'borrowing' wasteland to grow on?

[janeyo]

Here's the patch. You can see the hedge at the front. This was taken once the sun had gone about 4pm ish.

[Growem]

I can see why you are tempted Jane, it really does look and probably feel like an extension of your property. However, I'd still try and find out who owns it and ask them for permission before going ahead.

[pipscariad]

Oo, I'd be desperate to get my hands on this too, sooo tempting, when it's right there next to your land... But, I also go with those who have said check it out legally, as it could save an awful lot of heartache and also potential ill feeling - although it has been neglected, if you decide to 'take it over', the owners may decide to come in and spend lots of time in there or something, just to be awkward - there's nowt so queer as folk, after all!

My veg plot is actually a field which a friend of mine has very kindly let me use, but we came to a mutual agreement that I 'rent' it from them for the princely sum of £1.50 a year (for an acre!), just so as to avoid the potential for any 'misunderstandings'.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do

[Glutton4...]

Great idea - fuelled by the Shiraz you understand;

Fence it off and get some ex-batts lol!

[Fluorescent green]

The chap who lived here before once put a fence across it and got a letter the next week telling him to take it down so somebody round here knows about it!

It obviously belongs to someone, and they want to keep it.
But you might be ok to ask permision, or just plant more fruit trees.
I would go for trees because they do not need maintenance all the time. But it would be better to get permission, the land owner might even live some more apples/pears, might be a really nice chap/ess.

FG

[janeyo]

Update

Well the update on this is that Land Registry cannot tell me who owns it as their records only go back to 1991 and it has not changed hands since then.

I have put a sign up asking if anyone knows who it belongs to and have had about 4 different answers so far! ONe chap even knocked on the door and said he wasn't prepared to tell me his name as he didn't want to get on the wrong side of the family who own it! (now I am imagining bodies buried in there and the local mafia running around lol)

I have started covering it with cardboard with a view to planting on it next year and no-one has come and told me to take it off... the mystery continues!

[Fluorescent green]

I complained to the council about some bushes over growing onto the pavement, and after some months even they said that they did not know who owned the land.

FG

[braders]

Here's the patch. You can see the hedge at the front. This was taken once the sun had gone about 4pm ish.

I would be tempted to knock in some posts in each corner and crack on they have been there for years...I know a tad devious, but I am sure after 7 years it becomes yours...been there, done that. but I did wait 7 years...give it a go...nothing to lose...which is your property by the way..?..good luck...

[NOG]

I would be tempted to knock in some posts in each corner and crack on they have been there for years...I know a tad devious, but I am sure after 7 years it becomes yours...been there, done that. but I did wait 7 years...give it a go...nothing to lose...which is your property by the way..?..good luck...

Not quite if it is unregistered and you fence it for 12 years and the fences stay intact and you improve it you can register it.

The fact that HMLR do not have edeeds dosent mean that someone dosent have a title on it.

[blackkitty]

My in-laws had a large patch of land in front of their house which was very overgrown. The council refused to maintain it as they said it didn't belong to them. They eventually found out who owned it, I think it was one of the big insurance companies who had bought out someone else who had bought out the original developers. My father in law had a chat which went along the lines of 'its your legal duty to maintain it and now we know its yours you'll have to or we'll buy it off you for a very nominal fee', the company was very reasonable and I think it cost them £1 plus about £150 fees but they now own a huge extra piece. The weird thing is that now the council keep cutting the verge when they had refused before.
So its probably worth pursueing who owns it

[Naga]

Keep us updated it sounds very interesting!

[SlugLobber]

That's ridiculous that their records only go back to 1991! How much is it to apply for the title? If the land is owned, then surely the current owner needs to be informed, in order for them to lay claim?

[StephenH]

...now I am imagining bodies buried in there...

Well, they'd be good fertiliser!

[julesapple]

Have you checked your own property deeds to see where the boundaries are? You never know, it might be yours already. I would complain to the council that the brambles etc are spreading to your land and weeds are self seeding themselves, and see if they'll take any action to find the owner.

OH had this problem with a huge piece of land near to the school where he's chair of governors. The school wanted the land for extra sports facilities. Council said it didn't belong to them and they knew not who did own it. So the school maintained the land, just mowing the grass, for 7 years and it's now theirs. OH says you'll need documentary proof (photos etc) that you've been maintaining it for the 7 year period.

Jules

[NOG]

That's ridiculous that their records only go back to 1991! How much is it to apply for the title? If the land is owned, then surely the current owner needs to be informed, in order for them to lay claim?

eDeeds only go back to 1991 so properties built after this date will not have a paper deed. If you have an old (paper) deed and make a change it will then be added to the database.