Does The Crown Estate take ownership of ‘unclaimed land’?
Freehold land can sometimes effectively become ownerless. When this happens title to the land may, in certain circumstances, revert to the Crown as the ultimate owner of all the land in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. This process is called ‘escheat’. It can happen in a variety of situations. The Crown Estate deals with escheat where the land falls within England, Wales or Northern Ireland and outside Cornwall and the County Palatine of Lancaster – where escheat is dealt with by the Duchy of Cornwall and the Duchy of Lancaster respectively. Contact details for the Duchies are set out set above. Ownerless land in Scotland is administered by The Queen’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer.
Freehold land can sometimes effectively become ownerless. When this happens title to the land may, in certain circumstances, revert to the Crown as the ultimate owner of all the land in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. This process is called ‘escheat’. It can happen in a variety of situations. The Crown Estate deals with escheat where the land falls within England, Wales or Northern Ireland and outside Cornwall and the County Palatine of Lancaster – where escheat is dealt with by the Duchy of Cornwall and the Duchy of Lancaster respectively. Contact details for the Duchies are set out above: Duchies contact details. Ownerless land in Scotland is administered by The Queen’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer. The Queen’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer Escheat should not to be confused with what in common parlance might be called ‘unclaimed land’. Land can often have no apparent owner, but The Crown Estate will not generally be involved with such land unless it is in fact ownerless
