how long must i look after a piece of land before i can claim it?

[daginge]

How long must i look after a piece of land before i can claim it? I have been cutting the grass "out the back" for want of a better phrase; for 8 years as it was unsightly and neglected when we moved in, can I lay any claim to it?

[buildersmate]

Annie, copying some random remark off another website about the topic really isn't such a good idea unless you read it and understand the context of what it is talking about, Annie. The thing you copied was a question about a vicar so, low and behold, you have faithfully copied 'Reverend' into your answer. The answer you choose to copy is also gibberish.
If you had read a bit further down you'd have found out about 'adverse possession' and this is far more helpful in answering this question.
The short answer is 12 years, but you can start the process after 10 if the land in question is registered land and then the registered owner has 2 years in which to object to the re-registration.

[aniani]

What if the land is " No man's land" ? After 12 years can you apply to the Land Registry?

[cassa333]

Look to see if anyone owns it. You can download the deeds from the LR site for a few pounds. That will tell you if it is registered or not. Otherwise the adverse possesion rules apply.

You would, I think, need to be able to show you have maintaned it to the exclusion of others:ie fenced it off. You could fence it off and see if anyone comes out of the woodwork to tell you otherwise.

[buildersmate]

I agree with Cassa.

[aniani]

Thank you cassa, I have already checked with the Land Registry that a small piece of land next to my house does not belong to anybody.

[buildersmate]

That merely ascertains that it isn't registered - not that it belongs to no-one.
However it does mean that if you fence it and maintain it for 12 years you stand a realistic chance of registering it as yours.
Bit of a long term project, but worthwhile eventually.

[aniani]

Thank you buildersmate, I intend to do just that.

[daginge]

I have been told that the land does indeed belong to someone but that he lost it in a poker game????? Knowing some history of the man he allegedly lost it to I could well believe this! The new owner is in his 70s now, if still alive and was last known to be living in Wales some 100 or so miles from where I live. Does this change anything?

[tamborine]

read this then contact the Land Registry.

http://www.propertylawuk.net/adversepossessionsquatters.html

[09shaen]

hello can anyone help me out i have had this bit of land for 7 years now it has a static caruvan on it iv been cutting the grass and keeping it very nice how do i stand do not live in it but would like to can i claim it can i live in it