Paul William Little Sallis v The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

Facts

Mr Paul Sallis applied to HM Land Registry under schedule 6 of the Land Registration Act 2002 to be registered as proprietor of land on the north side of The Chase, Rush Green, Romford, comprising a lake and surrounding land forming part of Eastbrookend Country Park and owned by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. In July 2006 Mr Sallis opened negotiations with the Council for a lease of one of the lakes, and on 13 November 2006 a licence and service level agreement were signed between the Council and Obsession Angling Club, Mr Sallis signing as chairman. The licence permitted use for fishing only, for a term of five years, and required the club to maintain the lake and its banks and to employ bailiffs. Mr Sallis carried out extensive works, brought portacabins onto the land, converted them into a home and lived there with his partner. After the licence expired in November 2011 he remained, kept the gate padlocked and controlled who entered. The Council took no step until 2021, when a ranger, Mr Winn, sought a copy of the agreement. Mr Sallis applied to be registered; the Council required the application to be dealt with under paragraph 5 of Schedule 6, and Mr Sallis relied on the first condition. The reference came to the Tribunal.