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A solid building, made of bricks and mortar, seems an unlikely target for thieves. For most of us our homes evoke a powerful sense of security; ‘safe as houses’ as the old saying goes. But the facts tell a different story, as there has been an exponential growth in property fraud which now accounts for 70 per cent of all frauds.
Media reports of a Luton vicar discovering his locks changed and a stranger in his home, is an extreme example, however, there is no room for complacency and there is a lot that you and your solicitor can do to prevent you becoming a victim of property fraud.
Reverend Mike Hall made the headlines when a fraudster targeted his modest terraced house in Luton. Working away from home, he was surprised when his neighbours called to say there was someone in his house. Hurrying back, he was even more surprised to find his home stripped of furniture and a builder mid-renovation. When challenged, the builder called the new owner who claimed to have bought the property in good faith. Worse, Land Registry records confirmed the change in ownership and the police initially refused to get involved, saying it was a ‘civil matter’.
Sadly, this was a bad case of a property fraud where the fraudster had used the Reverend’s driving licence and bank details to impersonate him and had purported to sell his home.
The buyer, and their conveyancer, believing they were dealing with the real owner of the property accepted a fake transfer deed. The sale proceeds were then transferred to the fraudster’s account.
With registered land, entry in the register is definitive proof of ownership. While the Land Registry may conduct its own investigations, it also relies upon checks by conveyancers. Unfortunately, the Land Registry had already registered the buyer in the register when it discovered the transfer was fake. The rules about correcting the register are complex. In general, the Land Registry will not alter the register if that means displacing an innocent owner who is in occupation. Instead, it compensates the wronged party.
This guarantee of title means victims, like Reverend Hall, have some financial protection. However, it does not compensate for the stress and heartache caused by property fraud and the tortuous process of sorting things out.
So, it is important to reduce the risk of becoming a victim.
You can find more tips on how to protect your property in a guide issued jointly by the Fraud Advisory Panel, the Land Registry and the Law Society.
Moving house can be both exciting and stressful, and it can be easy to let your guard down. However, always try to stay vigilant. Conveyancing fraud is on the rise. It may take many forms, and sadly you may be particularly vulnerable when buying or selling your home, due to the large sums of money at stake.
As in Reverend Hall’s case, a fraudster may impersonate the real owner, or pretend to be a conveyancer or claim they work for a genuine law firm. They may then dupe home buyers, conveyancers, or mortgage lenders, into transferring funds into fake accounts. Cyber criminals may even intercept emails, sending bogus requests for money, and exploiting insecure wifi systems.
There are simple ways to reduce these risks. For example, check emails carefully, paying particular attention to any requests to transfer money, or changes to what you agreed previously. If you feel something is not right, or are just not sure about something, call your conveyancer. Telephone them on a number you trust and confirm the position personally. In many cases, people could have thwarted a fraud if they had just picked up the phone or checked things in person.
Our solicitors have robust systems in place to protect you. We will explain these to you and what to be aware of.
As a firm, we believe it is just as important to give you our close personal attention. Diligence and approachability, as well as our technical expertise, are the best ways to keep your transaction safe and on track.
For further information, or to talk about how we can help you move home safely, please contact Pippa Woodcock in the residential property team on 01832 273506 or email [email protected].
Associate - Team Leader Residential Property
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