If there is unused land adjacent to your property, so that you are permitted to use it, for example, to extend your garden, or to add a garage. Owning the land prevents it from becoming unkempt if nobody else is looking after it.

The first step in acquiring a piece of adjoining land is determining who owns it. This is usually done using Land Registry records. If the land is registered, you can obtain a plan showing the boundaries of the land and a copy of the title. Once you know who the owner is, you can approach them with an offer.

Baker Law
Katie Waygood, Partner & Acting Head of Property (Baker Law )

Registration of land is now compulsory but, if the land has not changed ownership in a long time, it may remain unregistered. This can make it harder to ascertain who the land belongs to. Some initial steps you could take:

  • Contact the neighbours
  • Ask nearby churches if they own the land
  • Check local authority planning records

If the land is unused, you may be able to claim ownership through adverse possession. To make a claim, you must have possessed the land for 10 years (if registered), or 12 years (if unregistered). ‘Possession’ in this context refers to dealing with the land in the way an owner would be expected to e.g. putting up a fence and maintaining the land within. The process of obtaining a legal title, even once you’ve been in possession for the requisite amount of time, is a lengthy process.

If you would like to discuss the possibility of acquiring nearby land, please call us at Baker Law on 01252 733770, or email us at [email protected]