Answer to a question from a reader What can I do to prevent my father from selling a property in which my sister has been living for years? The short answer The only legal way the deeds can be transferred is if your sister buys or inherits the house. The whole question My mom passed away three weeks ago and has been living in a council-owned house for almost 40 years. She was married and divorced in line with Muslim rights about 30 years ago. The property has always been in my dad’s name even though he left 30 years ago and has never made payments towards the property rates.