Query over access to drive, land resold to private company

[Lesh]

My mother received a letter yesterday afternoon (10th May). It implies that the plot of land directly in front of our drive over which we ( a house) and a number of flats to our right have access over could be sold off at auction in the future if we choose not to buy it for the price of £1500. I have no idea if the company legitimately owns the land. Considering we've lived here for 45 years and driven over and walked over this patch this is a puzzle. Without it there would be no foot or car access to our house or other properties next door. It would certainly not be possible to build anything on it as it's a relatively small area of tarmac next to the road with services in it (gas, electricity, water). The estate has odd bits of land that may have been sold off. Has anyone come across this before? Is it legal to do this when we've had access over the land for so long? Would we even own the land if we decided to pay up or could they just increase the price once we showed some interest? If we didn't buy it and subsequently tried to sell the property would it affect the house sale? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[des8]

Have you looked on Land registry to see if this parcel of land is registered?
If not, check here for £3 https://www.gov.uk/search-property-i...-land-registry

What you need to do PDQ is register an easement by prescriptive right.
This will recognise that your continued use for more than 20 years has become a right.
Depending on whether the land is registered or not affects which form you have to use
See here: https://www.gov.uk/government/public...y-prescription

[Lesh]

Greatly appreciated advice regarding the easement, really helpful des8

It does appear the plot in front of her house is registered to the company I suspected had bought it. I'll look at the website link and try to work out which form is required (?AP1), lots of info and very technical in a legalise way to someone not in the business.

[des8]

Read through it, try to unravel it and come back for help if you want

[Lesh]

I'll do my best, thank you for that. Of course I meant 'Leaglese' rather than legalise!! It's a whole new language.

[tom997]

Hi Lesh,

I just wondered what happened in the end with your ransom strip outside your house, did you buy it in the end? I work on a show called Rip Off Britain and we're interested in talking to people that have been affected by this issue. Let me know how you got on - thomas.bowen02@bbc.co.uk

Many thanks