Property title fraud and how to protect yourself

You can take steps to protect your property from being fraudulently sold or mortgaged.You’re more at risk if:your identity’s been stolenyou rent out your propertyyou live overseasthe property’s emptythe property isn’t mortgagedthe property isn’tregistered with HM Land RegistryYour property will be registered if you bought it or mortgaged it since 1998 – check the register if you’re unsure.You must tell HM Land Registry if information in the register is incorrect, for example if you change your contact address.You can track changes to the register or put a restriction on your title if you think you’re at risk.Track changes to the registerYou can sign up to get property alerts if someone applies to change the register of your property, for example if someone tries to use your property for a mortgage.This won’t automatically block any changes to the register but will alert you when something changes so that you can take action.You can get alerts for up to 10 properties – there’s no fee.Put a restriction on your titleYou can stop HM Land Registry registering a sale or mortgage on your property unless a conveyancer or solicitor certifies the application was made by you.Business ownersFill in a request for a restriction if you’re a company owning property.Send your application to the address on the form – there’s no fee.If you don’t live at the propertyFill in a request for a restriction for owners not living at the property if you own the property privately – there’s no fee.If you live at the propertyFill in an application for a restriction. It costs £40.Send completed forms to the HM Land Registry Citizen Centre.HM Land RegistryCitizen CentrePO Box 74GloucesterGL14 9BBHM Land Registry will tell you when they add the restriction.If you’re a victim of property fraudContact HM Land Registry property fraud line if you think you’re the victim of property fraud.HM Land Registry property fraud [email protected]: 0300 006 7030Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pmSource for this episode: HM Land RegistryTo contact us with your property questions for future episodes please see the links below:Facebook: www.facebook.com/asktheestateagentInstagram: www.instagram.com/asktheestateagentTwitter: www.twitter.com/asktheEAWebsite: www.asktheestateagent.co.ukSo don’t forget to contact us with any subjects you would like us to cover or questions you would like answering in the coming episodes and until next time I would like to thank you for listening and goodbye for now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.