What are the best practices for legal, ethical squatting (adverse posession) of unused property?
I hate to say it, but I think from reading your question that you have misunderstood the law on adverse possession. The law does NOT give more respect to someone making good use of the land. Unless and until you are granted ownership of the land by way of adverse possession squatting is considered to be an actionable trespass and the paper owner can always have you removed provided they follow proper legal procedures. There is a massive difference in the law depending upon whether or not the land or property is registered or unregistered. Registration of land has been compulsory for many years now and the vast majority of property is registered. You can find out whether property (this includes both land and houses) is registered by conducting a search with the Land Registry (this can be done online). One thing which is common in both unregistered and registered land is that in order for a period of adverse possession to begin the squatter must show; 1. Factual possession 2. An intentio
