Property title fraud jumped 78% in the UK over the past year, putting thousands of homeowners at risk, data from Open Property Group found.
Criminals targeted landlords, absent owners and unmonitored properties, with many victims not realising until they had already lost their homes.
Most victims were absent owners, including landlords, people living abroad, and elderly homeowners in care.
Fraudsters used identity theft, forged documents and digital loopholes to transfer titles illegally, with £27m worth of property changing hands in 2024.
Many of the properties had high equity or no mortgage, making them bigger targets.
86% of fraud victims were not living at the property.
The number of homes flagged as suspicious by the Land Registry’s property alert service rose 46% year-on-year, reaching over 3,200 in 2024.
Cases often took nine to 18 months to resolve and legal costs usually went above £30,000.
Only one in five victims got their property back without having to go to court.
Jason Harris-Cohen, managing director at Open Property Group, said: “This sharp rise in title fraud is a wake-up call for every property owner in the UK.
“Criminals are targeting properties that appear vulnerable, especially vacant buy-to-lets, inherited homes, and unregistered titles.
“What’s most alarming is that many people don’t even know they’ve been defrauded until months later.”
Harris-Cohen added: “At Open Property Group, we’ve seen increasing numbers of sellers coming to us after discovering serious issues with their title or ownership.
“Every homeowner should be using the Land Registry’s Property Alert service, securing their deeds digitally, and staying vigilant especially landlords with empty or tenanted properties. Prevention is cheaper than litigation, and the risk is no longer hypothetical.”
