Who owns the Land ?

RainMaker_2

There is a small piece of land (amounting to about 2 x car parking spaces) where I live. It's surrounded by 6 houses (including mine). I've obtained Land Registry plans for all 6 houses, and the land doesn't belong to any of them (or me).

How can I find out who owns this land ?

Is it possible that nobody owns it ?

I've been parking on this land for 15 years, do I have any default rights ?

Richard_Webster

Photocopy one of the LR plans that you have for nearby houses, draw a red line around the area on the plan that you want to find out about, download a SIM form from the Land Registry (the gov.uk site NOT one of the other expensive ones), fill in the form and send it with the plan and £5 to the local Land Registry for your area.

they will then tell you the title number or numbers of the land and you can get get official copies and find out the owners. If the Land is not registered then they will not have any more information.


It is difficult to obtain a possessory title for land after parking on it on and off for 15 years - you have to show that you intend to claim exclusive possession and the mere act of parking may not be enough.

RainMaker_2

Thanks Richard.

I've got the search back. Turns out that once upon-a-time the entire land of the 6 houses belonged to a developer who subsequently renovated / built and then sold off 6 individual plots from their large plot. Strangely, the piece of land in question still belongs to the developer (whether by design or an oversight on their part, I've no idea).

The developer company that owns the land is dormant, but it in turn is owned by a large PLC, which is actively trading. I could approach the PLC directly to ask if they'd be interested in selling, but I'm not sure if they could be bothered with the "faff", or they could approach my neighbours who maybe willing to pay more than me.


Regarding claiming possessory, I have a few Q's if you don't mind Richard.

1) In your opinion, given the facts, is it worth persueing this ?
2) How much will it cost and how long will it take ?
3) Is professional help necessary / advisable / unnecessary ?
4) Who makes the decision and can it be appealed ?
5) Can my neighbours object ?

Many thanks in advance.