I knew that I could find out who owned the property through the Land Registry.  The Land Registry hold all records on properties within England since a certain date.  By visting the Land Registry I could find out who owned the property and contact them to see if they were interested in a sale.  On the Land Registry site there is a section called forms and publications – I downloaded the Form SIM (Index Map Search to you and me) all I had to do was fill in the full address of the property and send it to my local Land Registry (for free).

A couple of days later I received the form back from them with what is known as a title number on it. I went back to the Land Registry site and downloaded another form called OC1 (office copy entries) filled in the boxes which again was the address and the title number they had posted to me – this one did cost me £4.00.  I sent this form to the Land Registry a couple of days later I received my reply I got a copy of the title to the property which included information about the owner, their address, the amount they paid for the property and anything that could prevent me from making alterations (this is the same as what my solicitor would do – except it only cost me £4.00 and two stamps not their hourly rate of £150.00!)

I contacted the owner with the details and made a low offer – which was accepted.  I instructed my solicitor the next day and the purchase went through fast and smoothly.  That was one of my best property investments, see an opportunity invest in property and take it.