Are you considering buying a property at online auction? Researching the current owner of a property could help you make a more informed decision about purchasing before placing your bids. Finding the current owner is easier than you may think, and having access to former purchase prices might help you to decide how much you’re willing to pay for it.
In this article, we’ll share reasons why you might want to do some research before taking part in one of our online property auctions, and how to find out who owns a property by address for free.
The simplest way to find out who owns a property in England and Wales is by accessing HM Land Registry online.
It holds information on most properties or land sold in England and Wales since 1993, and offers services at varying costs, starting from a free Title Summary search to a Flood Risk Indicator search (currently £10.80 including VAT). HM Land Registry can provide detailed information on properties ahead of auction start dates, to help you decide whether to put forward a bid.
If you’re searching for properties in Scotland, you’ll need to access the Scottish Land Registry, and for properties in Northern Ireland, check the country’s Land & Property Services. Fees will differ from HM Land Registry.
It’s not a requirement to know who owns a property you’re interested in bidding on before taking part in an auction. However, any information found can prove to be useful when it comes to deciding where to set your maximum bid.
HM Land Registry offers a free service known as a Title Summary. It will give you the property’s address, its registry description, its tenure type and its last sold price. All you’ll need to access this information is the street name or postcode of the property, which you’ll be able to find in the property adverts displayed in our online auction catalogue.
Knowing how much the property last sold for - and how long the current owner has owned it for - can give you a good indication of how much you can expect it to sell for at auction, and its condition. And if you’re an investor looking for a rental property, tenure information can be particularly useful.
If you want to find out about the owner specifically, you can pay a fee of £3 to access a Title Register. This service allows you to see the name of the land or property owner, any easements (third party rights) affecting the property, and mortgage information. Again, you’ll only need a postcode or street name to access this information, and you’ll be able to choose the address from a list provided.
Something especially useful for land purchases, or properties with unclear boundaries at face value, is a Title Plan. Available for a £3 fee, the Title Plan will show you the property or land’s boundaries, and information about its location.
The most expensive service offered by HM Land Registry is the Flood Risk Indicator. This report is incredibly useful for discovering how likely a property is to flood, which is something house insurance providers will take into account. If a property is located in a high flood-risk area, it’s worth considering insurance premiums following a purchase.
At Pugh, we always encourage buyers to conduct thorough research on properties before placing bids, as once the virtual gavel falls, you’re legally obligated to complete the purchase.
If you’re in search of a property to buy at online auction, take a look at the lots we have coming up for sale, or call us on 0345 505 1200 for more advice.
