Who does it belong to?

Question

A relative has recenly died. He lived in his house for over 70 years and we believe that he owned it. How do we find out who the house belongs to? We know it does not belong to the council but can't find any deeds.

How do I check with the Land Registry Office? Is there a website I can check it out on?

Web address's would be useful on this one Gal's & Guy's

Answer 1

If the house has not been sold/purchased in the last 70 years then the odds are it is not registered with the Land Registry....as registry is compulsory only when the house is sold/purchased. This being so then all you can do is rely upon the deeds...which you say are lost.

Disregarding the lost deeds for the moment: the first thing you must do is establish who now owns the property...is there a will? If there is fine...the new owner will be shown thereon...if there is no will then the property will go to the next of kin...if the next of kin is unclear then you may have to instruct a solicitor to establish just who is the next of kin and hence, the new property owner.


Having established just who does own the property then the law allows the new owner to swear a Statutory Declaration, before a solicitor, stating that the deeds to the property are lost. This Statutory Declaration acts to replace the deed and can be used to have the property registered with the Land Registry.

Answer 2

Click onto "Land Registry", Youll get all the information you want on there.

Answer 3

Try the titles office in your area.

Answer 4

You could go to a title search company. They can find out for you for a nominal fee.

Answer 5

i think its best you go to your county clerks office

Answer 6

http://www.landregisteronline.gov.uk/

Hope that helps!