Could your house be sold without your knowledge or consent ?

[Scaleyback]

Certainly a headline to catch your attention.

Our recent experience drew our attention to this shocking fraud.

My Wife has Lasting Power of Attorney for her elderly Auntie, who is in a care home. My wife has recently sold her Aunties house with the funds obviously going back to Auntie to pay for her care.

Put aside 40 mins to listen to this disturbing program on BBC Sounds

Lasting Power of Attorney fraud

 

[Oldhippy]

My first wife did a runner with her boyfriend and they did that. Never heard of or seen them since.

 

[Scaleyback]

The Government Office concerned is named ' Office of the Public Guardian' Wow ! that is a misnomer if I ever heard one.

 

[MontyVeda]

Yes it can... it's been all over R4s You & Yours and Moneybox in recent weeks... horrid to think the legal system can be manipulated in this way, and hopefully the loopholes will be gone.

 

[mustang1]

I saw a movie about this a few months ago. A lawyer used to go to old people's homes and persuade the owner they are better off in a retirement home. The lawyer took possession of the house and lived a lavish lifestyle.

 

[Cycleops]

Was that the story of a man who had been alway for a year to find someone was installed in his house and doing alternations? In Luton I think.
The police initially said it was a civil matter but after a rethink prosecuted the imposter for fraud.

 

[T4tomo]

Was that the story of a man who had been alway for a year to find someone was installed in his house and doing alternations? In Luton I think.
The police initially said it was a civil matter but after a rethink prosecuted the imposter for fraud.

that's different story that had nothing to do with Lasting Power of Attorney fraud.

 

[Scaleyback]

Was that the story of a man who had been alway for a year to find someone was installed in his house and doing alternations? In Luton I think.
The police initially said it was a civil matter but after a rethink prosecuted the imposter for fraud.

No, it is about a totally fraudulent application for Lasting Power of Attorney being granted by the Office of the Public Guardian. It appears they did / do not do identity checks etc.
When approached by the legal home owner the advice she was given was 'mind boggling'

 

[Milkfloat]

You can and should set up an alert on the property. I have alerts setup for my whole extended family - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/property-alert

 

[Arrowfoot]

I am concerned that Police did not take it up in the first instance.

 

[Saluki]

This is horrific. That poor woman, especially as the original document is still out in the wild somewhere.
I have forwarded the programme link to a sole owner, often away for months at a time, mortgage paid off years ago. He will ignore it as ‘it could never happen to him’ but I have sent it anyway.

 

[Arrowfoot]

You can and should set up an alert on the property. I have alerts setup for my whole extended family - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/property-alert

Fantastic idea mate. Did not know of it. I like the part where you can register and monitor for someone who is vulnerable without owning to.

 

[Alex321]

You can and should set up an alert on the property. I have alerts setup for my whole extended family - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/property-alert

I never knew about that, and have now set it up. Thanks.

 

[welsh dragon]

There was a story not long ago where a gentleman went back to his house after a couple of months and found that It had been sold and the new owner was refurbishing it.

At first the police said it was a civil matter and wouldn't investigate but after he contacted the newspapers they changed their mind and found the person that sold it.

Don't know what happened after that.

You can contact the land registry and set up an alert so that in the event someone tries to look into details of your house you will be alerted.

 

[Badger_Boom]

Certainly a headline to catch your attention.

Our recent experience drew our attention to this shocking fraud.

My Wife has Lasting Power of Attorney for her elderly Auntie, who is in a care home. My wife has recently sold her Aunties house with the funds obviously going back to Auntie to pay for her care.

Put aside 40 mins to listen to this disturbing program on BBC Sounds

Lasting Power of Attorney fraud

We listened to this when it went out last week. Terrifying how much was taken on trust by some of the organisations involved, but also top marks to the solicitors who smelt a rat.