. This is why I doubt the address on companies house is genuine, it also changes every year, but has the same director who keeps opening and closing companies.

But it's not the companies residential address. To get a charge they need a court order and you can prove it's your address and you are the listed owner so I would be surprised if they can get a charge on your home.

This though, does bring up address fraud though as a matter of concern. I have had people use my address for car insurance and when I called the company to tell them it's fraud and they don't live here they told me "the policy holder would need to call in to change it" and wouldn't do anything else. Companies should be made responsible for investing reports of fraud from non customers. 

bedruzenka

We bought the house in March 2020. 
It was a probate property and previous owners lived here 40+ years.
Yes I checked it all myself and the commercial building has my residential address listed in proprietorship register. It was purchased in September 2021 but yesterday was the first time I heard of it.
My house has my name and my partners name on the title register.

bedruzenka

housebuyer143 said:

bedruzenka said:

Yes, I understand what you mean. But the council worker was adamant that they will pursue this matter at my address due to the land registry record. According to them the company (the director resides/owns?) my house. I told them about the different address on companies house and as they’ve already tried that and nothing got resolved they are now pursuing this matter at my address. This is why I doubt the address on companies house is genuine, it also changes every year, but has the same director who keeps opening and closing companies.

But it's not the companies residential address. To get a charge they need a court order and you can prove it's your address and you are the listed owner so I would be surprised if they can get a charge on your home.

This though, does bring up address fraud though as a matter of concern. I have had people use my address for car insurance and when I called the company to tell them it's fraud and they don't live here they told me "the policy holder would need to call in to change it" and wouldn't do anything else. Companies should be made responsible for investing reports of fraud from non customers. 

Yes I was told the same by the land registry. Only the person who put my address on there can change it.
It’s bonkers that they don’t even cross check within their own organisation.

user1977

bedruzenka said:

the council worker was adamant that they will pursue this matter at my address due to the land registry record. According to them the company (the director resides/owns?) my house.

So either they're thick, or they hope you are and that you'll believe them. Even if a company director did reside at or own your house, that wouldn't give the company's creditors the ability to slap charges on it.

bedruzenka

user1977 said:

bedruzenka said:

the council worker was adamant that they will pursue this matter at my address due to the land registry record. According to them the company (the director resides/owns?) my house.

So either they're thick, or they hope you are and that you'll believe them. Even if a company director did reside at or own your house, that wouldn't give the company's creditors the ability to slap charges on it.

So hypothetically if the council keeps pursuing this through the courts(with my address)  and let’s say they send bailiffs to my address and the bailiffs will claim the same as the council ( quoting the land registry record) what happens then?

I’ve heard some horror stories of what councils do.
And thanks for all your help