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In real estate, adverse possession is a means of acquiring title to another's land without compensation.Adverse possession requires the actual, visible, hostile, notorious, exclusive, and continuous possession of the property under a claim of title. In simple terms, this means that those attempting to claim the land are occupying the land exclusively and openly as if it were their own. Generally they must do this continuously without challenge by the lawful owner for a fixed statutory period in order to acquire title.
This is sometime called squatters' rights. If the squatter leaves the land for a period, or if the rightful owner effectively removes the squatter's access even temporarily during that time period, the "clock" usually begins running again.
A similar concept called adverse prescription creates an easement, in which others may acquire the right to trespass on land for the purposes of access to other land. This must also be done openly but need not be exclusive. It is common practice in cities such as New York, where builders often leave sidewalk space or plazas in front of their buildings to meet zoning requirements, to close public areas they own periodically in order to prevent the creation of a permanent easement and compromise their property rights.
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