Landlord rights

[Rich_ard]

Its not business, its standing by your word. If the OP is correct and the tenant/grazier/whatever had given his word he would leave when the land was required back then he should should do the honourable thing and leave. In those circumstances would you go back on your word and claim a tenancy, on land you had paid a pittance of rent for over 30 years?

If the tenant had been paying a commercial rent all these years then you might have a point. He wasn't he was paying as good as nothing. Plus getting the subsidies for 30+ years. 80 acres @ £90/acre for 30 years is £216k. And you think he should have even more 'compensation'?

I was told by a solicitor it's very difficult to prove. He said even if he (tennant) gave him a tank of diesel it can count as rent. How can you prove against that!

 

[honeyend]

If you have sent written notice to leave, surely its fly grazing,if you have been maintaining the land, he has only been using the crop, ie the grass, and has not had exclusive access. I would use google earth and and photos you have as evidence that you have had access, you must have photos of your animals in the field.
I know its usually used for horses, https://www.netlawman.co.uk/ia/fly-grazing, I found that bailiffs were really helpful, and as soon as someone knows your serious they back off. I would put up an eviction notice, on any entrance.
I used to rent odd fields, and as soon as they wanted me gone, I was off. I use a 11month licence to graze.

 

[betweenthelines]

Amazing how everyone says the tenant is a bad man but suggests all sorts of illegal violent and devious acts to deprieve him of (whatever you think about how it came about) his lawful occupation of the land.

 

[Rich_ard]

Amazing how everyone says the tenant is a bad man but suggests all sorts of illegal violent and devious acts to deprieve him of (whatever you think about how it came about) his lawful occupation of the land.

Probably because it's a devious way to aquire land.

 

[betweenthelines]

FFS-the tenant hasn't been "devious" the owner has been negligent.

 

[ConnieJohn]

FFS-the tenant hasn't been "devious" the owner has been negligent.

again….if you lent something from a friend and told them you would give it back, but then refused, who is the bad guy?

I’m assuming you are a farmer? are you doing the same to some poor landowner who wants their land back? In what world is anybody able to just take something that doesn’t belong to them and think it’s ok? 1 years notice is sufficient

 

[serf]

Amazing how everyone says the tenant is a bad man but suggests all sorts of illegal violent and devious acts to deprieve him of (whatever you think about how it came about) his lawful occupation of the land.

Good for the goose good for the gander ...
Fight fire with fire
Two can play at that game

 

[rmh]

FFS-the tenant hasn't been "devious" the owner has been negligent.

He might be within the letter of the law.. but it doesn't get away from the fact its morally wrong. Legalised theft. That land had to be paid for at some stage, not nice when you work for something and get it took off you, im sure hes been having a good laugh to himself this last 30 years everytime the sub comes in!

 

[kiwi pom]

I'd like to hear the other side of the story here. I tend to agree with the OP that the tenant should keep to their word and bugger off, but I can't quite get my head around the fact that they have owned 80 acres for 30+ years but have done nothing with it and only earned a tenner an acre in rent.
Something doesn't sound right

 

[ConnieJohn]

I'd like to hear the other side of the story here. I tend to agree with the OP that the tenant should keep to their word and bugger off, but I can't quite get my head around the fact that they have owned 80 acres for 30+ years but have done nothing with it and only earned a tenner an acre in rent.
Something doesn't sound right

It’s the same with a lot of the houses in the area, they all have land but most of the homeowners live in the houses but not use the land (they aren’t farmers so what could they do with 10, 40, 80 or 100 acres), I mean if you buy into it (not as farmers yourself) like we did it’s not easy to start farming (no knowledge, no funds etc). We decided to raise children and live off grid without realising that we could have probably earnt a nice living off subs (but hey that’s our problem), the farmer just took advantage of his knowledge and absolutely knows what he is doing as he does the same to the other families in the area. Befriends the naïve people moving in, does them a favour by helping them to maintain their land then years down the road does this!
I don’t really care about what has happened we would just like him off now so that our own children can start farming as that’s now their dream (not something we were able to do all those years ago)

 

[ConnieJohn]

H

I'd like to hear the other side of the story here. I tend to agree with the OP that the tenant should keep to their word and bugger off, but I can't quite get my head around the fact that they have owned 80 acres for 30+ years but have done nothing with it and only earned a tenner an acre in rent.
Something doesn't sound right

He doesn’t even pay any money to a couple of the families!!! One has around 200 acres and he pays them zero!!!

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Two things that spring to my mind have been mentioned.

Mob the land with your animals.

Lock him out when he moves his stock off.

Alternatives are; remove all fences and gates.
Spray the acreage with glyphosate but put warning notices up just in case.
You could just put the notices up as spraying is pretty damn radical but if there’s no feed then the animals can’t be on there.
Ask a contractor or two for a price.
Word may get about.
If this fellow has no moral compass then play him at his game
SS

 

[chipchap]

It is sad that some people have short memories and “forget” what they have agreed, even when long periods of time have elapsed.
Always get things documented properly, even if it is solely to remind yourself.
I once had some dealings with an elderly gentleman regarding some property he owned. When he subsequently died, and I was lucky enough to get the chance to buy said property, I was glad I had documented in a letter to the gentleman what we had agreed; even though it was to pull up my own solicitor when he was being somewhat over zealous.

 

[kiwi pom]

H

He doesn’t even pay any money to a couple of the families!!! One has around 200 acres and he pays them zero!!!

I do find that very strange, are we talking about land in the UK and is it actual farmland or just scrub/moorland that is only good for extensive grazing?
80-200 acres in the UK would be very expensive if its Ag land, why on earth buy it and do nothing with it?

As for your problem, your only real answer is to follow the directions of a professional legal expert, with experience in these cases.

 

[betweenthelines]

Two things that spring to my mind have been mentioned.

Mob the land with your animals.

Lock him out when he moves his stock off.

Alternatives are; remove all fences and gates.
Spray the acreage with glyphosate but put warning notices up just in case.
You could just put the notices up as spraying is pretty damn radical but if there’s no feed then the animals can’t be on there.
Ask a contractor or two for a price.
Word may get about.
If this fellow has no moral compass then play him at his game
SS

Pretty sure there's hefty penalties (fines, possible prison) for trying to force a tenant out by illegal methods.

At the least, the tenant would sue for compensation.

 

[betweenthelines]

again….if you lent something from a friend and told them you would give it back, but then refused, who is the bad guy?

I’m assuming you are a farmer? are you doing the same to some poor landowner who wants their land back? In what world is anybody able to just take something that doesn’t belong to them and think it’s ok? 1 years notice is sufficient

Just because you feel hard done by doesn't make any difference. You have literally had years to sort this out, did it never occur to you to pop into a Land Agent's office or the NFU to ask a bit of advice?

The Law is the Law, the tenant has certainly done nothing wrong as you never took the trouble to sort out a proper agreement.

The 80 acres must have been a fair share of the purchase price of your property, if you lent someone your car would you wait 30 years before asking for it back?

 

[serf]

Just kick the bloke while his down why don't ya

 

[ConnieJohn]

I know we have been absolute fools and totally naïve and for that we are guilty. I guess we should not have trusted a friend. I just hoped that posting on here would maybe give us a little hope that there was something we could do.

Thanks all for your help

 

[Billboy1]

Just because you feel hard done by doesn't make any difference. You have literally had years to sort this out, did it never occur to you to pop into a Land Agent's office or the NFU to ask a bit of advice?

The Law is the Law, the tenant has certainly done nothing wrong as you never took the trouble to sort out a proper agreement.

The 80 acres must have been a fair share of the purchase price of your property, if you lent someone your car would you wait 30 years before asking for it back?

The tenant may have done nothing wrong in law but he has most certainly taken advantage of the op naivety and I suppose he feels pretty smug about doing it . Not the sort of person I would like a pint with

 

[DengieFarmer]

FFS-the tenant hasn't been "devious" the owner has been negligent.

Perhaps, but does it help resolve the issue to keep repeating it?