Weird housing problem - no record of my flat existing!

This Sat I am moving into a flat in a new conversion in London and I've run into a bit of a problem.

I tried to get a phone line with BT but they said that not only do they have no record of a line being installed in my flat (which the estate agent guy assured me had been done), they have no record whatsoever that the flat exists and that the address is even valid. They said maybe the postcode had changed and to check with Royal Mail. So I did that and it's the same thing - apparently there is no record of my flat exisiting - there is no address registered with Royal Mail. This would also explain why, when attempting to book a Virgin train online, it couldn't verify my address (on their site you enter a postcode and select your address from the drop-down list that is generated from it).

So - I'm in the bizzare situation of trying to convince people that my flat exists outside of my imagination. They say fine, whatever you say, lady, but how do you expect us to hook up services to what is, by all available evidence, an invalid address?

I'm at a bit of a loss here. Has anyone else run into this problem? Any advice? I'm waiting to hear back from the estate agent guy but I am antsy to get something done and annoyed that I'm even in this situation. Thanks.

the flat we live in had similiar problems back when it was first converted into a flat. Even 999 wouldnt come out because it didnt show on their records.
Eventually within time it started to appear on records, but even know it doesnt appear on satelliate navagation.

Speak to your landlord, Im sure he'll know what to do,maybe?

It sounds like the land registry people haven't done their job properly, and haven't notified people of the address yet.  Very strange.

Can't think what to do, but the estate agent must be familiar with this sort of thing. Perhaps contact Land Registry yourself.

Are you the freeholder too?  Whoever owns that should sort it really.

Vicky

Hi there C_S

I don't think you in an isolated incident of this happening - with all these new apartment blocks springing up evrywhere, there's hundreds of new addresses and postcodes probably that need to be introduced onto the 'system'

whilst no direct experience, I think you might want to call up the land registry and see if they have you listed as yet and/or when the likelhood is of getting listed. Next, maybe contact the developer of the conversion and ask to speak to the manager or supervisor or person responsible for listing the building - all the permissions and documentation to that should have reference to listing the property as a residential development etc...

From there I think you should find answers at least helping you get along - once the details and I'm still presuming it's the land registry, update their records and all the other companies cross check it, will you then be able to 'prove' existence and get services switched on etc. But saying that, I'm presuming the place has electricity? if so if it's in the developers name still, ask them to prove and tell them to state the address they're paying the bill to!

I agree with you though, shouldn't be as slow as this to update records correctly....

Hope it helps - Cheers! DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Satellite Navigation is based on maps which are quite a few months behind and in some cases months and years behind. Although the mapping companies are out all the time for new additions to update into the software, it takes them ages and then has to be converted and then sold onto the various Sat NAV producing companies who then test it all out before it appears on a 'usually' half to one yearly cycle between versions.

Don't hold your breath in wanting a new street/ streetname/ postcode etc to appear anytime soon on Sat NAV.

however, specifially to this case, C_S mentions the flat is a conversion so maybe the 'old address' of what the buiilding was previously still exists. A better way if needing to direct people to visit is to find out the nearest postcode possible to the building and then direct visitors to that and then finalise with 'we are actually the buidling just there'

I'ts annoying . but there you go..  happened to me a few times when having to go to new developments not on SAT NAV maps..

Cheers! DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Unfortunately, it's not at all uncommon for companies to be using a version of the Post Office database which is out of date.  New homes (either new buildings or separate dwellings created by dividing up an existing house) can often take months to appear on the list anyway.

There's not much to do except (a) contact the Post Office to make sure that the address will be added to the database and (b) keep insisting that it is a valid address to everybody else.

At least the TV licence people won't be able to find you! 

At least the TV licence people won't be able to find you! 

Just as well, otherwise there would have already been a stack of threatening letters arrive even before the doors and windows were fitted.....   

A friend of mine at work bought a house in a new housing development here in greater Leeds/suburbs.  She's been there going on a good year or so.  It's taken her ages to get broadband connected, she's still having issues with British Gas I think it is, the council won't sort out a recycling bin for them, and she still doesn't receive her post on any sort of regular basis.  It's as if sometimes her house just doesn't exist, even after living there for months.  She complains & complains & complains - in writing, and still nothing is getting sorted.

the council won't sort out a recycling bin for them

I bet they've managed to send out council-tax bills though.