Can the state half own a house?

random10

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We made an offer on a house 4 months ago. We were told the house was owned by a couple, the man was bankrupt but the house was in the woman's name. Estate agent said the couple were happy with out offer but they had to wait for the banks to approve the offer, no news until this week when the estate agent rings to say that now the woman owns half the house and the state owns half the house. The state have the estate agents phone number and will contact him but this could take days, weeks or even months. EA said he can't contact state solicitors. Does this sound like a normal situation, or is the EA telling us lies?
 
did they say the State or the local council?

Maybe they originally purchased the house under the shared ownership scheme?
 

It certainly seems to be a possibility in the case of bankruptcy under the new regime, but don't know about the old situation ...

http://www.rte.ie/news/business/2013/0906/472725-insolvency-service-home/
 
if one of the couple is bankrupt then it is likely that his share has vested in the Official Assignee.
 
Thanks DC,

In nearly all cases, the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy, an officer of the Courts Service, is the trustee to whom this property is transferred. This is the person who administers the estate of bankrupt persons.
So in this case it would be more accurate to say that the property (or part of the property) has transferred to the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy, an officer of the Courts Service. It would not be accurate to say that it had transferred to the state.

The state have the estate agents phone number and will contact him but this could take days, weeks or even months. EA said he can't contact state solicitors. Does this sound like a normal situation?

The question now appears to be: How do I contact and begin dealing with the Official Assinee in Bankrupcy with a view to purchasing the other half of a property vested in him?




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