In partnership with the Land Registry we are making our clients aware of the risks of property fraud.

The Land Registry has identified certain categories of owners who may be more susceptible to fraud such as:

• Elderly owners who are in hospital or who have moved in to a care home
• Owners who live abroad
• Owners who no longer live in a property and who have had an acrimonious break up with their partner
• Owners who let a property on a tenancy
• Owners who leave a property empty
• Owners who have a high value property without a legal charge
• Owners who are redeveloping their property
• Personal representatives responsible for a property where an owner has died and the property is to be sold

In order to minimise risk where there are vulnerable owners or properties the Land Registry advises registered proprietors to keep any addresses they have registered for service up to date.

If you are intending to leave your property empty for a significant period of time you should consider registering some other address for service.

If you are not living in a property you may also wish to place a restriction on the register to state that a Conveyancer has to certify that they are satisfied that the person who is selling or charging a property is the same person as the proprietor.

Alternatively or in addition to this, the Land Registry now offers a Property Alert Service. Property Alert is free property monitoring service aimed at anyone who feels a registered property could be at risk from fraud. If you sign up to the service, you will receive email alerts when certain activity occurs on your monitored properties, allowing you to take action if necessary. You can register for this service online on https://propertyalert.landregistry.gov.uk/

At mosshaselhurst Solicitors we are property experts and can assist you in protecting your property from fraud. Please contact us at reception@mosshaselhurst.co.uk or telephone the office on 01606 74301 for assistance.