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<p>It is not possible to identify the number of properties that have become subject
to escheat over the last five years, as The Crown Estate is reliant upon third parties
notifying it of the events which may lead to escheat. However, I can provide the below
information on the number of properties notified to The Crown Estate as escheat and
the number of properties sold in the given years. The figures for total number of
properties sold between 2000 and 2006 are not immediately available.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Total
Number of Properties Notified to The Crown Estate</p></td><td><p>Total Number of Properties
Sold</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007/8</p></td><td><p>220</p></td><td><p>50</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008/9</p></td><td><p>412</p></td><td><p>37</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009/10</p></td><td><p>410</p></td><td><p>37</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010/11</p></td><td><p>465</p></td><td><p>38</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011/12</p></td><td><p>577</p></td><td><p>38</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>776</p></td><td><p>40</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013/14</p></td><td><p>1,060</p></td><td><p>33</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014/15</p></td><td><p>824</p></td><td><p>34</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015/16</p></td><td><p>708</p></td><td><p>21</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>779</p></td><td><p>37</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p>A wide range of properties can become subject to escheat, from a strip of land
following road works to the assets of a lapsed property management company. More substantive
properties represent a small proportion of all escheat properties. Properties usually
become subject to escheat as they have been renounced, and they therefore tend to
be low value or subject to liabilities.</p><p> </p><p>The value of all properties
which may be subject to escheat and which have been notified to The Crown Estate is
not known, as no such valuation is undertaken.</p><p> </p><p>The average length of
time for properties to remain subject to escheat is not readily available. Only a
small proportion of properties subject to escheat is sold, and it is possible for
properties to remain subject to escheat indefinitely.</p><p> </p><p>It is not possible
to estimate the amount of land covered by escheat properties because (a) the exact
number of properties which have become subject to escheat is not known and (b) The
Crown Estate does not, in its constitutional role, make enquiries in relation to properties
which are subject to escheat.</p><p> </p>
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