Protect your home from property fraud

Your property is probably the most valuable asset you own. That's why it's important you do whatever you can to protect it from the risk of fraud.

Fraudsters often target properties where there is no mortgage or the owner lives elsewhere. Fraudsters may attempt to acquire ownership of a property either by using a forged document to transfer it into their own name, or by impersonating the registered owner.

There is an increased risk of fraud when:

a property is empty or has been bought to let
an owner is spending time abroad or absent
the owner is infirm or in a nursing or care home
a relationship breaks down
a property has no mortgage.

You can help to make sure that you do not become a victim of property fraud by:

Registering your property
Keeping your contact details up to date

How to request or apply for a restriction to help prevent forgery:

Additional security for owners not living at the registered property
Additional security for owner occupiers of a registered property
What to do if you think that you have already been the victim of property fraud

Is your property registered?

About 20 per cent of land in England and Wales remains unregistered. Firstly you should make sure that your property is registered. If you then become an innocent victim of fraud and suffer a financial loss as a consequence, you may be compensated.

Are your contact details up to date?

If your property is registered, you should make sure the contact details we hold for you are up to date.

When we receive an application regarding your property, we may write to you about it. If your details are not up to date, you may not receive our letter or email.

You can provide us with three different addresses, including an email address and an address abroad. Download and complete the following form to add an address or update your existing contact details. There is no charge for this service.

Updating registered owners' contact address form (PDF)
Protect yourself from property fraud - guide including address form (PDF)

Once you have completed the form, send it to us at:

Freepost RSUY-SSUU-EJRX
Land Registry
Gloucester Office
COA Team
Twyver House
Bruton Way
Gloucester
GL1 1DQ

If we receive an application to change your contact details we will send a letter to both your old and new addresses to check that the application is genuine.

Additional security for owners not living at the
registered property (Form RQ)

For owners who do not live at the registered property, we have introduced an additional security measure.

Under this measure you or your conveyancer can make a request using our form RQ asking the registrar to enter a restriction, free of charge.

Form RQ lets you make a request for a restriction to be placed in the register of the title to your property. Simply print off the form and complete it. Then send it to the address shown on the form. A separate form must be used for each registered property.

Find out more about the process and what a restriction means:

Please visit our questions and answers for form RQ before completing your application.

Download form RQ

Form RQ - Request for a restriction by owner(s) not living at the property (PDF)
Form RQ - Request for a restriction by owner(s) not living at the property (MS Word)

Please do not send form RQ to us with any other type of application.

If you qualify but have made a previous application for a restriction using form RX1 and paid a fee then you can request a refund of your fee, provided:

you made the RX1 application on or after 1 February 2012 and
you, or at least one of the other owners do not live at the property.

Additional security for owner occupiers of a
registered property (Form RX1)

Owner occupiers who do not qualify to request a restriction using form RQ can still apply for restriction in their register but have to apply using form RX1. We have created a special restriction for those who believe they may be at risk.

This Form LL restriction makes sure that we will not register a sale or a mortgage, unless a solicitor or other conveyancer has certified that the person who has signed the deed is the registered owner. This could help to prevent a fraudster forging a signature. There is a £40 fee for this service.

The wording of a restriction is very important and we advise that you get advice from your solicitor or conveyancer if you wish to protect your property in this way.

Public Guide 17 - How to safeguard against property fraud provides more information on the methods of protection available for home-owners.

What to do if you think that you have already
been the victim of property fraud

Contact a solicitor or a Citizens Advice Bureau and Action Fraud.
Get professional advice if you are not sure what to do.
Contact our property fraud line on 0300 006 7030 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm).
Fill in our fraud reporting form and we will call you back during office hours.

What is Land Registry doing to reduce the risk of property fraud?

As part of our anti-fraud strategy, we have put measures in place to reduce the risk of property fraud. These measures are kept confidential to ensure security and are continuously reviewed. We have a dedicated Counter Fraud Group and work closely with the police and other agencies to reduce the risk of property fraud. Our counter-fraud measures have prevented fraud valued at £52 million since September 2009.