If you wish to metal-detect on land which is not your own, you must get permission from the landowner, regardless of the the status or perceived status of the land, before you do so. This includes land that is publicly accessible such as beaches, parks, commons and footpaths.
A number of local authorities have specific policies restricting the use of metal-detectors on their land. You are therefore advised to contact the County Council and relevant District Councils to seek permission before detecting on any Council owned land
If you metal-detect on land without consent, you may be charged with a criminal offence and you could be sued for damages.
Knocking on doors brings more results than letters, but many people like to follow this form of introduction, then follow it up with a personal visit or phone call.
Some tips :
- Eye to eye is the best contact method.
- Take along a few samples and offer to make up a personal box for him.
- Explain to him that all you find he owns but a 50/50 arrangement is the norm.
- Try to show him what you have found every trip – most like that sort of contact.
| Click the links below for typical permission request forms and letters (you will need to amend to suit yourself) |
| Example 1 |
| Example 2 |
Who owns the land?
In most cases its easy to find out who owns the land – but there may be occasions when you just can’t find out.
Most but not all land is registered with the land registry. To acquire this information requires filling in a form and applying at a cost of £4 per individual application.
http://www.landregistry.gov.uk/assets/library/documents/lrpg051.pdf
(Will give you the Land Registry office dealing with specific areas of the UK.)
General information on www.landregisteronline.gov.uk or www.landregistry.gov.uk
Land is sometime not owned by the farmers and is leased to them, hence the information you acquire may not directly relate to the occupier of the land you are interested in searching. This can also involve getting multiple permissions to search some properties.
Agreement with landowners
To avoid disputes you are advised to enter into a written agreement with the landowner regarding the possible ownership of any finds subsequently discovered, before detecting on his/her land.
Click here for a typical agreement form
Beach detecting
If you go to www.thecrownestate.co.uk and call their main office they will give you details of the people responsible for the different stretches of coast line.
Just over half of the UK’s coast is owned by the Crown and the other half is in private ownership. Technically you have rights of access to the beach, but not to search. However the Crown Estates will give permission and are quite laid back about it all.
The Crown Estate own everything between mean high and mean low tide. Above high water will be in private ownership. They also lease the coast line to third parties and can advise who currently has the rights.