Factory wants to reclaim land 30 years later (England)
Thirty years ago a factory was built at the back of my parent's house. At the time my parents and the neighbours who were also affected challenged this and were given a small bit of the land (which they were already using anyway), which basically just extended their garden/yard a very small amount.
Today they (and their neighbours) have received a letter from the factory's solicitors saying that they now want this land. My parents tell me that the land was given to them as a good will gesture by the original company, who didn't want to fight them and the other neighbours. It was so long ago my mum and dad can't find the paperwork from the time. But they tell me they never signed anything, which seems ridiculous.
Is there anything they can do? The land in question is a small strip running down behind the people's houses, with a wire fence erected by the factory at the time of its construction, that then separates it from the rest of the land (which is empty) owned by the factory. Incidentally, the factory is now run by a completely new company. Yet in the previous 30 years the factory has changed hands a couple of times, yet neither of those companies asked for this land back. The current company have been running the factory for about a year or a year and a half.
Can they just try to demand this land back 30 years later? The land is used by the homeowners and there are numerous sheds and greenhouses there.
They've been given until 12th June to provide an explanation for their occupation of the land (or 'encroachment area' as they call it). If they don't they'll treat it as trespass. They've said they will also permit continued occupation on a tenancy at will basis. Which I understand to mean that they'll let the land continue to be occupied until such time as they determine they want it back again.
Why are they asking about the basis of occupancy? Shouldn't they themselves know, from when they purchased the factory?
Any advice would be appreciated.