land registry

This is a fascinating unique spin on the unaffordable nature of housing in many southern English rural settings. It tells us:

On the Thames riverbank in West Molesey, Surrey, around 10 boats are moored on a stretch of unregistered land, meaning the group which includes a serving policeman and a months-old baby, have not been obliged to pay mooring fees or council tax.

Some of the residents have lived there with little disruption from the authorities for nearly 13 years.

But local mother-of-three Lara Seal, 36, whose house is metres from the riverbank, claims that a small group of antisocial temporary boaters prompted complaints from other locals in July.

She told The Telegraph: “Two or three boats last Summer gave the good ones a bad name. They were drinking, shouting, they have a lot of dogs.

“The permanent group are my neighbours, we have a community and all look after each other.

“They have all been tarred with the same brush.”

Following complaints over the “eyesore” stretch of river, the Environment Agency began removing 20 abandoned boats in the area in October and November last year, using its powers as the navigation authority of the non-tidal River Thames.

It owns the riverbed and has applied to the Land Registry for the rights to the land at the side, which could see the permanent community disbanded and moved on.

The residents, who claim to have all the valid relevant registration certificates, are now fearing “eviction” and are locked in a battle with the Environment Agency as they fight to have the land registered to them.