A reverend whose house was sold without him knowing has had the property returned to him nearly four years on, after a family was ordered to leave.
Reverend Mike Hall was working in north Wales in 2021 when he received a call from his neighbours on 20 August to inform him that someone was staying at the house in Luton.
Hall’s identity had been stolen and used to sell his house for £131,000 and bank the proceeds.
Bedfordshire Police arrested a man, from Bedford, in early November 2021, at his home address on suspicion of fraud by false representation.
Hall told BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours in late 2021: “I went to the front door, tried my key in the front door, it didn’t work and a man opened the front door to me.”
The man at the property said he was doing building work and contacted the new owner’s father who said he had purchased the house in July.
The Land Registry eventually put Hall’s name back on the title, but when he returned to the property again in 2023 he found a family living there.
At Luton County Court on Monday, Judge Elaine Vignoli granted Mr Hall outright possession of the home in 14 days.
Hall said he was “quite angry about the way in which this has played out”, and “quite sad” for both himself and the family living there.
Hall’s lawyer, Lewis Colbourne, said there were “two innocent parties in court”.
The occupants had been told by police 18 months ago to stop paying rent, which did not go to Hall, and the judge heard an investigation remained ongoing.
The court was told the occupants did not oppose the application and the judge granted Hall possession and that “persons unknown” must pay his costs.
Hall said: “I am quite sad that the [woman] has now got to find a new home for herself.”
You can listen to the latest interview with Hall on Radio 4’s You and Yours BBC iPlayer.
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