Finding owner of nearby woodland

eatyourveg · Post by **eatyourveg** » 16 Jan 2009, 22:16

Tess, if this is of any use.
When we looked at our present property, it became clear that part of the access lane was not owned by anyone.
There are two other properties which use the lane. It was clear that if in the future either of the other two properties twigged what the situation was (They had no idea), then we could potentially become landlocked.
We immediately registered the land as ours with land registry, to guarantee our access, and having taken possession of our property, informed our neighbours that we now owned all of the lane and that they had permission to use it, so no change as far as they were concerned, but we could not at some future time be blackmailed (It happens, believe me).

Go and talk to a solicitor that deals in these matters, it was our solicitor that spotted this potential problem and dealt with the registration process. There is much land out there that is not registered to anyone at all.

Vortex · Post by **Vortex** » 17 Jan 2009, 16:58

There is a lot of land which is not registered - but it WILL be owned by someone!

Anyway if there is a lane apparently 'not owned' it can't be taken away or blocked by anyone ... if it's your ONLY access then you have an automatic 'easement' to use it.

You can't however do much to the fabric of the lane other than keep it as good - or as bad - as it was originally.

So you can't tarmac if if it's mud or grass .. that would be criminal damage.

If the owner finally turns up then they are a bit stuck if YOU are landlocked ... they can't do anything to the lane which might hinder you!

That said, the law of easements is a pain ... best avoided!

Post by **mikepepler** » 18 Jan 2009, 21:20

Have you tried talking to any people who used to work the woods years ago? If you can find them, they might be able to tell you who owned them back then, and give you a clue to who owns them now.

Hairyloon · Post by **Hairyloon** » 23 Jan 2009, 22:30

Ballard wrote:In order to claim land you need to fence it off (or create other boundary), to the exclusion of all others for 12 years.

We have a plot of land behind our house which we (a group of the neibouger) have requistioned, however because we use it as a playground for the kids from all four houses no-one can claim it.

You may be able to make the claim as a collective.