Finding out who owns land

claire16c

I am trying to find out who owns a piece of land in our close, in between 2 blocks of garages. This is because at the end of the piece of land in between the garages the fence/wall is breaking and needs repairing. Various neighbours have mended it as best they can but its getting really bad now.

The council have told me its not their fence/wall and I should check with the land registry.

However when using the map enquiry function, how can you be clear, before paying out £3 - god knows how many times, if you are selecting the deeds for the right bit of land?

It says there is a 5m limit, but I have found by clicking on various pieces of our close, it comes up saying "Land at 'insert name of town' "along with various house numbers.

so how can I be sure I am selecting the right 'Land at' whatever that means?

How can I get a more detailed search?

As this piece of land is right next to the road - so how do I know 'Land At - doesn't just mean the connecting road?

And next to the road is a piece of grass which I know is owned by the council as they mow the lawn there. So again, it could be for this?

claire16c

Anyone?

G_M

It is somewhat hit and miss. As you rightly say, you only get the detailed Plan after buying it for £3, soit may be the wrong bit of land.

Try phoning the LR. They may point you at the right Title Plan if you ask....

00ec25

even if you find out who owns the land you cannot make them repair their fence

if it bothers you that much (why are you quibbling over spending £3 in that case?) then why not all club together and fix it yourselves.

claire16c

00ec25 wrote: »

even if you find out who owns the land you cannot make them repair their fence

if it bothers you that much (why are you quibbling over spending £3 in that case?) then why not all club together and fix it yourselves.

No but I can ask.

Its not the £3 its that I don't want to have to spend £3 several times to no effect. Hence wondering if there is a more specific/easy way.

Its not that easy as some of the houses here are rented out, and the people in those houses won't want to pay so they will have to contact their landlords some of whom are known for not wanting to pay for anything - at one point where there are around 6 garages on one side & the roof was leaking so everyone agreed to chip in - apart from one landlord and as their garage was in the middle it meant the people on either side of them couldn't get theirs done either!

Plus its hard to describe without a map but there are around 40 houses/maisonettes in the close, some have garages some don't, but the fence benefits us all, but its only around say 20 which are quite close to this fence but there are only around 12 garages etc. Not a clear cut off. Its a long wall and would cost a lot.

We'd also then be rebuilding a wall without the permission of who it belongs to.

Land_Registry

The online service will normally fit the bill and the hints & tips on how to use the service might help if you have not already read them

If you are not certain about what information you might be buying then the better way is to complete a postal application using form SIM first and then using the online service.

Simply attach a copy of your own or any other title plan to the form and edge the land in red or some other defined colour. The search result will reveal the title number(s) if any under which the land is registered.

You can then search against the title number online and get a copy of the register or plan as appropriate. IF they are also not available online as for example the land forms part of a much bigger title, perhaps owned by the original developer still, then you may have to apply by post again.

This can appear to be a tortuous process but the forms are relatively straightforward and results are normally issued within 24 hours

The postal processes, with links to the forms, are explained online for you. The fee for a SIM is £4.