Can you tell us how we go about claiming “squatters’ rights”? The CAB, the Land Registry and the council all tell us to see a solicitor.
If you are living in a property or using a piece of land where you were in occupation for more than 12 years prior to October 2003 without the owner making any attempt to reclaim it, you may be able to claim ownership though “adverse possession”. However there has been a change in the law, and while it is still possible to claim unregistered land in this way (now after just ten years’ occupation) it is more difficult to claim land that has been registered at the Land Registry. The owner will now be notified and can rebut the claim.