Securing an empty property and keeping it safe from fraud

Securing an empty property

It is the responsibility of the owners to maintain and secure an empty property so that it is not causing nuisance to others.

We recommend that you

• insure your property with the appropriate level of cover
• if the property is to be empty for an unknown period of time, consider turning off the water at the stop cock and draining radiators. Check first if you have a shared water supply
• fit timer switches to lights so they come on in the evening as they would if someone was living there
• fit a security light to dimly lit areas
• fit good quality locks to the windows and doors
• hang net curtains or blinds in the windows so that it's not as easy to see inside
• keep the garden tidy and make sure the bins are emptied and put away. This will also keep the neighbours happy
• if you are on good terms with your neighbours, let them know that the property is empty. Perhaps give them your telephone number so that they can contact you if they see or hear anything unusual at the property
• make sure that the property has a working burglar alarm and doors and windows are locked. Or consider installing security cameras, this can be a relatively low cost way of deterring anti-social behaviour
• consider keeping the heating on a timer at a low level in the winter to prevent burst pipes
• make sure mail is removed from the property on a regular basis.

If the worst happens and the property is broken into, there are permanent solutions such as boarding up the property or installing steel shuttering to prevent unauthorised access. If you anticipate that the property will be left empty for a long period of time it can be a good investment to install security shutters in the first instance as, long term this may save you money from damage resulting from break-ins.

Various security companies are able to assist with security solutions for long-term empty properties, including interlinked alarms.

Fraud relating to the theft of empty properties

Criminals may attempt to sell or mortgage a property by impersonating an owner using false or stolen ID. They often target sole owners, especially of un-mortgaged properties, absent owners, owners who have died, or people that have built up equity in their property.

Known as 'deed fraud', 'home title fraud', 'title theft', or 'house stealing'. It is the illegal transfer and recording of a property title without the knowledge or consent of the legal owner. Criminals often target vacant properties, especially if the legal owner is deceased. In some cases, this can lead to the sale of your property to a new owner without the true owner's knowledge.

It is a type of identity theft where criminals forge the true owner's signature on the deeds as they sell it to themselves. When they register the sale at the Land Registry, they will either use fraudulent identification, a counterfeit notary signature, or even work with an unethical registered notary to carry out the fraud. After taking ownership of the property, they are free to do whatever they want, even sell it as a legitimate buyer.

Please be aware, as criminals are operating in the Swansea area.

Your property is more at risk if

• the property is empty
• you rent out your property
• you live overseas
• the property is not mortgaged
• the property is not registered with HM Land Registry
• your identity has been stolen

Measures you can take to help prevent property fraud

• Sign up to get property alerts

This will alert you if someone applies to change the register of your property, for example if someone tries to use your property for a mortgage.

Property Alert - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) (opens new window)

• Notify HM Land Registry if you change your contact address  

This ensures that all correspondence relating to your property comes to you at your correspondence address. If HM Land Registry does not know your correct correspondence address, they cannot notify you of any changes to the title.

Registering land or property with HM Land Registry: Update or correct the register (www.gov.uk) (opens new window)

• Put a restriction on the title

You can stop HM Land Registry registering a sale or mortgage on your property unless a conveyancer or solicitor certifies the application was made by you.

For owners not living at the property you can fill in a 'request for a restriction for owners not living at the property'. If you own the property privately, there is no fee. 

Restriction by owner not living at property request: registration (RQ) (gov.uk) (opens new window)

If you're a victim of property fraud

Contact HM Land Registry property fraud team if you think you are the victim of property fraud.

HM Land Registry Property Fraud Team
reportafraud@landregistry.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 006 7030
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Find out about call charges (opens new window)

You can also:

• seek advice from Citizens Advice (opens new window) or an independent legal adviser
• report it to Action Fraud (opens new window)