Photo: Federation terrace houseAdverse possession is a legal principle that enables the occupier of a piece of land to obtain ownership if they can prove uninterrupted and exclusive possession of the land for at least 15 years.
Adverse possession claims are complex to prepare and cannot be made against the Crown, council-owned land and land owned by other authorities or bodies.
Due to the complexity, it is recommended that a legal practitioner prepares an adverse possession claim. Detailed information on making an adverse possession claim is set out in the Guide to adverse possession.