Squatter's rights - on a garage

[eltax91]

Hi there law people's. Just an interesting situation i'd like to raise with the piston heads knowledgable one's.

I live just around the corner from a council estate and at the end of my road is a large-ish textile machinery firm. They have recently started to do some major building works on their land, which sits directly behind some council rental garages. Now, due to this building work, 2 or 3 of the old codgers have decided their cars are not safe (from failing objects presumably) and have given up their garages in favour of either going elsewhere or just using the on street parking.

My question is, as these garages have been left empty, with their doors wide open, what are the concequences of me just slapping a padlock on the door and claiming it as my own? Or even getting an old wreck on SORN and storing it there? Also, how long would i need to be "squatting" before it becomes mine?

Cheers

Paul

[Mattt]

A revised act was brought in a few years back, so the old school of thought no longer applies.

I cannot remember the exact procedure now without looking it up, but I believe you must apply (through the courts) to the current owner before the transfer of ownership takes place, they can say no if they want.

Google knows the answers however.

[Piglet]

There was an ECHR ruling on Pye last week that I haven't read that may change things and it is an area of law that is changing swiftly and is difficult to keep up with. As a short answer you'd have to occupy without being asked not to or given consent to for probably 12 years, maybe more before being asked to leave and you only have the ability to claim the land as your own if it's not "registered land".

You can check with the Land Registry whether its registered or not and have a pop but I'd imagine the Council will kick you out pretty swiftly for trespassing.