Property title theft fraud has cost thousands

A record amount of money has been paid out by the Land Registry -the public sector body that registers land and property ownership -because landlords are failing to register properties online andadequately protect sensitive data.

Liz Richards, head of legal and policy at the Association ofResidential Letting Agents (ARLA), advises that the Pounds 26mawarded since 2006 could be easily avoided by landlords taking a fewsimple steps. "ARLA members are advising all landlords to contactthe Land Registry to ask that any formal notices to them be sent toan alternative address. This prevents tenants who are criminalsintercepting this important correspondence," explained Liz Richards.

"This may seem a little extreme but in our experience it goessome way towards deterring the misuse of such records. Theinformation that is now available on the internet makes it a loteasier for criminals to take out mortgages on properties they do notown, pocketing the money and leaving the legitimate owner in debt -with the stress and aggravation of retrieving title of their ownproperty."