Owning land

[todoronron]

If a person owns a piece of land do they own it all the way down to the core of the earth?

[jackthehat]

No.

[New Judge]

There was a very interesting case concerning Lords’ Cricket Ground in London a couple of years ago.

They wanted to develop a bit of the ground at the Nursery End to build an underground complex (can’t remember what for). The Metropolitan Line of the London Underground ran beneath the plot. The Underground objected to the development citing safety etc. Lords’ insisted that since they owned the ground beneath their plot the Underground had no say in the matter and that, if anything, the Underground owed them rent since the line was built.

The case went to court and it was ruled that Lords’ did not own the plot downwards beneath a nominal depth and that the Underground authorities had a right to have their say. Can’t remember the final outcome but I’m sure it is published somewhere.

[R1Geezer]

well judge they had no choice really, can you imgine the chaos in London if everyone started billing them for rent!

[New Judge]

Quite so, Geezer.

For once m'Learned Friends applied some common sense!

Also I notice that the development at Lords' is under way, some some agreement must have been reached.

[bigfoot3000]

What is a nominal depth, and is there an actual depth you can own or does this vary depending on which one whether the above owner or under owner has more cash and government sway?

[supapapa]

I believe they own the the space above it.

[madmaggot]

A similar principle applies to rivers where one can 'own' the riverbed but not the water running through it as this comes under the waterways authority.

[boxtops]

What about those houses that are built on old mine workings, when the shafts collapse and the houses fall in (as happens)? They certanly don't own the holes they fall into!

[jackthehat]

The general rule is that you own the land to the (standard) depth of the foundations of a property on it...............about 3 feet.

[mike11111]

No one actually 'owns' any land as all land belongs to the Crown. The nearest thing to ownership is an 'estate', be it freehold or leasehold.