Do you need to provide proof of ownership of a property for an estate agent sell

[ilovemykindle]

At the end of our road there is a strip of land that gives access to the back of some houses so they can get into their garages and back garden. It's also access to a business. This land has been there for over 100 years.
Today It's been listed for sale but no one knows who owns the land or has claimed ownership.
The business has contacted the local government who says they don't own it. So the business is trying to find out.
And will contact their own solicitor.
No neighbour has done it.
The commercial estate agent won't say who has put it up for sale.
Will it say on the land registry who owns it.
Nothing can be done with this land as it's a right of way for so many people and houses.

Usually, yes.

The land might not be registered (not all land and property is registered with Land Registry) although this seems unlikely if it’s up for sale.

Whether anything can be ‘done’ with the land depends on a lot of things and it sounds potentially complicated.

Maybe worth contacting the land registry to find out if the land is registered, buy a copy of the register if available and see what’s in the register (restrictions, easements etc). If you think the purchase of the land will lead to issues for the residents and business then contact a solicitor.

It’s most likely owned by the company that developed the estate, or however you describe the row of houses that have access onto it. They may have sold it on, they may have retained it.
Try the Land Registry first to find out if it is registered. If it isn’t, can you access the deeds from when your house was first sold? That might name the original owner.

The houses and business has been there since 1909. Our house was my in-laws and their parents before.
In-laws are no longer around. Maybe one of the neighbours might have more information.
Will try the land registry.

We didn’t have to show anything to estate agents but I was selling a house I was literally standing in.

Obviously the solicitor looks at these things but we didn’t provide anything - potentially because we used the same solicitor who we bought the house with.

I have heard of this happening before - horror story type scam stuff in newspapers. Part of the reason it’s recommended to keep a small mortgage even if you don’t need to.

If it’s a right of way surely no one can do anything with it anyway. Might be worth going to your MP/ local councillors as a group and voicing your concerns.

We recently enquired about renting our flat out and they said they'd need ownership details if we wanted to proceed so I imagine a sale would be the same.
Does it affect access to our own home or impact you somehow? Sorry if I missed this.

You don’t usually need it to advertise to sell, but they will when it comes to transferring the title deeds over from seller to buyer.

try land registry first.

I sold a house with a back access and the buyers solicitor asked for proof of the status of the path there and I was unable to provide it. Ended up indemnifying the buyer for some possible future loss of access I think.

I think I might consult a solicitor?

Land Registry first.
Could all the residents buy it as a group purchase?