Upcoming Events :
Housing Seminar: Partnerships with the Public Sector – Avoiding the pitfalls
Thu 31 May 2012
Minerva House, 5 Montague Close, London, SE1 9BB
Land Registry measures to tackle property fraud
Wed 08 Feb 2012
The Land Registry has launched a new initiative to make homeowners who do not reside at their house less vulnerable to property fraud.
According to the organisation, empty and tenanted homes are particularly attractive targets for fraudsters, since they can be sold to generate cash.
The Land Registry is therefore launching the Form LL restriction to curb the activity.
Where these are used the conveyancer or solicitor involved in a transaction will have to say if they are satisfied the real owner is trying to sell or mortgage a house.
Mark Vinall, a partner at Winckworth Sherwood who specialises in enfranchisement and property matters, commented: "Non-resident property owners such as foreign investors in London's flats and houses can now reduce their fear of losing their asset through fraud.
"An additional safeguard can now be added to the property owner's title to help reduce the risk of a fraudster impersonating the property owner and disposing of, or obtaining funds against, the asset."
