BBC File on Four’s recent episode, Ghost Houses, highlights the increasing number of empty properties in England & Wales and the issues these cause their surrounding neighbourhoods.
The rise of ghost homes
So called “Ghost homes”, effectively empty homes, are properties that remain unoccupied for extended periods of time. These properties are often found in various conditions, ranging from fully furnished to completely dilapidated. Empty homes can often cause a range of issues to neighbouring properties and the local communities in which they are situated such as crime and anti-social behaviour.
There are several reasons why properties may become ghost homes including:
- Inheritance: Properties may become ghost homes due to the inability to locate the next of kin of the person who has passed away. Even once a next of kin has been located, the properties may stay vacant whilst the next of kin waits for the legal authority to deal with the estate, known as the Grant of Representation.
- Overseas owners: Properties owned by individuals living abroad may be left vacant due to the owner’s inability to manage them from afar.
- Investment purposes: Some homes are purchased purely for investment purposes and left empty, waiting for the value of the property to increase.
Inheritance tracing: uncovering ownership
Inheritance tracing is the process of locating and identifying the beneficiaries to an estate mainly intestacies (where there is no will) but also in cases where the executors and beneficiaries named in the will cannot be found.
This process is crucial in addressing the issue of empty homes where there is a deceased property owner. Some of the initial key stages in inheritance tracing include:
- Identifying potential beneficiaries of an estate
- Genealogists and legal professionals work together to create a family tree and identify the next of kin who can then deal with the administration of the estate.
- Document collection
- A Genealogist may gather birth certificates, marriage records, death certificates and other relevant documentation to help establish relationships and claims to an estate. A lawyer will gather any important documents and digital data that may be relevant to the administration of the estate such as asset details and any evidence of a will.
- Investigations into the assets and liabilities of an estate
- As well as a review of the deceased’s papers this may involve asset and liability searches to understand the size of an estate. This information will also be relevant when considering any inheritance tax (IHT) due on the estate.
- Applying for the Grant of Representation
- Once the initial investigations have been carried out, a Grant of Representation can be applied for at the Probate Registry and any IHT due paid to HMRC. Once the Grant of Representation has been obtained, the appointed administrator and next of kin can then begin to deal with the assets of the estate, including any empty property.
Taylor Emmet has a dedicated Inheritance Tracing team who can assist with all matters relating to inheritance and asset tracing.