claiming land

[laura moat]

a friend of mine has had his horses on a bit of land for about 20 or more years now with no questions asked neither has the owners ever contacted him or asked of any payment local gossip has it that a comunity sports venue may be trying to buy it does he have any rights to claim it as it is he who has kept the land in good condition and fenced it i would be interested to no what you think

[nicholas.t]

go to the land registry. if you have kept the land in good order for 12 years with no one approaching you about it you may have a claim

[Toffee]

Don't go to the Land Registry .They will tell you to consult a solicitor. The law on adverse possession changed with the Land Registration Act 2003. Go to a solicitor.

[bernardo]

Yes you probably have a good claim to the land. My sister acquired a bit of land adjacent to her back garden by looking after it for a few years, when the previous owner could not be traced and/or identified. It took much less than 12 years. (although I'm not sure of the details)

[apricot]

Go to CAB their advice is free and they can give you access to an almost free solicitor for a short consultation

[goshpoddle]

Yes I am sure you have a claim...I have a piece of land at the side of my house belonging to the council,which they mow every month making a terrible job of it. I applied to mow it myself and keep it neat and tidy, but was told I could not as if I did that for the next 12years I could then claim the land for myself.

[Maude]

The advice from Toffee is incorrect. Go to www.landregistry.gov.uk and then Publications/Forms. Go to the bottom of this and from the drop down menu select Practice Guides. From the page that appears download LRPG004 and LRPG005. These explain Adverse Possession of Registered and Unregistered Land. You will see also that you can make the claim yourself. If after reading the guides you have queries, please post and I will try to unravel.