Strange Property Ownership Issue

gnomenthusiast

Hello All,

Looking for help/advice with a possible property purchase.

The property is a lockup garage and has been built in a communal car park in a private estate. There are two rows of battery garages in the car park, this building has been built separately at the end of one of the rows.

The owner is selling for what he perceives the building is worth, materials wise. He does not have a deed for the land the garage is built on, and does not know who owns the land under it.

The building has been there for 19 years and there hasn't been any request to remove it. The owner believes this means it couldn't be removed if someone asked for the land back.

I'm looking to find out if it's possible to find out who owns a piece of land, if you have co-ordinates for it (there's no address)?

Since the current owner has had this building for 16 years, can they apply for a deed for the land under the building?

Obviously I'm not interested in buying without the land, just wondered how confusing and unusual situations like this are cleared up?

Thanks in advance,

AdrianC

It's easy to find out the owner of registered land... but not all land is registered. And it's impossible to find out who (if anybody!) has the deeds for unregistered land.

Yes, adverse possession means that the current owner of the garage could apply to register the land in their name.

sal_III

Get the owner to apply for adverse possession and get the land registered in their name, just don't be surprised if the price increases as a result.

gnomenthusiast

That's what I was thinking, would offer to pay the fees to register and see what they say.

G_M

If the seller doesnot own the land,or the garage, then best to offer a price well above asking price so as to pursuade him nottorock the boat after the sale goes through....

D_M_E

It's not just ownership of the land the garage is built on, current owner also needs to get registered or established access rights to garage/land as well.