I need to find out who owns an unoccupied property nearby, but I find it’s not registered at the Land Registry. I have contacted the local authority to enquire who is responsible for council tax payments, but they say disclosure would be in breach of data protection. Is this correct? Where do I go from here?
The electoral register is open to inspection of course, but council tax records aren’t. In this situation your best bet is to ask at nearby properties to see if anybody knows the owner or their whereabouts. Unregistered properties especially risk being appropriated by squatters. Anyone could move in and claim ownership after 12 years unchallenged occupation.