A man in the U.K. has made a substantial profit after selling a property he gained legal ownership of under an ancient Roman law. Keith Best, a British construction worker, discovered an empty three-bedroom home in London’s Newbury Park in 1997 while working nearby. He began renovating the property and moved his family into the home in 2012. However, the house belonged to retiree Colin Curtis, who had moved out in the late 1990s. Best obtained legal ownership of the property through an ancient Roman law known as adverse possession, which allows someone in possession of a good without title to become the lawful proprietor if the original owner doesn’t show up after some time.
Best filed an application for adverse possession over a decade ago, but it was initially denied due to laws criminalizing squatting. However, the High Court overturned the ruling in 2014, stating that the Registrar’s decision was based on an error of law. The judge ruled that at least 10 years had passed without effective action by the owner to take control of the property. Curtis, who died in 2018, had filed a counter-claim against the ruling, but it was dismissed as he was not listed as the executor of his mother’s estate.
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Despite controversy surrounding the case, Best sold the property to Atiq Hayat for £540,000, making a profit of around £140,000. Hayat claimed that he was unaware of the property’s legal history until contacted by journalists. He questioned how someone could legally take over an empty house and make it their own, calling it theft.
Neighbors expressed anger over the situation, with one stating that the house had a troubled past and that Doris Curtis, Colin’s mother, would be turning in her grave. However, they acknowledged that the current family living in the home are wonderful, and it’s nice to see it as a loving home once again.
The case has raised questions about the ancient Roman law of adverse possession and its application in modern times. Some argue that it benefits the economy by recycling unused and unclaimed land and property back into use, while others question its fairness and legality.
