Property Title Fraud on the Rise - Here’s How to Stay Safe

Property title fraud is on the rise and criminals are getting more sophisticated. By impersonating registered owners, they’ve attempted to steal homes or secure mortgages against them, often without anyone noticing until it’s too late. Rental properties are particularly exposed because tenants, not owners, are in residence so suspicious changes can go unnoticed.

At OC Homes, we’re breaking down what’s happening, why landlords are at higher risk, and the simple, free step you can take today to protect your portfolio.

Why Rental Homes Are Targeted

Fraudsters can pose as landlords using forged documents. With tenants in place, official letters may be intercepted or ignored, and identity assumptions are easier to pull off. In short: absent owners = easier targets.

Real-World Attempts (Stopped in Time)

  • A £360,000 bungalow was nearly transferred for well below market value. The true owners received an alert, visited the property, found the locks changed and a For Sale board up and Land Registry blocked the transfer.
  • In another case, criminals tried to register a £200,000 mortgage against a landlord’s rental. An alert flagged it and the Land Registry stopped the application.

The Free Protection Too Few Use

Since 2013, only around 857,000 properties have been registered for HM Land Registry’s free Property Alert Service — that’s roughly 3% of the 28.6 million households in England and Wales.

How the Property Alert Service Works

  • Monitor up to 10 properties for free
  • Immediate email alerts when applications are made to change ownership or register a mortgage
  • Early warning = rapid intervention so Land Registry can investigate and, where necessary, block fraudulent activity


👉 You can register by searching “HM Land Registry Property Alert” on gov.uk or by clicking here

Extra Steps to Reduce Risk

  • Keep your contact details up to date with HM Land Registry so alerts reach you fast.
  • Place a restriction on the title (particularly if you don’t live at the property) to require a solicitor/ conveyancer to certify identity before changes.
  • Use a trusted, regulated agent who verifies identities, keeps correspondence tight, and spots anomalies early.
  • Be wary of unsolicited approaches to buy, let, or refinance your property — verify independently.
  • Secure your mailbox and redirect post if you’ve moved; consider paperless statements to reduce interception risk.


In Summary

Title fraud is real but preventable. Criminals often target rentals because the owner isn’t on site. The Land Registry’s free Property Alert Service is the fastest, simplest line of defence, and it’s proven to work. If you only do one thing today, enrol your properties.

At OC Homes, we help landlords stay one step ahead. From identity checks to title restrictions and portfolio reviews, we’ll guide you through practical protections that fit your situation.

Whether you’re visiting our Gidea Park office (near the Elizabeth Line) or our Leyton branch on the Central Line, our friendly experts are here to help you safeguard your assets and manage risk with confidence.

Ready to protect your portfolio? Get in touch with OC Homes here, or pop into Gidea Park or Leyton and we’ll set you up with the right safeguards, starting with Property Alerts.

Popular posts like this