Unable to contact deceased property owner?

Unable to contact deceased property owner?

0:01 AM, 27th June 2023, About 11 months ago 12

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Hello, I wish to meet and discuss with the owner matters concerning his/this property, however, the registered owner remains a gentleman who died 13 years ago.

The owner died Intestate in August 2010 and the Administration of his estate was begun by his daughter who submitted details at the time to the District Probate Registry at Winchester but up to now, thirteen years later she has failed to complete her duties as Administrator and submit form AS1 and others to Land Registry. She has not registered the property in her, or anyone else’s name. She does not live at the property which is occupied by unrelated third parties.

Under Intestacy Rules, her Father’s house will become the property of his only daughter, the Administrator.

As shown on the government website documentation states that one “must register all land and property with HM Land Registry if you’ve inherited it”. It would seem from the word “must” that this is mandatory. It may be argued that the daughter has not yet inherited the property because the Administrator (herself) has not yet registered it in her name. There also seems to be no time limit over which these Administration duties ‘must’ be carried out.

However, I contend that after a delay of 13 years, this is unacceptable. I remain unable to contact and discuss matters about this property with the owner. My question is: ‘How can this situation be resolved so that I may contact a living owner’?

Thanks,

Frank


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Comments

Michael Mathews

13:43 PM, 28th June 2023, About 11 months ago

SQUATTING?

If the "unrelated third parties" are occupying the property without the permission of the "Administrator", then they may be in "Adverse Possession" of the property (squatting) and so entitled, after 10 years to apply to have the property ownership transferred into their names free of any encumbrances (mortgages etc). If nobody puts up an arguable objection to this application, they get the house put in their name free of charge. If an arguable objection is submitted to HMLR within 60 working days, then the squatter would have to wait another 2 years, and if still not evicted, apply again for the property to be transferred into their name for free. At which point there would be a clear "owner" of the property

MargG

9:16 AM, 1st July 2023, About 11 months ago

Hi Frank,
This sounds like me. My father died around that time, and I have not yet transferred the property to my name, as no one else is involved.
Can you tell me what area the house is in.
Marg.

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