Squatter locked in bitter battle with locals over proof of ownership of land

A squatter who moved onto a supposedly abandoned farm is locked in a bitter battle with locals.

Former nurse Neil Parker has been living on the land in Ceredigion, Wales, for a year but the plot of land and buildings next to the A487 is now part of a fierce dispute with a farming family that claims ownership.

Parker has built a database of hundreds of derelict buildings, mainly in Ceredigion, with no legal owner which he says the public could legally reclaim.

Last April, he occupied the patch of land and has maintained a presence there ever since.

But it has drawn furious objection from a neighbouring family who claims the land belongs to them.

Parker, in his 60s, said: “My position is very clear. If they have no proof of ownership, then I don’t intend to leave."

Squatters' rights: the facts

• A long-term squatter can become the registered owner of property or land they’ve occupied without the owner’s permission if they have occupied the property continuously for 10 years (12 years if it’s not registered with HM Land Registry) (Read more from gov.uk)

• If the property is registered, squatters must fill in a form for adverse possession, complete and sign a written ‘statement of truth’ and send them to the HM Land Registry Citizen Centre.

• HM Land Registry will decide if their application is valid and will let the property owner know.

• If the property is unregistered, they must apply for first registration and complete and sign a written statement of truth.

• HM Land Registry will inspect the property, decide if their application is valid and let the property owner know.

• They can try to come to an agreement with the owners if they object, while a tribunal can decide who owns the property if they cannot agree or do not want to.

The owner of a nearby farm told the Cambrian News that Parker had caused "misery" for her and the village.

And one local has presented a will from 1969 that states the land was left to them by their grandfather, the paper reports.

But Parker says it is not evidence of ownership – and the family hasn't processed the necessary documentation with the Land Registry.

Parker said he had an "essentially undisturbed" year until a local farmer tried to evict him.

He added: “People need land and people need properties and those who own them need to be prepared to do the work and put effort into deriving societal benefit from them.

“The reason the adverse possession statute remains is to allow people to take over bits of land that have been abandoned and for good reason – it’s there for a purpose.”

Parker has the eventual goal of clearing the area to plant trees.

A member of the family who says they own the farm says she is in the process of registering the land and criticised alleged delays at the Land Registry.­

She said: ''It may be unregistered but the title deeds are firmly within our possession.”