Stopping Squatters?

Buteo Buteo

I have a problem with persons grazing their animals on my land without my permission.

I'm concerned that these same people may try to seek squatters' rights.

The animals have recently been removed from the land but in order to prevent them coming back, it has been suggested to me that I have the land sprayed or ploughed.

Does anyone know how this would work in practice? I presume the spraying will deter the potential squatters from letting their animals graze my land? And if it's ploughed, I presume it would then need to be planted?

I've tried Googling it but nothing comes up.

Are there any other ways of deterring these people?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Say my name

What sort of farming are you doing yourself on this land at present?

If the answer is none. I'd either and, recommend you to lease the land out to another farmer and fence your boundaries with sheep and barb wire.

They can only claim rights to it if they have proof of continually farming that land themselves without payment longer than 12 years.

_Brian

Definitely let the land to some proper tenant, even for a token amount as they will likely have to deal with the same clients grazing horses.

Frunchy

Mod note. We can't advocate illegal activities nor animal cruelty. Please don't post in this fashion. Thank you. GC

Buteo Buteo

Say my name wrote: »

What sort of farming are you doing yourself on this land at present?

If the answer is none. I'd either and, recommend you to lease the land out to another farmer and fence your boundaries with sheep and barb wire.

They can only claim rights to it if they have proof of continually farming that land themselves without payment longer than 12 years.

Thanks for getting back to me.

There is no farming on the land. It is development land under grass.

Buteo Buteo

_Brian wrote: »

Definitely let the land to some proper tenant, even for a token amount as they will likely have to deal with the same clients grazing horses.

Yes, that seems to be only way.

Markcheese

Contact department of agricuture, advise that there are unknown stray animals on the land..

Buteo Buteo

Markcheese wrote: »

Contact department of agricuture, advise that there are unknown stray animals on the land..

My understanding is that in these situations, the authorities will not want to get involved. If you ring the guards, say, they'll tell you it's a civil matter and they won't get involved.

I don't live on the site itself and only visit occasionally. It's difficult to keep an eye on what's going on.

Buteo Buteo

https://www.independent.ie/business/farming/news/farming-news/garda-powerless-to-prevent-farm-trespass-37519973.html

148multi

Buteo Buteo wrote: »

I have a problem with persons grazing their animals on my land without my permission.

I'm concerned that these same people may try to seek squatters' rights.

The animals have recently been removed from the land but in order to prevent them coming back, it has been suggested to me that I have the land sprayed or ploughed.

Does anyone know how this would work in practice? I presume the spraying will deter the potential squatters from letting their animals graze my land? And if it's ploughed, I presume it would then need to be planted?

I've tried Googling it but nothing comes up.

Are there any other ways of deterring these people?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Get it sprayed with roundup mixed with a anti germation herbicide, there'll be nothing on it for a year

Say my name

148multi wrote: »

Get it sprayed with roundup mixed with a anti germation herbicide, there'll be nothing on it for a year

And unknown soil consequences for ever!

Although the op might'nt have any qualms if they only want the land for property speculation?

I'd personally prefer the horses option to that carry on.

Joe Daly

Why don't you get it fenced off with a fencing contractor that should stop them also put up no trespassing signs. You seem to be just sitting on it waiting for the right time to sell .

gctest50

Spread salt, everything will die

Bass Reeves

OP as another poster has said it takes 12 years to claim squatters rights. This is the timeline you have to be aware of. See a lot of this going on with unused development land and in general fences are immaterial as these clientele will breakthrough them. If you can catch the stock involved you can have them impounded but easier said than done as well the other option is another person said is rent it to someone for horses but it will be one of this type of clientele. This might still not solve a potential squatter issue as tenant could let others use and they could claim squatters rights.

At the end of the day it is your problem to prevent squatting. If they are using it for a few years (8+) you need to resolve the issue if you intend selling in next 3-5 year's and 12 year issue will not come into play then I would not worry. Another issue to be aware of is if it has come into you ownership lately present squatters may have build up a few years claim anyway.

Buteo Buteo

Thank you all for your responses.

I'm thinking that spraying the land is a bad idea. There is a stream running through the land and anything which can kill the grass for up to a year is going to end up in the watercourse and get washed into the river next to the main road nearby.

Also, the land is right next to a housing estate. I'm afraid of children or dogs, cats etc getting poisoned.

So, I think ploughing is the only option in the short term. Although that will only keep them away until the grass grows back.

The land is co-owned with another person. The big problem is that we are not on good terms and I suspect that she has been taking money cash-in-hand from those grazing the land and pocketing it. She has denied this but there is a history of her going behind my back and trying to let the land out without my knowledge and consent.

So, that complicates the issue raised by Bass Rieves about the twelve year rule. I don't know what, if any, arrangements the other owner has made with other parties. I have put the question in writing to her and she has not responded apart form denying letting the land out. I fear that the other owner herself may try to claim squatter's rights.

Markcheese

First thing I'd do if I was you, before ploughing or anything else is contact a solicitor,
I'm fairly sure that for some one to claim squatters rights they have to exclude all others from the land, the moment you do something (like get the hedges cut, or clear a drain) resets the clock on the 12 year thing..
I don't now how big an area it is.. But get someone in to cut back the grass and scrub, and get a dated invoice, then plan on letting it to a local farmer on conacre or a lease,
But don't take my advice get a solicitors.. 😀

Bass Reeves

Markcheese wrote: »

First thing I'd do if I was you, before ploughing or anything else is contact a solicitor,
I'm fairly sure that for some one to claim squatters rights they have to exclude all others from the land, the moment you do something (like get the hedges cut, or clear a drain) resets the clock on the 12 year thing..
I don't now how big an area it is.. But get someone in to cut back the grass and scrub, and get a dated invoice, then plan on letting it to a local farmer on conacre or a lease,
But don't take my advice get a solicitors.. ��

From the sound of it the land is on the edge of a big town or city and maybe a rough element around. See a lot of places like that. Impossible to let places like that. If I was the OP I be getting it put up for sale and take the money and invest elsewhere.

148multi

Buteo Buteo wrote: »

Thank you all for your responses.

I'm thinking that spraying the land is a bad idea. There is a stream running through the land and anything which can kill the grass for up to a year is going to end up in the watercourse and get washed into the river next to the main road nearby.

Also, the land is right next to a housing estate. I'm afraid of children or dogs, cats etc getting poisoned.

So, I think ploughing is the only option in the short term. Although that will only keep them away until the grass grows back.

The land is co-owned with another person. The big problem is that we are not on good terms and I suspect that she has been taking money cash-in-hand from those grazing the land and pocketing it. She has denied this but there is a history of her going behind my back and trying to let the land out without my knowledge and consent.

So, that complicates the issue raised by Bass Rieves about the twelve year rule. I don't know what, if any, arrangements the other owner has made with other parties. I have put the question in writing to her and she has not responded apart form denying letting the land out. I fear that the other owner herself may try to claim squatter's rights.

The sprays mentioned don't kill grass for a year, round up the type sprays kill whatever is growing at that time, it has a 7 day withdrawal, the other spray mentioned prevents germination, so nothing grows for the year. Keep back a meter and a half from river, and if land is ploughed and left fallow, is there a danger of sediment being washed into the river, some officials may not like this either. If it were mine, I would write to co-owner telling them that I intend to set property through estate agent by way of registered post, then advise estate agent to set to member of indeginus cummunity for nominal amount and give her half.

Kevhog1988

where are you based?