How many years to claim adverse possession? The Land Registry Act 2002 (LRA) introduced the principle that when registered land is involved - i.e. that which has been added to the Land Registry - a person can seek to acquire the title of possession after 10 years of exclusive occupation.

Minimum time requirements – Before any adverse possession application can be considered you must have been using (or in possession of the land) for at least ten years.

To be able to become the registered proprietor of unregistered land through an adverse possession UK application, the length of time you should have been in adverse possession of that land generally needs to be any period exceeding 12 years.

Adverse possession refers to the process in which an individual can claim ownership of land or property that they have used and controlled without the permission of the registered owner for a certain period of time (typically 10 to 12 years depending on whether the land is registered or unregiste...