Property not on Land Registry - who has the deeds, wins?

[~Vulpine~]

I'm writing a novel, and I need a bit of advice. I found out that only 83% of property in England and Wales is registered with the Land Registry, and only since 1975 do they have to be registered (this is my understanding). I need to know, if a property is not on the Land Registry but the physical deeds still exist, does the person who owns these deeds own the house? Or what if the person whose name is on the deeds has died without leaving a will?

What I am trying to get at is, is there any possible way for a person to 'find' the deeds to a house (inside a book at a jumble sale, for example) and consequently own that house? And what is the situation if the property was bought before 1975?

I realise these situations are a bit outlandish, but it is a novel :) any advice would be welcome :)

[Buenchico]

The person named on the deeds will normally be the owner of the property. If that person has died intestate, their estate is subject to the laws of intestacy. That might mean that one person owns the house, or that many people own shares in the house or even that the Crown owns the house. Under no circumstances would a person finding the deeds be able to claim the house:
http://www.graysons.co.uk/wills-intestacy.html

Chris

[~Vulpine~]

Thank you very much, Chris :)