Buying an abandoned property

I wonder whether you could help with a query we have regarding an empty derelict house?  The house is empty and boarded up and it’s clear that it has been abandoned. The information from the land registry shows the owner as still living in the property and that the property was boarded up in 1997 at request of the local council.  By the look of the property it hasn't been touched since, as the roof is falling in, the second floor looks ready to collapse and the bay has been taken out and badly boarded up.  From what we can see there isn't any fire damage or structural problems.   The owner bought the property in 1988, and it looks like she rented it out to various people until 1997 when she moved back in, that same year it was boarded up and the electricity meters etc were removed.  Unfortunately all of the neighbours have moved in since 1997 and know nothing about the property or its owner, other than it has been in that state since they moved in.  There are no building plans (including none for the removal of the bay) that give us an indication of where the owner is and local solicitors have not been helpful! We can't find a death certificate for the owner and have had no luck tracking her down.  I'm currently waiting for a reply from the council regarding the information they have on the property including why they boarded it up. If we can't find the owner is there anyway we can buy the houses, bearing in mind that for whatever reason she has abandoned the property? Also, we've seen a few things about being able to claim abandoned houses as your own.  Obviously it won't be that simple otherwise everyone would be doing it but please could you clarify this act.  It isn't squatter’s rights as you don't actually have to be using the property.Any help would be really appreciated as we seem to have decided to jump into the deep end with what we would like to be our first house as a newly married couple!

Someone will know about this house. I'm afraid I can't really offer much advice other than going to the Land Registry www.landregistry.gov.uk/ and talking to local people, which you've already done.  It would be worth having a detail chat with the Land Registry if you haven't already done so - they're probably your best bet. Sorry not to be more constructive. Try moving into it! (Only joking!) There may be some local regulation about derelict properties from an environmental health viewpoint which may force action or disclosure.

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