CoobyS

Just found out that a chav (who bothers a lot of people) has been living in a house for over 20 years that is not actually his. The house belonged to a lady, who died, but did not have a will.

What research etc can I do to find out more and hopefully get the noose of the law around this scumbag?

Freak

if hes been living in it (squatting) for 20 years unchallenged, then legally he owns it- he can make a statutory declaration after 12 years and it becomes his.
ETA: lol, unless he was the one that killed her

CoobyS

I don't know if he killed her!

How can I find out who owned it before? Are there any public records?

Freak

land registry
You can pay a small fee and find out (it will also tell you who the current owner is)- im sure someone will post a link.

Jap2Scrap

Calm down Nancy Drew! You're on a hiding to nothing here. What Freak said is right concerning the 12 year statute so getting him out is a pointless exercise. Try burning it down instead to see if he had the sense to insure it. Maybe not then

gsm1

Is he living on his own or with a family?

CoobyS

But it will be interesting to see if his name is on the land register - if not, then he hasn't claimed it to be his...

Link anyone? Couldn't find anything on Land Registry site...

Freak

He can at any time once 12 years has passed

Its on the LR site somewhere- the link has been posted on here before

OllyK

http://www.landregisteronline.gov.uk/

pugoetru

don't you remember the guy in london who stopped paying his rent in the 70s he ended up with a 3/4 million pound house