This form is a sample letter in Word format covering the subject matter of the title of the form.
This form is a sample letter in Word format covering the subject matter of the title of the form.
An adverse possession claim can be presented to the Land Registry if you are occupying land, by “squatting”, but it is not currently registered to you. It might be that you are occupying a small parcel of land at the rear of a garden, for example.
To claim Adverse Possession you would need to make an application to the Land Registry. The Land Registry have a strict set of criteria you must meet before you can claim land you do not own. The rules are the same for registered and unregistered land but the application procedure is different.
To claim unclaimed land UK, you might need to: Collect proof of using and caring for the land for 10-12 years. Submit a claim to the Land Registry or local council. Follow legal steps and requirements to prove your ownership.
Where is the unregistered land? Around 15% of the land in England and Wales is unregistered: although it has an owner, their details have never been registered at Land Registry, but are held in private paper records. Usually, this land has been owned by the same family or institution for many decades.
Typically this land belongs to wealthy families, old institutions, the Church, or the Crown (learn more). The map below shows, for the first time, the extent of unregistered land in England and Wales.
The possession must be “adverse,” meaning without the owner's consent. It must also be continuous, open, and exclusive for a defined period, which is generally 10 years under the current law. If these conditions are satisfied, the possessor can apply to the Land Registry to become the legal owner of the property.
The Land Register contains more than 26.5 million titles showing evidence of ownership for more than 89% of the land mass of England and Wales.