Land Ownership in Republic of Ireland

[annak13]

I have been approached to buy a house in Co Galway. After a brief private search with the land registry, the seller of the house, who claims to own the land, is not the registered owner. in fact, two other people as one party have recently started procedings to purchase the land.

I don't want to be stung by purchasing a house on land the seller is not entitled to sell!

My concern would be that, given the nature of rural land ownership in Ireland, the owner is unaware of any dwelling on this plot.

Does anyone know how I could do some more searching - for a lease agreement perhaps - before instructing a solicitor at my cost?

I look forward in anticipation of a response.

Many thanks

[themas]

I assume the land is registered in the name of someone other than the person trying to sell you the house and claiming to own the land. If this is the case you need to go back to that person and tell him/her what you have found out. It sounds very much as if you could be conned. You need to ask for the relevant legal documents (or copies certified by a solicitor to be correct) to show the land ownership and ownership of the house if it is in different hands. Unless Irish law is very different from English, there should certainly be a ground lease if the land and house are owned separately.

[annak13]

That's great stuff. I think Irish law is different thoug. I have copies of the Title deed, which in England would show all leases and covenants etc, but this does not.

My stumbling block now is how to trace any lease made. The seller of the dwelling/land cannot show me documentation, but says "planning and the law is very lax in Ireland - epecially in the countryside"! which does not fill me with confidence. However, it could be a deal I wouldn't want to pass on!