The UK government has revised guidelines for handling certain ownerless land, buildings and  property interests  administered under its Bona Vacantia system.

The Bona Vacantia Division announced the changes on Monday, updating its guidance on referring land or buildings that may qualify as bona vacantia and applying to buy a freehold reversion.

The division said the revisions reflect increases in indicative charges for District Valuer services where property valuations are required.

The updated BVC2 guidance covers the process for referring land or buildings that may be bona vacantia, while BVC4 deals with applications to purchase a freehold reversion.

Bona vacantia refers to property with no legal owner. In England and Wales, certain ownerless assets can pass to the Crown and are administered by the Bona Vacantia Division.

The division stressed that the changes do not alter the underlying rules governing what constitutes bona vacantia. Instead, the revisions specifically incorporate higher indicative District Valuer charges for cases requiring valuations.

The updated guidelines apply to people dealing with land, buildings, freehold reversions or leasehold reversions that fall within the division’s remit.

The development is also relevant to estates of people who die without a will and without identifiable or eligible legal next of kin, as certain unclaimed assets in the UK can ultimately be treated as bona vacantia.