Privatly I purchased a property, ( garage. ) 12 years ago. I have never received Title Deeds.?

Question

12 years ago I purchased for cash privatly from a neighbour a garage. I have occupied the garage continiously. I have never received any Title Deeds or any Rates Demands. The vendor has moved away and I am unable to trace him. Please can you advise my legal position ? I only have a 'hand written' receipt. Nothing else. The garage is one in block of 20 on private land. I am not sure who owns the land. It may be an housing association. Thank you. [e-mail]

Answer 1

Go to the land registry you can get a copy of the title deeds heres the link

http://www.landregisteronline.gov.uk/lro/servlet/TitleSearchServlet?searchType=advanced

Hope this helps :)

Answer 2

ADVERSE POSSESSION: this is where someone gains rights over or title to land owned by another person by reason of their continued use of the right or land. Sometimes known as "squatters rights", adverse possession takes two principal forms - the acquisition of a right such as a right of way, or the acquisition of an actual title to the land itself. To achieve a title to the land (known as a "possessory title") the occupier must openly occupy the land in question without complaint from the owner for a period of time, usually 12 years.

Your receipt and nobody claiming the garage and
If you have been paying taxes on the garage all help your proof of ownership

Answer 3

john,

you should if you paid a substantial sum get a solicitor to check with the land registry, there is real risk that you may not have good title to the property. Best to get a solicitor who will help you make a claim for adverse possession, this gives any party if its anyone but you the chance to make representations which may veto your application, if you don't get any representations then you will get adverse possession. It simply is whether the property can be properly found by description. Good luck,

Answer 4

Check the information held by the Land Registry: you can do this online for a small fee.

Title deeds have been dematerialised and only exist in electronic form in the UK.

Answer 5

Without doing searches you may have bought a garage that was not the sellers to sell. If its in a block, Its likely its leasehold and not his/hers to sell.

You need to contact land registry to see who "owns" it. You may be suprised but i expect its not you.

The land registry will give you current owner. If its the seller then you can trace them that way. If its not the seller then your only recourse is to report for fruad or go to small calims court. Either way though, you're going to have to trace the seller.

Answer 6

Try to get a quick claim deed on the property. Call the county where the property is and get more info on how to obtain a quick claim deed in your county.