Just under 1% of UK homes are currently registered with HM Land Registry's Property Alert Service, a free service that alerts you of any local authority searches being conducted on a property which would indicate that a solicitor is preparing a mortgage on the property.
Property fraud is rare; however, it can happen. ID theft can lead to attempted remortgaging of properties, particularly mortgage free properties, raising cash which then goes to the fraudsters account. Other targeted properties could include tenanted properties and properties that are empty.
This type of fraud is extremely rare, but signing up for the HM Land Registry Property Alert service is quick, easy, and free. https://propertyalert.landregistry.gov.uk/
