How to find out who owns an empty house

[tushkar]

The old lady who owned this house died 3 years ago. All I know is her name. How can I find out who now owns the house which has been empty since she died? I believe she has a brother.

[RATTER15]

I think you need to go to the local council offices and they have a record of all the owners of all land in the area.

[Susie Strawb]

As long as you've got the full address of the property including postcode you can check with the Land Registry who will charge a couple of pounds. They can provide you with an updated copy of the Register of Title which will show the current registered owner of the property

[Grunty]

Try this site. You can get the information you require online for �3.
http://www.landregisteronline.gov.uk/

[Eve]

It does, however, depend on the dealings with the land since her death.

It may be unregistered if she owned it for a long time or may not have been dealt with according to her will/intestacy provisions as yet.

If there has been no assent or sale or such then it may still be unregistered or registered in her name.

If this is the case and if a grant of probate or similar has been made (there is no time limit) you can obtain a copy and a copy of the will if any from the probate registry which may detail who the house was left to or who it is now vested in.

Try here for more details...http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/1226.ht m#details.

If she does not have any surviving family etc... and died intestate the land would vest in the state (bona vacantia - http://www.bonavacantia.gov.uk/default.asp?pag eid=1311) and would be dealt with by either the Treasury solicitors or solicitors for the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall (Farrer & Co in London)

There are companies who can trace owners of unregistered land etc... if you have no joy at the land registry eg 1stlocate...http://www.1stlocate.co.uk/ownerless_land.htm but they do charge fees.

Further enquiries and information would, I suppose, depend on your reasons for wanting to know.

If you want any more details let me know.

[flyciderman]

Sorry Ratteri5 the council do not hold a list as you suggest

[tushkar]

Not quite sure how i am supposed to say thank you to all who have naswered my question so ..... thank you all very much. Your answers are much appreciated.

[Sooper]

I work at the Land Registry and i think that is your first port of call,You can always ring up and they will give you FREE advice over the phone or you can go on-line and download office copies of the Title Plan or the Register for �3 each or you can visit your local office and pay �4 per copy i have att'd a link for all the regional offices there are 24 up and down the country.
http://www.landreg.gov.uk/regional/offices/
Good luck and i hope you find the information that you need.