Does anyone know anything about land ownership?

[Hoolahoophop]

I have seen a property for sale, its garden backs on to what looks like waste land extending to a river.

Is it possible to find out who owns the land to see if it is possible to extend the garden to the river bank?

Do you know how I would go about this?

Thanks

The land register will tell you. Have to pay a small fee to see details.

Land registry. Can do an online search. Not all land is registered though

Do you search through maps? Or use a postcode?

I don't know the area and am not sure how it would be described as it looks like waste land not on any road. Though it is between a road and a river.

Sorry, should have looked myself before I asked, I see that you can search a few ways.

We have land at the foot of our garden that belongs to someone, however it belongs to an estate & has been lost in time so you speak, we use it but it's not really ours.
Has current owner used it for a long time? If so you could ask for a statement & you might be able to claim adverse possession after you've bought it. Or ask for them to do this during sale

You describe it as waste land but its likely marsh land if it heads down to a river.

I think the Royal Family knows a bit about land ownership...

Basically it's all theirs (because they say so) and they dole it out to supporters and mates as they seem fit.

Mates and supporters can then sell it on as they wish.

If it backs onto a river it could be a flood plane.

https://search-property-information.service.gov.uk/search/search-by-map/

The above is what you need. Zoom in until you can identify the land,you have to get 'up close' before you can click on it.

This will tell you if the land is registered. If it is, you can pay £3 (I think) to get a copy of the deeds, which will tell you who owns it.

Not all land is registered, so if you can't identify an owner this way, it doesn't mean no one owns it.All land in England is theoretically legally owned by someone.

Are you likely to be able to use it? Possibly.
Are you likely to be able to legally annex it to your property title? Very doubtful.

If it borders a river, is the river navigable? Do walkers and fishermen use the land? Just because you haven't seen anyone there yet, doesn't mean it isn't used, or that you would be in a position to prevent other people using it.

You will need planning permission to change the use of the land to residential garden.

The land is a bit marshy by the looks of things! Some will be flood plain, some not as it's on a hillside. The river is used regularly by pleasure boats is too small for large boats and there is a public footpath that runs along the river bank. From one village to the next. There are houses and gardens a little further along which go right down to the river bank.There is also a footpath from the house through this waste land to a private mooring which comes with the house. It would be nice to extend the garden a little so that the mooring was closer to the house.