It could be very expensive to fix if you don’t take action now
Homeowners have been urged to do a quick online check that could save them a lot of heartache. Your home could be at risk which could be costly to fix if you don’t make the change.
Qualified mortgage advisor Daniel ShenSmith warned his YouTube viewers about a common “problem” that homeowners face. One way fraudsters could target you is by taking out another mortgage on your property, or trying to change the registration details in HM Land Registry. He said there is a common misconception that, should someone try and do this, Land Registry will automatically send you an email to verify the situation.
But there is a risk you may not hear about the scammers trying to change the details. He said this could happen if you are away on holiday or if you rent out the property, or if you are otherwise away from the property, and so you might not receive any letters or communications about the issue.
‘Simple’ solution
Fortunately, the financial professional said there is a “surprisingly simple” to make sure you do hear about any untoward changes. You just need to go to the gov.uk website and sign up for the Property Alert service for HM Land Registry. The expert said you can complete the process in just 60 seconds.
You can sign up to be sent alerts for your property, as well as the property of a friend or relative. In fact, you can use this service to monitor to up to 10 properties. You will be sent an email alert about any “significant activity” for the property, such as if a new mortgage is taken out against it.
What details are included in the email alert?
The alert will email you details such as:
- An application being made to change the register
- Who the applicant is
- The date and time it was received.
If you do get an email, it doesn’t necessarily mean the activity was not legitimate. Government guidance explains: “Not all alert emails will mean fraudulent activity.
“If you don’t think the alert email is about any suspicious activity, you don’t need to do anything.” The email will tell you who to contact if the activity was not legitimate. The service is free to use.
