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> it requires a specific decree or order by some government body

That person is a random clerk

> possibly after appeals

I can 100% gaurantee that this case goes to court (if it is not settled to the now previous owners satisfaction).

I also suspect that the original owner will come out on top, by likely more than the 150k that their 'house' was worth.

Only thing I can think of is eminent domain. Here it using it requires either a specific decree by the national government (as in, the prime minister), zoning plan approved by the elected municipal government, or in some limited cases, apparently involving electric power lines, an agency. The owner is to be informed of the proceedings before they take effect.

The random clerk does not get to do write off your property belonging to someone else, unless your elected representative had a change voice an opinion in a proceedings where a clear public decision by the elected representatives to specifically take away someone's property was made.

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