Landlocked Site Advice

Landlocked site advice in Ireland helps owners of land without legal access understand how to secure it. We explain every realistic route to legal access, including a grant of a right of way, a prescriptive easement, an easement of necessity or a purchase. A landlocked site is unbuildable, unsellable and unmortgageable until access is secured.

You can upload your folio, deeds, contract, photos or other documents through our secure link; a solicitor would then typically review everything before preparing advice. There is no hourly billing: the price is fixed for the service described. Property and land issues are usually easier and cheaper to resolve early, before a sale, mortgage or family transfer is held up. The advice is based on Irish law and practice and on the documents you provide, so the more complete your documents, the more precise the advice can be. If the advice shows that further work is needed, such as correspondence, a Land Registry application or a planning or court process, a solicitor would explain the options and any further cost before anything else is done.

What’s included

• Folio and map review
• Access options
• Cost and timeline
• Risk view
• Written advice
• Work of this kind is carried out by a solicitor regulated by the Law Society of Ireland. We are not a solicitor’s practice and do not provide it — to instruct a solicitor, use the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.

Who this is for

• Owners of sites with no registered access
• Families dividing land where a site lost its access
• Buyers considering a site with access issues
• Owners whose informal access is being blocked

How it works

1. Find a solicitor through the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory and send them the basic details and any existing documents or correspondence.
2. Complete a short questionnaire about your circumstances.
3. A solicitor would then typically review the documents and prepare written advice.
4. You receive your written advice by email and, where included, a follow-up call to ask questions.

Frequently asked questions

How much does landlocked site advice cost in Ireland?

This page is a free guide — nothing on it is for sale. Solicitors set their own fees for this work and must give you a written costs estimate (a section 150 letter) before starting. Get quotes through the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.

How can a landlocked site get legal access?

Options include agreeing a right of way with a neighbour, relying on long use, an easement of necessity in some cases, or buying a strip of land.

Can long use give a right of way?

Yes, in some cases, long use can give rise to a right of way, but the requirements are strict and it may need to be confirmed by the Land Registry or a court.

For more on property, land and conveyancing, see our Property & Conveyancing in Ireland guide.

If you would like to be told when solicitor services are available again on this site, you can join our no-fee waiting list. To instruct a solicitor now, use the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.