How can I find out who owns a land Folio?

rozeboosje

With the wind of recent days we're getting increasingly worried about a bunch of three huge trees just outside our property that are towering over our house. In the last storm we found our garden full of broken off branches and dead wood. At least one of those trees appears to not be safe anymore.

Behind our house is a bungalow. Its path leads from the main road to the bungalow, but between the path and our land there is a wedge shaped piece of land, and that's where the trees are.

This is a pity, as the landlord of the bungalow would have been quite willing to chip in on the cost of having those trees made safe. But as it stands - and I looked this up on landdirect.ie, the wedge belongs neither to him nor to us, but it's part of a larger plot that includes the road and a grass field opposite our house, and obviously with the trees not being on his land there is no justification for us asking him to help out financially; it's not his problem. We need to contact the owner of that wedge of land.

So how can I find out as cheaply as possible who owns the land? From talking to other people I reckon the land has either been given back to the Council and it's their responsibility now, or it's the responsibility of a vague entity known as "the residents" of our estate. But who is it?

I phoned the council and I gave them the Folio number so they can either confirm or deny that the plot belongs to them, but waiting for them to get the finger out .... you know the drill.

Any suggestions are welcome.

I know I can buy a copy of the Folio online.

Question: If I get a copy of the folio will it include the name of the owner?

delthedriver

rozeboosje wrote: »

With the wind of recent days we're getting increasingly worried about a bunch of three huge trees just outside our property that are towering over our house. In the last storm we found our garden full of broken off branches and dead wood. At least one of those trees appears to not be safe anymore.

Behind our house is a bungalow. Its path leads from the main road to the bungalow, but between the path and our land there is a wedge shaped piece of land, and that's where the trees are.

This is a pity, as the landlord of the bungalow would have been quite willing to chip in on the cost of having those trees made safe. But as it stands - and I looked this up on landdirect.ie, the wedge belongs neither to him nor to us, but it's part of a larger plot that includes the road and a grass field opposite our house, and obviously with the trees not being on his land there is no justification for us asking him to help out financially; it's not his problem. We need to contact the owner of that wedge of land.

So how can I find out as cheaply as possible who owns the land? From talking to other people I reckon the land has either been given back to the Council and it's their responsibility now, or it's the responsibility of a vague entity known as "the residents" of our estate. But who is it?

I phoned the council and I gave them the Folio number so they can either confirm or deny that the plot belongs to them, but waiting for them to get the finger out .... you know the drill.

Any suggestions are welcome.

I know I can buy a copy of the Folio online.

Question: If I get a copy of the folio will it include the name of the owner?

Land Registry Office

rozeboosje

delthedriver wrote: »

Land Registry Office

Thanks - but see the question at the end

Peregrinus

Yes, it will give the name of the owner - and an address, but it may not be a current address. The owner may turn out to be a limited company, in which case off to the companies office to find out who is behind it.

GG66

If the trees are posing a danger to the public (overhanging public road) and you inform the council, they may cut them down to prevent a possible accident regardless of who's land it is on. I honestly can't comment on the legal position on this and I only know as the cut down two trees locally on this basis without even consulting the landowner, they were several hundred years old.

Not sure if you let them know of the potential danger of the trees you are requesting clarity on ownership of, but I expect it may speed things along. Phone calls to local councillors also help

rozeboosje

Thanks GG66 - yes, if I manage to establish that the trees belong to the council and if the council doesn't get its finger out I will do exactly that: contact councillors. The problem is that it's not a danger to the public, though. The trees on that plot overhang and may come down on the house on my plot. The public is in no danger.

my3cents

rozeboosje wrote: »

Thanks GG66 - yes, if I manage to establish that the trees belong to the council and if the council doesn't get its finger out I will do exactly that: contact councillors. The problem is that it's not a danger to the public, though. The trees on that plot overhang and may come down on the house on my plot. The public is in no danger.

And you aren't a member of the public?

rozeboosje

my3cents wrote: »

And you aren't a member of the public?

Not on my own property, I don't think. But maybe I'm mistaken.

mickdw

As long as it's registered land -( you can see a folio for it on land direct), paying 5 euro will get you the owners name and address together with other details such as land area enclosed, date of purchase etc in most cases.

rozeboosje

Darn... It looks like I may have to travel to their offices to see a public copy of the folio. I guess they don't do an online service?

234

rozeboosje wrote: »

Darn... It looks like I may have to travel to their offices to see a public copy of the folio. I guess they don't do an online service?

They certainly do for institutional users such a solicitors firms and banks who have subscription services. I'm pretty sure that you can use landdirect.ie to buy a folio as a one-off.

rozeboosje

234 wrote: »

I'm pretty sure that you can use landdirect.ie to buy a folio as a one-off.

[facedesk]
You know I've been looking at those pages for a couple of days now, and of course I noticed the "add to basket" button but it NEVER occurred to me to actually click on it to see what happens. Boy do I feel silly now.

mickdw

Yes the last year or so they have allowed public access.

rozeboosje

Thanks to everyone!