How to purchase unregistered land? - Page 2

Steamdrivenandy · 2nd March 2021, 13:01

At our previous house there was a large area of lawn beside our drive and outside our garden wall. We understood that it wasn't our land but it seemed nobody else looked after it, so I used to cut the grass throughout the summer.

I made enquiries and discovered that the area was supposed to have been taken over by the local authority in 1972 when the houses were finished. however there was a dispute over drainage and the council refused to accept the open spaces from the developer.

It used to annoy me that I was having to mow a large area of grass when it wasn't mine. I couldn't stop mowing it as it was overlooked by at least ten of our neighbours, most of whom seemed to think the land was ours.

The developers had gone through several takeovers since 1972 and eventually the land passed into the possession of a subsidiary of Persimmon Homes, the biggest housebuilder in the country. I wrote to their HQ offering to negotiate to purchase the land, so at least I might be mowing my own grass. For some reason they weren't keen on engaging in discussions about selling and kept kicking my enquiries into the long grass. I was surprised because the land had no value to them and could be a continuing liability.

In the end I wrote to the chairman of Persimmon and said I would stop mowing the grass and direct all enquiries by neighbours to him. Within a couple of days some contractors appeared and mowed the grass and they've done so ever since in the season. That was three years ago and Persimmon are still paying for them to cut the grass. Why they didn't just sell it to me I still can't figure.

BRG75 · 2nd March 2021, 14:50

Just to add another scenario, similar to the railway line (post 8)

In our village there is a road that backs onto the M.26, but was built a good few decades earlier.

Whichever authority built the M.26, purchased a strip of (farm) land wider than they needed, possibly for 6 lanes.
The finished road is only 4 lanes, and all this was some 40 years ago.

One or two residents then moved their back garden fence, and occupied the parcel(s) of land, behind them. I believe now that many others have.

If the M.26 ever gets widened ???

2nd March 2021, 13:01	#11
Steamdrivenandy Avid contributor Thinking on Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Madeley, Staffs Posts: 188 Thanks: 31 Thanked 37 Times in 25 Posts	At our previous house there was a large area of lawn beside our drive and outside our garden wall. We understood that it wasn't our land but it seemed nobody else looked after it, so I used to cut the grass throughout the summer. I made enquiries and discovered that the area was supposed to have been taken over by the local authority in 1972 when the houses were finished. however there was a dispute over drainage and the council refused to accept the open spaces from the developer. It used to annoy me that I was having to mow a large area of grass when it wasn't mine. I couldn't stop mowing it as it was overlooked by at least ten of our neighbours, most of whom seemed to think the land was ours. The developers had gone through several takeovers since 1972 and eventually the land passed into the possession of a subsidiary of Persimmon Homes, the biggest housebuilder in the country. I wrote to their HQ offering to negotiate to purchase the land, so at least I might be mowing my own grass. For some reason they weren't keen on engaging in discussions about selling and kept kicking my enquiries into the long grass. I was surprised because the land had no value to them and could be a continuing liability. In the end I wrote to the chairman of Persimmon and said I would stop mowing the grass and direct all enquiries by neighbours to him. Within a couple of days some contractors appeared and mowed the grass and they've done so ever since in the season. That was three years ago and Persimmon are still paying for them to cut the grass. Why they didn't just sell it to me I still can't figure. __________________ Morris 8 S2 Convertible, Fiat 500C Topolino, 105E Anglia, 1071 Austin Cooper S, MK 3 Cortina, Mk 2 Escorts, Renault 6, Renault 12, Maestro, Talbot Alpine, Citroen BX19, Vauxhall Carltons, Ford Mondeos, RAV4, Volvo 850, Octavia Est., Yaris Verso, Transit Camper, Adria motorhome, Kia Sorento, Kia Cee'd Est., Volvo V70, Yeti, Skoda Scala but where will it end?

2nd March 2021, 14:50	#12
BRG75 Gets stuck in Rover 75 Saloon & Tourer, 9th & 10th Rovers Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Sevenoaks Posts: 973 Thanks: 670 Thanked 290 Times in 195 Posts	Just to add another scenario, similar to the railway line (post 8) In our village there is a road that backs onto the M.26, but was built a good few decades earlier. Whichever authority built the M.26, purchased a strip of (farm) land wider than they needed, possibly for 6 lanes. The finished road is only 4 lanes, and all this was some 40 years ago. One or two residents then moved their back garden fence, and occupied the parcel(s) of land, behind them. I believe now that many others have. If the M.26 ever gets widened ??? __________________ Presently 2004 75 CDTi auto Connoisseur Tourer - White Gold 2001 75 2.5 auto Connoisseur Saloon - White Gold Previously 2002 75 1.8 auto Club SE, 2000 75 1.8 auto Classic SE (Company Car) 1997 420 (Company Car) 1996 216 cabriolet, 198? 213 VDP 1986 SD1 V8 VDP, 1968 2000TC, 1966 2000.