Since ancient times, communities have searched for free plots of property and settled on it after finding a suitable one. Hence, free land claiming as a practice has existed for years, the biggest example of which is America.
Do you know that unregistered land in England and Wales amounts to as high as 40% in current times? Knowing this, don’t you think that if you apply a little bit of patience and motivation, you can also become the proud owner of a decent sized plot?
The process of claiming free land or property starts with searching for a piece of land first, followed up by owner tracing and adverse possession. However, before going into these steps one must be clear about the concept of land registration.
To feature in the Land Registry, a plot of land either has to be transacted upon, i.e. changed hands or should have been mortgaged after 1990. So to speak, 40% of English and Welsh land fall outside its scope!
Many believe that unregistered plots of land are not owned by anybody but this is not correct since any piece of land has an owner somewhere of the other. However, you can still claim these plots.
Free property claiming begins with the step of property identification. In simple words, you need to choose the piece of land to stake your claim on from amidst all the plots that you see and for this you need to be able to observe and identify those sure signs that always accompany such plots of land.
Roam about your own neighborhood to notice such signs but remember you have to have the eye of an observer for the purpose.
Generally abandoned pieces of land has some sure signs commonly in the form of overgrown gates and gardens, shrub lands, derelicts, broken or bordered up windows, etc. These plots might be old commercial premises or unused industrial buildings as well.
You are sure to miss these not-so-obvious signs if you drive around. The best thing to do would be to go for regular walks around your neighborhood.
Registration Check is your next step where you contact the land registry to know the status of your said piece of land - registered, unregistered or pending first application.
Unluckily, if you find the status to be ‘pending first application’, you need to retrace your steps back to the property search step again since this means that someone else has beaten you to staking a claim on your chosen piece of property.
If it is a registered piece of property, then it is still okay since it might mean that the owner has died without leaving it to any of his relatives or he might have settled abroad permanently.
‘Unregistered’ piece of land of course is the best situation to be in since it simply means that it is ripe for your claim. However, this doesn’t mean that there cannot be an owner as there might be one who simply hasn’t registered this plot yet.
Owner tracing is your next step whatever situation you might be in from the previous stage. This is extremely crucial since you would have to prove later on that you had tried your best to contact the previous owner.
The best way forward towards owner tracing is through the method of neighbor interviewing since they would be knowing the owner’s whereabouts best.
One can also check with the electoral roles, post office, landlords or even milkmen to find out more about the original owner. The probate registry office needs to be contacted in case he is dead.
Now comes adverse possession where you have to announce in some way that you own the property. So you can do things like put up a fence or put up a signboard saying ‘No Trespassing’. Also, one should record his claim start date and this can be done by drawing up a document and getting two witnesses to sign the same.
With your efforts to adversely possess the plot of property, the original owner if any would soon hurry back to a plot where there suddenly has sprung a ‘No Trespassing’ sign! Many websites and agencies also exist who do the detective work for you.
If you seek any additional help, you can consult the countless online sources that provide all the rules, regulation and even form templates relating to adverse possession. Even CDs and booklets can be resourced from the market.
For more information please visit http://www.freelandandproperty.co.uk. Learn how to claim UK unregistered land. You don’t need to buy land get it for FREE!