Land Registry

[auzzie]

I have no idea if this is the right place to put this question. No doubt somebody will point me in the right direction if this is wrong. I have seen a dilapidated house that i would be interested in buying. Looking at the land registry the owner lives at the house in question. He clearly does not. This house has not been lived in for years. How do i go about finding the owner and if the owner is deceased what do i do from there?

[Buenchico]

A few suggestions:

1. Ask around the neighbours.

2. Contact the local register office to see if there's a record of the owner's death:
http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/deaths/howdo ifindmylocalregisteroffice/index.asp

3. See if a will has received a grant of probate:
http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/1226.ht m

4. Check with the local planning office to see if anyone has applied for planning permission for the property:
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/wps/portal/ge npub_LocalInformation?docRef=1103046453478&sco pe=202&langid=0

You might have some luck with those methods but if, say, the owner is in a residential home with Alzheimer's (and he never receives visits from relatives), you might find it impossible to make much progress. Similarly, the owner might be serving a life sentence in prison but still hopes to move back into the house upon his release.

Good luck, anyway!

Chris

[auzzie]

As always. many thanks Chris. Plenty of homework there. That will keep me off the streets for a while!! :)

[buildersmate]

Good ideas from Chris, which I agrre with.
Another thing you could try is to see whether the property has exemption from Council Tax payment. There are certain exemption Classes applied when the only owner is in prison or in long-term nursing home accommodation.