High Court Enforcement Officer visit

SamanthaQ · 2024-02-04T14:27:20+00:00

We've been in our new house a couple of weeks now and a High Court Enforcement Officer has just been round looking for the previous owner. He insisted we prove ownership of the house. We've shown him letter from mortgage lender (but not account number ) he took a photo. Now I'm super worried. Has anyone come across this before ? He reckons more people will come knocking soon . Tia

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 04/02/2024 14:36

You likely will get a spate of them. It takes a minute to show them ID and tell them when you moved in. It took a few months of occasional people for it to stop when we moved in here.

You'll probably get a load of mail as well if they're hiding from debts.

Original poster

SamanthaQ · 04/02/2024 14:40

Wow that's terrible. My anxiety is through the roof now. He specifically wanted to see proof that we own the property and ID wasn't sufficient. Then he said sometimes some officers would just take any cars they see on the driveway. And it's up to us to prove we have no affiliation with the previous owner.

OP posts:

MixingPlaydough · 04/02/2024 14:42

We had this at a previous house. Just keep some documents that show you're the owners close to the door and show them should anyone turn up.

We had about 10 enforcement agents in total from different agencies. Just remember they're doing a job and once you've shown that you're the owners they will log it and leave. We found all of them very reasonable and once they all knew the bloke didn't live there they didn't bother us again.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 04/02/2024 14:45

And it's up to us to prove we have no affiliation with the previous owner

Ask him how you prove a negative.

Ilovemyshed · 04/02/2024 14:46

Don't worry.

Just make sure you have proof of who you are, proof of your home ownership (title deed/ mortgage documents/ completion statement from purchase) to hand plus ownership of car etc.

They are just doing a job and have to start at last known address.

Cotswoldbee · 04/02/2024 14:50

Why two threads about the same issue?
I see one is in Legal and the other in Property/DIY but you are getting responses on both.

Treecreature · 04/02/2024 14:51

They'll already know previous tenants have gone. They'll be looking to see if you can give them a lead on their new location.

Original poster

SamanthaQ · 04/02/2024 14:57

Cotswoldbee · 04/02/2024 14:50

Why two threads about the same issue?
I see one is in Legal and the other in Property/DIY but you are getting responses on both.

I'm sorry I wasn't sure which Topics was more appropriate for the question .

OP posts:

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 04/02/2024 14:58

SamanthaQ · 04/02/2024 14:40

Wow that's terrible. My anxiety is through the roof now. He specifically wanted to see proof that we own the property and ID wasn't sufficient. Then he said sometimes some officers would just take any cars they see on the driveway. And it's up to us to prove we have no affiliation with the previous owner.

It'll be fine. Just keep your ID and mortgage letter handy. They have to ask awkward questions as people do lie to them, but as soon as they know you're genuine they'll be fine with you.

Original poster

SamanthaQ · 04/02/2024 14:58

Thanks everyone , I'll try not to worry too much and have all proofs available at hand as I did today.

OP posts:

WillimNot · 04/02/2024 15:03

Worse case I'd log with police on 101. You're under no obligation to show private documents, your ID should be sufficient. The threat of removing your vehicles as well is totally out of order as they would be registered to you not the debtor.
Did you get ID from him? They can be utter bullies and don't like to say which company they are linked to so you can't complain. There is a code of practice though. If you can find out which company he was from, email them or get your solicitor to explain you have no link to the debtor and any further harassment and threats of theft of your vehicle will result in a case being brought against their company.

Sunshine322 · 04/02/2024 16:17

I had letters, basically saying that they were coming round on a certain date and would be able to enter the property at that time. I contacted the number and left a message basically saying that the person no longer lived at this address, we owned the property now. That they would be committing an offence entering my house and I’d be informing the police. Never heard from them again.

cupcakesarelife · 04/02/2024 17:16

Fo those saying that these people are just doing their jobs, I don't agree with you. It's disgusting. you can't just turn up at people's homes, accuse them of being someone they're not without proof and take their possessions. It's absolutely disgusting. It's mafia and mob mentality. We should all be disgusted by it and contacting our MPs to stop this. Businesses need to find a better way of chasing payments, not harass and steal from people who have nothing to do with them.

MixingPlaydough · 04/02/2024 17:26

cupcakesarelife · 04/02/2024 17:16

Fo those saying that these people are just doing their jobs, I don't agree with you. It's disgusting. you can't just turn up at people's homes, accuse them of being someone they're not without proof and take their possessions. It's absolutely disgusting. It's mafia and mob mentality. We should all be disgusted by it and contacting our MPs to stop this. Businesses need to find a better way of chasing payments, not harass and steal from people who have nothing to do with them.

Why is it disgusting. Literally everyone of the ones who turned up at my house were polite respectful and genuinely just doing what in the face of it seems like a rough job.

I'm sure some of them are not nice people but you get that in every profession. No one accused me of being anyone I wasn't or took possessions or acted like the mafia they were as respectful to me as I was to them. You make it sound like they just pick a random house take the contents and don't have procedures to follow.

What would your suggestion be for reclaiming money from those who've not paid their debt? Even with enforcement agents many companies never get the money they're owed.

hamsterswhiskers · 04/02/2024 17:49

SamanthaQ · 04/02/2024 14:40

Wow that's terrible. My anxiety is through the roof now. He specifically wanted to see proof that we own the property and ID wasn't sufficient. Then he said sometimes some officers would just take any cars they see on the driveway. And it's up to us to prove we have no affiliation with the previous owner.

I'd be ringing 999 if anyone tried to remove your car as it's theft. If you're worried get some security chains/ locks so they can't be moved. Or a collapsible locked bollard at the bottom of your drive. That bloke sounds dreadful. I'd log a call on 101 for intimidation.

Meagainnewname · 04/02/2024 17:52

Any mail for previous tenants, post into a postbox and write not known at this address

ragdoll12345 · 04/02/2024 17:55

At our last home we had debt collectors call for the previous owner, I showed proof of ID and our conveyancing solicitor then wrote a letter stating we owned the house from a certain date for us to show any debt collectors.
Make sure you return all letters addressed to the previous owner marked 'left address on whatever date'. Never bin letters or pass them on to the previous owner