Become a landowner for peanuts!

Batty_Bradders

Hi,

A while back a friend of mine told me of a way of becoming a landowner for almost next to nothing. He got this from a book you can buy (not Martin's - sorry!).

I may not have the facts all straight but it goes something like this.

1. Find a pice of land that you "assume" to be council owned or derelict.
2. Spend a nminal fee with the land registry people checking it out. Surprisingly there is a hell of a lot of land in the UK which isn't ownde by anybody - not even the local council!!
3. Put a claim on the land. I think this is free. If nobody else can prove its theirs after 7 years it becomes yours. I think you have to mark of the land and have it as "working" for 7 years. This may mean putting up some form of fence and (for example) letting out for grazing, grow some flowers, put a shed on it for storage etc.
4. Thats it!. I've met another chap who has done this and he claimed a spot of grassland next to a large supermarket. When the wanted to expand who sold it to them for a massive fee, they were happy, and he was happier

Like I say, check the details but as far as I know, its all kosher and above board. If you are in the building trade then even better

plumb1_2

I have made 2 to search,s,on plots of land with the land registry,they both came back with both unregistered.
Both plots of land have been abandend and overgrown for years.
So if i was to stick a shed on each for 7yrs,then i could claim them?Is it so easy?
How do i put a claim on the land?do I put a claim in before i stick my shed on?or after the shed has been on for 7yrs?

david78

And if you do get two sheds, would you let me store my tools in them for a nominal rent?

yonk

Unregistered doesn't mean they haven't got an owner. They just haven't been bought or sold since it has been a requirement to register the transaction.

And I always thought it was 12 years.

System

Hi,

A while back a friend of mine told me of a way of becoming a landowner for almost next to nothing. He got this from a book you can buy (not Martin's - sorry!).

Most interesting thread he says, rubbing his hands!!! ;D
Let us know if you can find out the name of the book..It would make an interesting read!! 8)

Cheers!

plumb1_2

And if you do get two sheds, would you let me store my tools in them for a nominal rent?

No rent needed,just work the land :)and give me half of your produce.

stevie_show

you have to wait 12 years, and you need to put a fence up, also yes i think you have to use the land ie, grow something ect. if it is a house you can live in it and claim squatters rights.

Gotabiscuit

It's 10 years for registered land, 12 years for unregistered land - but as yonk said, unregistered doesn't mean that someone doesn't own it.

However, following a change in the law last year, if property/land is registered (with the land registry) I understand that the owner now has greater rights against squatters trying to claim ownership.

In legal jargon, it's known as 'adverse possession' (more commonly known as squatters' rights).

There's an interesting (if slightly heavy-going) article here:

http://www.planningsanity.co.uk/forums/ap/ap.htm

Nicholas

you have to wait 12 years, and you need to put a fence up, also yes i think you have to use the land ie, grow something ect. if it is a house you can live in it and claim squatters rights.

If it is an odd bit of land, you have to get it fenced, and then after the 12 years are up, you have to see a solicitor to have a statutory declaration drawn up to the fact that you have been using the land for the last 12 years and you are in receipt of any rents or profits for the land and no-one has challenged you within that time for your use of the land.

You can then apply to the Land Registry for possessory title, which can then be upgraded to title absolute after a further 10 years.

However, if it is just a bit of land I would question its worth in any case. It is only when planning permission is granted that a piece of land has any real value, unless of course it is a ransom strip of land.