Vulnerable Family Friend sold £180k house to builder for £67k.... now being kicked out... help!

[ShoksCreek]

We have discovered that an 83 year old friend of the family sold his house of 35 years to a builder after he couldn't afford to pay for the work he was saying was necessary... he sold it for £67k when the house was worth £180,000. He was apparently promised a lifetime tenancy [he has prostrate cancer!] and that work would be done to the property. This sale was overseen by a solicitor who was paid for by the buyer and witnessed by an employee of the builder. The solicitor pointed out that the sale price was on the low side but never sought to ensure nothing odd was going on. The builder tried to move our friend out but he refused to go. He received news that the builder himself has now died but that the builders son wants him out and is getting a solicitor to sort this. So at 83 he will be homeless, at the mercy of the state, whilst the builders family pocket £100k..... Has anyone got any advice on what we might be able to achieve in this scenario. I feel that the sale is fraudulent but I don't know where to start with this.... the lifetime tenancy agreement was a verbal one. there are loads of inconsistencies with the Solicitor and the documentation but its where to start.....

Christ OP that is terrible. Shame on them, some people really have no humanity.

Maybe try contacting Age UK, and citizens advice bureau?

I really hope something can be done

Go to another reputable solicitor and get some professional advice. Meanwhile don't let him open the door to anyone unknown. Make sure there is a code or something

I'd go to AgeUK and Adult Services.

I'd get another solicitor involved and report the original solicitor to the regulatory body (law society or whoever it actually is)

Good advice re opening the door.... he has a number of health issues an wouldn't last in this scenario. I have tried the police fraud line but they deemed this 'too complex' for them. I despair of what is happening in the UK....

We've spoken to the solicitor who oversaw the sale and they were rather defensive. Implying he was happy with the £67k.... surely this should have been a red flag... an 80 year old giving up his property for so much less than its worth... he was obviously gullible relying on a spoken lifetime tenancy agreement.... I think we'll report to the law society in any case.....

Police - fraud

And kick off all over social media, this is shameful

Do they not have children / nieces / nephews ?

Also, bad reviews for builder (if his firms still going after his karmic death) on the Internet.

If firm still going, ensure he's not registered anywhere as a trusted trader eg some councils have a type of trusted trader list.

I'd contact You and Yours. This is precisely the kind of story they investigate.

Crikey, that's terrible. How do people sleep at night? Scamming bastards.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1YnZrF9w7xR82St8d7Pgc6x/contact-you-yours

"Of sound mind ?

I'm definitely no expert, not even particularly familiar... but wills etc have to be signed by someone of sound mind. Could this be an out?

he's neurodiverse [I think] and has lost touch with his daughters a long time ago.. he is very black and white in his language.... its amazing how society allows people to be exploited.... very scary..... if he's made homeless it's the council who will pick up the tab as he'll have nothing at all... I think the reality of his situation is only just hitting him.....

Yes, really good idea about You and Yours. Also a really good idea to report the solicitor to the Law Society. It sounds as though the elderly man was vulnerable and there was nobody there on his side throughout the sale.

we're definitely trying this angle with the conveyancing solicitor... the law society states they have a duty of care with the vulnerable......they were very blunt when we spoke to them... we've put our concerns in writing so here's hoping. At the very least a reassurance he could live there without hassle till his death...

Any decent lawyer should have spotted this. Definitely report. This needs investigating. Glad he’s got you to help. x

"I despair of what is happening in the UK...."

You'd keel over if you saw what happens to vulnerable people in other countries OP!

Complaints go to the SRA https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/problems/

Creating a binding contract takes a number of factors; one of which is that the parties must understand and consent to what they are signing. Otherwise it is open to abuse and can be brought to court. Lawyer up asap.
Instruct your friend to stay safe and make sure to keep an eye on any messages/ emails etc. Keep a record.

This is obscene.

Was there a mortgage on the property?

I would go back to the original lawyer and make an official complaint. Check the complaints procedure and follow it. Law firms have PI insurance and if a mistake has been made their insurance company will pay out. I’m also a lawyer and these are small sums in the grand scheme of things.

Was this recent? Download a copy of the title register from the Land Registry, call the Land Registry up and report this as fraud. Once the land transfer has been registered at Land Registry it is nigh on impossible to change it so do that urgently.

The vulnerable person should stay put in the meantime.

Did the builder and the seller have separate solicitors or use the same one?

Definitely write to the solicitors and let them know you are reporting then to the SRA. And report them to the SRA.

Police wont help. Solicitors are businesses and in it for the money
Something like you and yours or consumer rights organisation
Good luck
What scum exist in the world.

A devious builder and an incompetent lawyer. What a combination. The former is out of the picture but he can go after the latter.

I would have thought the police can get involved if there's financial abuse of a vulnerable old person.