Strange land possession query.

dimmaz88

Hi all, I'm after a bit of advice please.

When we bought our house we had an issue. Basically, the previous owners built a garage on the land they used as their garden.

The land is where the road used to be in front of a row of terraced houses, and because ours is on the end there's a bit there too, which is where the garage is. It's an L shape.

When they built it, they were told they had to put an ad in the paper asking who owned it. Nobody came forward, so they were granted permission to build.

The problem was, they didn't mention this when we had the house valued. Our solicitors found the issue, re-valued the house without the garage, and reduced the price. Good for us, but I don't want the same happening to us.

How do we go about getting the land registered to us? We've only been here 4 years, so adverse possession is out of the question.

Any help appreciated, I know it's a strange one.

glasgowdan

You effectively paid for the house without the garage...so really, it's just a bonus. Who actually "granted permission" for it, and is there a letter to state the details of this?

G_M

\presumably you mean they were granted Planning Permmission? That is completely unconnected to ownership.

If someone applies for PP on land they do not own, naturally the Planners will try to inform the true owners and give them an opportunity to object to the application. No objection was received so PP was granted, but that does not transfer ownership.

You are lucky:
a) you have use of some land you have not paid for
b) you are benefitting from PP on that land

If you want to secure that position by owning the land there are 2 options

1) find the true owners and buy it, or
2) apply via adverse possession when the time comes