Luton 'stolen house' owner gets home back with squatters

Mike Hall discovered squatters in his house after fighting to reclaim ownership of it for two years

A man has managed to get his house back two years after it was sold without his knowledge.

The Reverend Mike Hall returned to his Luton home in July 2021 to discover it had been sold without his permission after his identity was stolen.

He said "justice has been done" after his name was put back on the title of the house by the Land Registry.

However, Mr Hall says he is now dealing with squatters who have moved into the property.

Mr Hall bought the property in 1990 but in August 2021 someone impersonating him sold it on for £131,000.

While working in north Wales he was alerted by neighbours that someone was in his house and all the lights were on.

Mr Hall drove back to Luton and found a new owner carrying out building work.

"I tried my key in the front door, it didn't work and a man opened the front door to me - and the shock of seeing the house completely stripped of furniture, everything was out of the property," he said.

BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme obtained the driving licence used to impersonate Mr Hall, details of a bank account set up in his name to receive the proceeds of the sale, and phone recordings of a man claiming to be Mr Hall instructing solicitors to sell the house.

On Tuesday at 14:13 GMT, following two years of court battles, Mr Hall said "justice has been done" after his name was once against listed as owner of the house on the Land Registry.

You and Yours understands the person who bought the house has also been compensated by the Land Registry.

Police have told Mr Hall they cannot take action against the squatters without an Interim Possession Order

"Having gone through a battle in the courts to tell all and sundry that it is my house, that it was sold fraudulently, has now borne fruit," Mr Hall said.

He told the BBC visited the property on Friday with a builder to begin making plans for the house.

When he arrived at the building, which he had not seen in two months, he noticed the rear window was broken and the lock to the front door "had been punched out".

He believes squatters have moved in, as the curtains were closed, lights were switched on and the boiler was in use.

He estimates there has been £60,000 worth of damage done to the property.

Bedfordshire Police has advised Mr Hall to return to the courts and get a Interim Possession Order which will allow the police to arrest two individuals squatting in his property.

When asked by BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme, Bedfordshire Police said the people inside the house told officers they have a rental agreement.

It is not known who the alleged rental agreement is with, You and Yours heard.