House abroad

[usedforfinance]

So I was given a house abroad by my parents approx 12 years ago
It was one they bought for future investments or to hand down to one of three children
They chose to hand it down to me as my DH is from that country n we would obviously be visiting that country more then my siblings
DH family permanently reside in same country
Said house was given out on rent and DH family member was given power of attorney to look after finances and general housekeeping
I haven't seen any of the money in figures or paper or actually been given the money on any of my many trips to that country
It's never mentioned by DH family and when I bring up subject it's hushed away
One lavish wedding has happed and DH family home has been updated
Am I right in thinking they have been using the rent money for all of this?
It's pittance in uk currency but a fair amount in local currency
DH has been told another family member in same city as said house is collecting the rent money since the last 10 months and originally nominated person has nothing to do with it
Am I right in asking the original nominated person who has power of attorney for the rent for the last 12 years
If they have used the money and do not offer to pay it back I swear to god I will never step foot in DH childhood home in the country ever again and that would mean the community finding out what they have done

Really confused as I don't want to drive a wedge between DH and nominated person as they are close

Why would it have taken you 12 years to start questioning where the rent was going? Very bizarre. Yes I’d imagine they have spent it, possibly because they think you aren’t bothered about it

That were told to put it away for safekeeping
I don't have a bank account in that country as I am self employed here and it would cause tax issues
They were told to put the money into nominated persons account

so you were being fraudulent?

Why wouldn't they pay it direct to your dh or you? Sounds like they've spent it to me...

So 12 years ago your parents gave you a house because they thought you might use it. You've never used it. You don't care about it enough to manage it. You've given away all rights to it. You've never asked one question in all that time. And now you want to kick up a stink? In fact you may never want to go to that country again..... I'm glad you are so rich you can fritter away the house your parents gave you. I'm all grown up but if I did that to something my parents worked hard to give me they would have had plenty to say over the years. What's their opinion on your behaviour?

I think its ridiculous that it's taken 12 years to wonder where the rent goes. If it was supposed to go into a bank account have you never asked for access to that account? Or to see statements? Do you even know how much rent they charge?

You must be swimming in cash to ignore a potential income stream for 12 years. Maybe you would be better off selling the house.

It's taken 12 years for this to be an issue for you?

It’s amazing how decades of tax evasion karma can catch up with you. Of course they are taking the money!

Its your house, sort out the POA , get your self a proper property agent.

TBH, this happened to a colleague of mine; her father worked in the UK all his life and wanted to retire back to a Specific Caribbean Island that shall remain nameless. Sent money back for land to be bought, paid relatives to work on and build a house, send money back to be invested for his pension, come retirement, he had a chicken shack in the middle of no where. Took his wife and children back to a dirt patch with no running water.

Particular Island has a reputation for theft, crime in general and the father was indeed murdered, shot and burned in his bed because the assumption is anyone who ever worked in the UK must be rich.

My colleague says you cant trust Specific Nationality, they are all unequivocally thieves and murderers. (This is a stereotype of that particular nationality)

Could the property have been sold using the POA?

Why on earth would you give power of attorney to some random family member for rent collection? You could have had them manage the property for you and pay them a fee for doing so. To then leave it 12 years before trying to claim the money is just idiotic.

If it’s a pittance in this country and a lot over there I wouldn’t lose sleep over it. I can’t imagine creating a family drama over a pittance.

That being said, if it’s a fortune over there you would not be unreasonable to want some of the money to update your own property over there and it might be worth getting in touch with the family member to arrange this. I also think they are entitled to a cut of it in recognition of their responsibility and hard work.