Disputed parcel of land

[Cliftonvilla]

Hi, not sure if anyone can help? My wife and I purchased a property in 2020 and we have found an original deed from 1988 whereby a previous owner of our property bought a parcel of land just beyond our boundary. This deed was not registered at the Land Registry and the parcel of land was not part of the property we purchased. To complicate the matter, the instigators of the deed did not sell us the property as they sold to someone else who then sold to us 20 years later. Our belief is that we would now need to contact the people on the deed and ask them to transfer the land to us, perhaps paying for the land? Does anyone have any idea of likely costs of solicitors to effect this and proceed with registering the deed at the Land Registry?

[des8]

Have you checked to see if this parcel of land is registered?
You can check here for £3 https://www.gov.uk/search-property-i...-land-registry

Regarding costs it will depend on whether or not the land is already registered, and whether or not there is anyone else in occupation

[Cliftonvilla]

Thank you for the speedy response. The deed has definitely not been registered at the Land Registry, and our title plan shows the property without the parcel of land. The ownership is likely to be contested as neighbours have said they think the land is their's, though they have done nothing with the land and it is an overgrown and neglected small orchard. It is not clear whether or not the land is on their title deeds, there seems to be a mismatch between what is on their plan and what is on the ground. There appears to be a small gap between their property and ours which is similar though not identical to the clearly documented parcel of land.

[des8]

Any transfer of land after 1990 should have triggered registration. so I think you might have difficulty proving the land is yours as you have nothing showing transfer to yourself.
In fact your purchase did not include the land, and I doubt the existence of an old deed transferring the land to a previous owner will be proof that it should have been included in your purchase.
This doesn't mean your neighbour owns it though.
It could be the current owner is unknow (even to themselves)

The Land Registry maps are only indicative, and boundaries sometimes have to be determined, which can be an expensive exercise

Be warned that land disputes tend to be costly

[Cliftonvilla]

Thank you very much.