About to put an offer in, then...... (Land Law stuff)

Matty0682

Hi all

Myself and my wife are FTBers and have found the perfect house with a large garden surrounding the house. Luckily, before we put in an offer, I decided to carry out some due diligence.....

I paid £4 on the Land Registry to view the Title Plan & Register (the estate agent didn’t have the HIP electronically to send to me). The Title Plan shows the seller only owns half of the plot, the other half of the garden (400 sq feet) is registered to someone else. Although the buyer uses and maintain the land, and has done for over 25 years and it is within the property’s physical boundaries.

The seller also has a Legal Easement on this land for right of way, however they do not own it. They have told me the Land Registry Plans are not accurate, and said the only bit of land they don’t own is a 5 sq ft piece of land at the back (land-locked). Remember, the Title Plan showed they don’t own half the plot.

The sellers say they have a plan to prove this apparently, but we are waiting for them to send to Agent. They also said anyone can register land with the Land Registry, and this doesn’t require proof of ownership. However I called the Land Registry today, you can only register land is you have proof (deeds)

Another thing, I am surprised they didn’t apply for Adverse Possession.....sellers said they never did because they have had any bother for the 25yrs they have lived there

I don’t know what to do. My head says run, my heart wants the house

Thanks,
Matt

jassco

Stick with what your head says, unless they can prove to you (and your solicitor) that what they are saying is true.