Following an announcement on 6^th February by Ombudsman Services (OS:P) that it is to withdraw as a redress scheme from the property sector, The Property Ombudsman (TPO) would like to reassure its member agents that it remains open for business.    

Fraudsters are targeting mortgage-free properties, with the aim of selling them on and pocketing the proceeds — all from under the nose of the legitimate owner. 

A recent trend in property crime is seeing criminals make hundreds of thousands of pounds from houses belonging to other people by claiming to be the owner and successfully transferring the deeds or even selling the building.