A friend stores caravans in a field for an annual fee. One van has been there since he bought the field three years ago, and no-one knows who the owner is. I would like to buy it, but does my friend have the right to sell it to claim his fees?
If the caravan is worth a lot of money your friend should consider seeing a solicitor about going to court for permission to sell the vehicle. The danger is that the owner could return and reclaim his caravan after you’d bought it, in which case you would have to hope for a refund of your money from your friend. A court order would protect you from this eventuality. However after three years you may think the risk is worth taking if the caravan isn’t worth very much.