Has Anyone Ever Claimed an Abandoned House?

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

Where I used to live there was a house end of our row that the lady who lived in it died.
We only know that this because the other half bumped into her daughter one day not long after.

It was still empty 6 years later when we moved.

There was some hold up due to suspicious circumstances, the daughter was actually on the phone to her when we she died, but we didn't get any more info.

 

[DRZ]

If the owners have died intestate and there is no heir, the property will be declared 'bona vacantia' and will become the property of the Crown.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/unclaimed-estates-list is a list of all such properties that are known about.

Everything else has an owner, so you would need to go through the adverse possession process...

 

[radderfire]

So I've paid to get the title deed and I now have the name of the title holder, registered to the abandoned address.

I've checked the unclaimed estates list, and they're not on there.

I've been informed by a local that the property has been abandoned for a long time (years).

I'm now trying to see what has happened to the owner, I'd like to trace them. However, I think it's likely they've passed away. I have tried the General Registry Office, and they cannot really help. All they can do is provide a death certificate if I can give a name and a d.o.b. or date of death, which I don't have.

Does anyone know of any other way to trace someone. I have spoken to the council in relation to this and they will get back to me. However, I want to know if there is a way I can find out more about the owner.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[NickK]

GD question.. Does it have have an abandoned letterbox too?

 

[dlockers]

If the owners have died intestate and there is no heir, the property will be declared 'bona vacantia' and will become the property of the Crown.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/unclaimed-estates-list is a list of all such properties that are known about.

Everything else has an owner, so you would need to go through the adverse possession process...

Some civil servant is updated that CSV daily and uploading..what a waste of money

 

[radderfire]

There’s a 3 bed semi a few doors down from me, it’s been abandoned for about 15 years. The owner is an older man who lives out of London and for some bizarre reason he has no interest in it whatsoever. It’s just standing there, dilapidating.

It’s a crying shame as it’s a £475k house and would make a lovely family home for someone. I’m surprised the council is allowing it tbh.

If you actually know who the owner is and they're alive, then you can contact them and make them an offer. You never know, they might be amenable to a sale and you'd get a bargain! I think there are also companies who do this and would pay you a finder's fee if they are successful (if you can trust them!!)

 

[radderfire]

So, the question is at this stage, how can I trace the owner (whose name I have) and their relatives? I know there are specialised law firms that do this, as per the TV programme Heir Hunters, but is there a way I can do it myself? I am currently drawing a blank from what's available on the internet, so does anybody know?

 

[Hotwired]

Electoral roll is available: https://www.192.com/people/electoral-roll/

Pay the council admin fees to get a copy of lists of licence holders.

Search Companies House.

If they never did any business or held any publicly listed licences or had any public recognition you're going to be reduced to an incredibly dodgy character on social media sending everyone with the right name unsolicited private messages asking to buy their house.

Only 97 years to go until the 2021 census is allowed to be fully public also.

 

[COYS]

Does it have a decent driveway you can park your caravan on?

 

[radderfire]

Does it have a decent driveway you can park your caravan on?

Yes, although I don't own a caravan.

 

[taB]

Yes, although I don't own a caravan.

Can you claim one?

 

[dlockers]

Can you claim one?

Only if he doesn't mind dogs

 

[petridish]

Only if he doesn't mind dogs

*Dags