‘The Supreme Court has used “pure grammar” to clarify the law relating to adverse possession. Nick McKnight considers the ruling.’
Local Government Lawyer, 21st March 2025
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘In a leapfrog appeal from the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) the Supreme Court decided the question of how quickly an application, to be registered as the proprietor of a registered estate in land by way of adverse possession, needs to be made by a squatter, following their realisation that they do not in fact own the land which they have been possessing.’
Local Government Lawyer, 21st March 2025
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘The Supreme Court considered para 5(4) to Schedule 6 Land Registration Act 2002 on the requirements for an application for registered title through adverse possession of land adjoining the applicant’s land.’
Nearly Legal, 2nd March 2025
Source: nearlylegal.co.uk
‘Exclusive possession, we are told, is single and indivisible. The mere fact of possession (as opposed to a vested right to possess in the form of a fee simple or a lease) generates a title in English law generates a form of title which can be vindicated in the English courts against anyone with a relatively weaker title: Asher v Whitlock (1865) L.R. 1 Q.B. 1, which has in recent times (somewhat controversially) been extended to licensees whose interests amount to something less than an estate in land but whose cumulative rights look like possession: Manchester Airport v Dutton [2000] 1 Q.B. 133.’
Falcon Chambers, 31st October 2024
Source: www.falcon-chambers.com
‘The Land Registration Act 2002 was thought to have killed off adverse possession as an active legal mechanism, but the recent case of Brown v Ridley has reopened the debate. The central issue: when is the 10-year period during which the applicant must have a reasonable belief to satisfy paragraph 5(4) of schedule 6? This is one of the three conditions which an applicant must satisfy if the registered title owner objects to the application for adverse possession.’
Law Society's Gazette, 2nd October 2024
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Daniel Dovar considers the decision in Brown v Ridley [2024] UKUT 14 (LC) and the crucial nature of the timing of an application for adverse possession under paragraph 5(4)(c) of Schedule 6 to the Land Registration Act 2002.’
Tanfield Chambers, 30th May 2023
Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk
‘In Brown v Ridley [2024] UKUT 14 (LC) the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) considered whether the 10-year period of reasonable belief required for adverse possession applications must end on the date of the application (or, alternatively, whether it may be any 10 years within the period of adverse possession ending on the date of the application).’
St Philips Barristers, 16th April 2024
Source: st-philips.com
‘Catherine Craven and Jane Goodier round up the latest housing law cases and court decisions of interest to housing associations and local authorities.’
Local Government Lawyer, 7th July 2023
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘Two applicants have been told they cannot claim adverse possession of council-owned land which is not adjacent to their own.’
Local Government Lawyer, 30th July 2020
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘Gary Cowen QC considers a recent decision of the First Tier Tribunal (Land Registration) on adverse possession claims to unregistered land based on the collection of rent for a period of twelve years.’
Falcon Chambers, April 2020
Source: www.falcon-chambers.com
‘According to the statistics held by HM Land Registry, some 15% of land in England and Wales is unregistered. In particular, much of the land owned by the Crown, the aristocracy and the Church has not been registered, because there has been no change in ownership of the land since compulsory registration on sale of land was introduced.’
Hardwicke Chambers, 3rd March 2020
Source: hardwicke.co.uk
‘The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has upheld the title of the descendants of the original grantor to a family burial vault in a closed church.’
Law and Religion UK, 17th June 2019
Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com
‘The Court of Appeal decision in Rashid v Nasrullah is an important one in relation to adverse
possession of registered land in two respects. The Court held, declining to follow its previous
decision in Parshall v Bryans [2013] EWCA Civ 240, that a registered proprietor can be in
adverse possession of registered land. It also held that, where registered land is transferred by
a forged transfer to a fraudster who is registered as proprietor, the effect of s.69 of the Land
Registration Act 1925 was that, although the fraudster acquired the legal estate he held it on
trust for the real owner.’
New Square Chambers, 6th December 2018
Source: www.newsquarechambers.co.uk
‘The doctrine of adverse possession arises from the Limitation Act 1980. Section 15(1) provides that no action shall be brought by any person to recover any land after the expiration of 12 years from the date on which the right of action accrued. Sections 1-7 provide that at the expiration of the period of 12 years the title of the paper owner is extinguished. The claim of a person to a possessory title was therefore based on the negative effect of the extinguishment of the paper owner’s title, and the basic principle that what is required for a case in trespass is not ownership, but possession or a right to possession.’
Hardwicke Chambers, 9th November 2017
Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk
‘A couple who cut a grass verge outside their wealthy neighbour’s home for 12 years have been given the land by a judge in a “squatters’ rights” ruling following a lengthy court battle.’
Daily Telegraph, 26th May 2016
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
‘We like being in control. As lawyers, we want to be in control. What is more, sometimes the law requires our clients to be in control. And the law determines if a person is truly in control. In the legal context instances where control may be an issue include the control of companies and the control of vehicles. In the field of property, the concept of control rears its head in connection with adverse possession.’
Falcon Chambers, March 2016
Source: www.falcon-chambers.com
‘The Court of Appeal considered the clash of s.144 LASPO and the rules on adverse possession, on appeal from the Administrative Court. Our report on the Admin Court judgment is here, and, to be honest, I’m not sure that the Court of Appeal adds much to that judgment. Much the same arguments were rehearsed and much the same conclusion is reached.’
NearlyLegal, 19th February 2015
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
Regina (Best) v Chief Land Registrar [2014] EWHC 1370 (Admin); [2014] WLR (D) 211
‘The criminalisation of people who were trespassers through living in a relevant residential building by pursuant to section 144(1) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 had not prevented time running for applications for registration of title by adverse possession.’
WLR Daily, 7th May 2014
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
‘Way back when s.144 LASPO 2012 was first proposed, I noted that one of the unaddressed questions (indeed a question that nobody even thought to consider) was how s.144 would interact with statute and case law on adverse possession.’
NearlyLegal, 8th May 2014
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
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