Reverend Mike Hall, who managed to regain ownership of his Luton home two years after it was sold without his knowledge due to identity theft. Mr. Hall discovered in August 2021 that his house had been sold without his permission, as someone impersonating him had successfully completed the sale for £131,000 while he was working in north Wales.
After a long legal battle and efforts to prove that the sale was fraudulent, Mr. Hall's name was eventually restored as the owner of the house on the Land Registry. However, upon his return to the property, he found that squatters had moved in and caused significant damage to the house. He estimated that there was approximately £60,000 worth of damage.
Mr. Hall intends to seek an Interim Possession Order through the courts, which would allow the police to remove the squatters from his property. Bedfordshire Police has advised him to pursue this legal route.
The case highlights the challenges faced by homeowners in situations of identity theft and property fraud, and the need for legal remedies to address such issues and protect property rights.