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Squatters rights?

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  • 25-04-2018 12:13pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭


    Would appreciate any gen please?.

    Can someone claim squatters rights on eg a council carpark or eg working pier? If this happens what next?


«1

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  • Registered Users Posts: 4,825 ✭✭✭LirW


    I think there was a post on here a year ago or so where a street of houses had a patch of land on the opposite side where everyone was hanging clothes and they realised that it didn't belong to anyone and since it was used for two or three decades by the residents they were able to claim squatter's rights.

    I understand that you can to that on every kind of property or land as long as you occupy it for over 12 years and no effort was made to remove you or an owner came forward. Then you can apply for adverse possession but you need somewhat of a proof for the whole thing. I'm not sure if you need to prove your efforts to legally acquire the property.
    Open to any corrections please!


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    LirW wrote: »
    I think there was a post on here a year ago or so where a street of houses had a patch of land on the opposite side where everyone was hanging clothes and they realised that it didn't belong to anyone and since it was used for two or three decades by the residents they were able to claim squatter's rights.

    I understand that you can to that on every kind of property or land as long as you occupy it for over 12 years and no effort was made to remove you or an owner came forward. Then you can apply for adverse possession but you need somewhat of a proof for the whole thing. I'm not sure if you need to prove your efforts to legally acquire the property.
    Open to any corrections please!

    Man is saying 6 months and someone else that there is a new law saying 12 weeks not years?


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,825 ✭✭✭LirW


    http://www.cahirsolicitors.com/adverse-possession

    That explains it quite well I'd say.


  • Registered Users Posts: 68,805 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Man is saying 6 months and someone else that there is a new law saying 12 weeks not years?

    People are making stuff up and lying to you


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,994 ✭✭✭✭Cuddlesworth


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Would appreciate any gen please?.

    Can someone claim squatters rights on eg a council carpark or eg working pier? If this happens what next?

    Both examples are usually state owned land.

    After the travellers hit the land en mass beside Rathfarnham shopping center in the early 2000's and did crazy damage, the government enacted new laws.

    Anybody who set up shop like that now can be moved on by the gardai and fined and arrested for trespassing.

    As for adverse possession, its almost impossible.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    Both examples are usually state owned land.

    After the travellers hit the land en mass beside Rathfarnham shopping center in the early 2000's and did crazy damage, the government enacted new laws.

    Anybody who set up shop like that now can be moved on by the gardai and fined and arrested for trespassing.

    As for adverse possession, its almost impossible.

    Thanks and as I thought and hoped. I have emailed the relevant authorities. Not me being hoodwinked by the way but those close to me who are easily fooled.
    I did warn the TD that this might happen.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,576 ✭✭✭Glass fused light


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Would appreciate any gen please?.

    Can someone claim squatters rights on eg a council carpark or eg working pier? If this happens what next?

    Anyone can claim it at any time, but see LirW's link for it to be actionable.


    A council carpark, well first they send in the clampers then the tow truck*

    A working pier, well first the fisher folk ask you politely to move, then they ask you politely if you can swim**



    * may require court action.
    ** may result in court action.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,825 ✭✭✭LirW


    Just a fun fact, my mother living in Spain told me that there is a huge Squatter problem there because squatter's rights kick in within the matter of days and you see that quite a bit actually where people just live in a few units of largely abandoned developments and urbanisations. Bigger problem is though when squatters go for holiday homes when people aren't there, that's a huge issue to get them out again.


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    LirW wrote: »
    Just a fun fact, my mother living in Spain told me that there is a huge Squatter problem there because squatter's rights kick in within the matter of days and you see that quite a bit actually where people just live in a few units of largely abandoned developments and urbanisations. Bigger problem is though when squatters go for holiday homes when people aren't there, that's a huge issue to get them out again.

    What is puzzling me is that someone close to me who is very much on the ball on these things, told me way back that there was some new provision ie 12 weeks of residency? It was when things were going badly here and i was worrying lest the council refused to let me stay with no power.
    Oh and I had to have done some improvements to the property

    Maybe something different altogether?


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,576 ✭✭✭Glass fused light


    Graces7 wrote: »
    What is puzzling me is that someone close to me who is very much on the ball on these things, told me way back that there was some new provision ie 12 weeks of residency? It was when things were going badly here and i was worrying lest the council refused to let me stay with no power.
    Oh and I had to have done some improvements to the property

    Maybe something different altogether?
    If you are occupying with the permission of the Council you never gain squatters rights.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    This gets complicated?So you cannot just say to neighbours, I now have sqautters rights to this council owned carpark/pier? And tel folk there is nothing now anyone can do about it and I can do what i like here now?

    And they believe him!


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,576 ✭✭✭Glass fused light


    Graces7 wrote: »
    This gets complicated?So you cannot just say to neighbours, I now have sqautters rights to this council owned carpark/pier? And tel folk there is nothing now anyone can do about it and I can do what i like here now?

    And they believe him!
    If the person is making physical changes you can report it by phone or in person to the council enfore enforcement in planning and also to whoever is responsible for the 2 areas and
    to the Gardai as suspected criminal damage.
    and explain if you believe that the action would endanger a member of the public.

    If you are in the location and approached by the individual neighbour to run you off, you could call the local Garda station and ask them to attend however unless you have a pressing need I would just leave and later make a complaint.


    If it's a claim of ownership it's best to write to the Council and describe location, the claims, who made the and any action taken by the claimant ask if its CC property and if it is, that they confirm or deny the claims.


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,504 ✭✭✭runawaybishop


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Would appreciate any gen please?.

    Can someone claim squatters rights on eg a council carpark or eg working pier? If this happens what next?

    You can claim, but will 99% be unsuccessful. Council properly is treated differently and you need sole possession, not sure how likely that would be in those 2 locations. Can you be more specific?


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    If the person is making physical changes you can report it by phone or in person to the council enfore enforcement in planning and also to whoever is responsible for the 2 areas and
    to the Gardai as suspected criminal damage.
    and explain if you believe that the action would endanger a member of the public.

    If you are in the location and approached by the individual neighbour to run you off, you could call the local Garda station and ask them to attend however unless you have a pressing need I would just leave and later make a complaint.


    If it's a claim of ownership it's best to write to the Council and describe location, the claims, who made the and any action taken by the claimant ask if its CC property and if it is, that they confirm or deny the claims.

    Great! Thank you. I had already emailed the Planning office and our local TD.

    The person thinks all he has to do is tell us he is claiming squatters rights and that is IT .


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,994 ✭✭✭✭Cuddlesworth


    Ignoring the 30 years of zero state interest in the land and proof of that.


  • Registered Users Posts: 68,805 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    State body land has an even harder and realistically insurmountable barrier to claim adverse possession as far as I remember. 30 years and it resets to 0 even if someone comes to inspect it or something like that.

    I may be wrong, didn't go digging to check


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    Grace- they are being delusional- 100% definitely contact your local representatives- and the local authority/council- stupidity like this has to be stopped.

    Yep. I already tried a few months back though when some of us saw this coming. Trouble is, the folk here believe him...

    Emails went earlier and I will follow this up. Checking all with a friendly barrister I know .

    Thanks.. manipulative is the word I would use. He knows exactly what he is doing.

    But so do I now.. Thank you


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,576 ✭✭✭Glass fused light


    L1011 wrote: »
    State body land has an even harder and realistically insurmountable barrier to claim adverse possession as far as I remember. 30 years and it resets to 0 even if someone comes to inspect it or something like that.

    I may be wrong, didn't go digging to check
    One of the Irish rail cases I read the judge basicly said it 30 years from when IR decide to bring the land into service. Which I suppose eliminates annexing the railway bank by cutting the grass or letting your garden plants seed the land.


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    Thank you. boards ie is amazing!

    I was intrigued re the 30 years and google found me this..

    https://www.irishexaminer.com/farming/news/what-are-squatters-rights-exactly-308255.html

    "ALL" I have to do now is motivate the right authorities.. there are aspects of this that are very worrying that I cannot post here.


  • Registered Users Posts: 23,524 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Would appreciate any gen please?.

    Can someone claim squatters rights on eg a council carpark or eg working pier? If this happens what next?
    Yes, it was done in Dunsink Lane


    https://amp.independent.ie/irish-news/squatter-will-be-paid-1m-by-council-to-leave-12acre-site-26296663.html


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  • Registered Users Posts: 11,218 ✭✭✭✭Nekarsulm


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Thank you. boards ie is amazing!

    I was intrigued re the 30 years and google found me this..

    https://www.irishexaminer.com/farming/news/what-are-squatters-rights-exactly-308255.html

    "ALL" I have to do now is motivate the right authorities.. there are aspects of this that are very worrying that I cannot post here.

    There was a legal case for adverse possession taken a few years back, which failed due to the fact that the landowner had pulled up on the road to look over the hedge at his fields, and could prove it.

    Due to the fact that farmland is traditionally mapped to the centre line of the public road, it was held that he was on his land while standing on the grass verge of the road.

    The Irish Times published the judgment in a half page report. Could be 10 years ago now.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,576 ✭✭✭Glass fused light


    ted1 wrote: »

    That report says settlement, had the courts granted adverse possession needing the CPO or was it more economic to pay them to move?

    " Fingal said it would address the illegal occupation of its own lands, and that returning the lands to their legal use would be done in the most cost-effective way possible. "


  • Registered Users Posts: 23,524 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    ted1 wrote: »

    That report says settlement, had the courts granted adverse possession needing the CPO or was it more economic to pay them to move?

    " Fingal said it would address the illegal occupation of its own lands, and that returning the lands to their legal use would be done in the most cost-effective way possible. "
    They secured squatters rights and the reached and agreement on the CPO


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,994 ✭✭✭✭Cuddlesworth


    ted1 wrote: »
    They secured squatters rights and the reached and agreement on the CPO

    Yep, law was changed as I said in 2002 to 30 years for council owned land. But in fairness, if they lived there for 20 years and ran multiple businesses then its really on the council. They cost themselves and the public the money through incompetence and laziness.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,480 ✭✭✭wexie


    They cost themselves and the public the money through incompetence and laziness.

    Who....the council?


    Nooooooh?!!!


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,576 ✭✭✭Glass fused light


    Yep, law was changed as I said in 2002 to 30 years for council owned land. But in fairness, if they lived there for 20 years and ran multiple businesses then its really on the council. They cost themselves and the public the money through incompetence and laziness.

    Imagine having to put in halting sites, I would say the public may have gotten value for money if you take account of the cost of housing and refurbing for 400 for up to 20 years plus it would appear that the State got money back for the "tax difficulties".


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    PrettyBoy wrote: »
    Whoever told you it was 12 weeks isn't on the ball as you put it - they haven't got a clue.

    Ah that was apparently a different matter and not this.. sorted!


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Thank you. boards ie is amazing!

    I was intrigued re the 30 years and google found me this..

    https://www.irishexaminer.com/farming/news/what-are-squatters-rights-exactly-308255.html

    "ALL" I have to do now is motivate the right authorities.. there are aspects of this that are very worrying that I cannot post here.

    Well! I had email back immediately from my TD that he was contacting the council.. Opened my email to find he had done so to great effect.. They apparently had no idea re the situation here.. Also I am in touch with the Gardai re the abuse a while ago and yes the same person, and our local Garda will be over on polling day about various issues.

    Am impressed! None of them have been here you see.

    A good TD makes all the difference.

    Please God they follow through.

    What got me was that the local folk believed him re the 6 months etc .


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,247 ✭✭✭Greaney


    I hope what I say helps... This is with regard to private land, but not council.

    To squat land/property, you have to, without asking anyone permission, enter the property and occupy it. 'establish dominion' (plant spuds etc.), 'to the exclusion of all others' for a period of 12 years.

    You then have to be able to prove it all in a court of law. Not very easy.

    Take in those phrases very carefully.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    Greaney wrote: »
    I hope what I say helps... This is with regard to private land, but not council.

    To squat land/property, you have to, without asking anyone permission, enter the property and occupy it. 'establish dominion' (plant spuds etc.), 'to the exclusion of all others' for a period of 12 years.

    Take in those phrases very carefully. It's not easy.

    A neat summing up. I found some fascinating examples on google.


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