Buying Land

[Landless Gentry]

I wish to buy approximately 1 acre on which to grow a few vegetables and an orchard as a relaxing hobby (I'm currently limited to a very small area in the back garden) but how do I go about it?

Do I just approach farmers in the area and ask if they would sell me a corner of a field? Seems cheeky!

 

[D14]

I wish to buy approximately 1 acre on which to grow a few vegetables and an orchard as a relaxing hobby (I'm currently limited to a very small area in the back garden) but how do I go about it?

Do I just approach farmers in the area and ask if they would sell me a corner of a field? Seems cheeky!

Yes exactly that but you'll have to pay all the legal costs and they'll be an uplift on the parcel of land in case you develop it at some point and expect to pay through the nose for it. We've sold odd bits like this and you can make anything from £50,000 to £100,000 for an acre in this kind of situation. Obviously post code dependent but don't think its going to be a couple of thousand pounds.

 

[Exfarmer]

Technically, you cannot just fence off an acre for a garden with out planning permission. While rarely enforced, there is a possibility it could happen

 

[Landless Gentry]

Yes exactly that but you'll have to pay all the legal costs and they'll be an uplift on the parcel of land in case you develop it at some point and expect to pay through the nose for it. We've sold odd bits like this and you can make anything from £50,000 to £100,000 for an acre in this kind of situation. Obviously post code dependent but don't think its going to be a couple of thousand pounds.

Oh dear! £10k is as far as my budget extended! Glad I asked here first of all. Looks like I will have to be content with my little back garden plot!

 

[egbert]

Oh dear! £10k is as far as my budget extended! Glad I asked here first of all. Looks like I will have to be content with my little back garden plot!

might be worth talking to someone about a long term renting arrangement
...but don't expect 'land is renting for £100/acre, so that'll be £100 a year then'.

 

[Landless Gentry]

What do you think I should ask for/expect from a long-term renting arrangement?

Ideally I would like to plant a few fruit trees and have a small shed for storage which would make it more permanent.

 

[Wombat]

What do you think I should ask for/expect from a long-term renting arrangement?

Ideally I would like to plant a few fruit trees and have a small shed for storage which would make it more permanent.

The problem is the word trees as most of the time that drops the inherent value of the land as you cannot get rid of them once planted

 

[Landless Gentry]

The problem is the word trees as most of the time that drops the inherent value of the land as you cannot get rid of them once planted

Yes, that was what I had in mind. I could always just get an allotment but ideally I would like to have a few hens and pigs as well as the vegetables. I'm not a 'good-lifer' but get real satisfaction in working outdoors.

 

[lloyd]

Yes, that was what I had in mind. I could always just get an allotment but ideally I would like to have a few hens and pigs as well as the vegetables. I'm not a 'good-lifer' but get real satisfaction in working outdoors.

You could always volunteer to work a few hours a week
on a local farm in return for a dozen eggs and a bag of spuds

 

[Landless Gentry]

You could always volunteer to work a few hours a week
on a local farm in return for a dozen eggs and a bag of spuds

Hahah! Not quite the same as having your own wee patch to potter about on.

I wouldn't mind giving a hand though and wouldn't even demand the bag of spuds lol

 

[lloyd]

Hahah! Not quite the same as having your own wee patch to potter about on.

I wouldn't mind giving a hand though and wouldn't even demand the bag of spuds lol

Joking aside if you were seen to be helpful perhaps a local
farmer might look kindly to returning the favour.

 

[Exfarmer]

It never hurts to ask. And it may be a local farmer has a corner he would be perfectly happy for someone else to take on for a smallish sum. Probably would want an uplift agreement in the sale though. Dont forget you will also need to pay for the solicitor

 

[Landless Gentry]

Joking aside if you were seen to be helpful perhaps a local
farmer might look kindly to returning the favour.

And less likely to generate a big FO than rolling into the yard looking to buy a bit of a field!

My grandfather-uncle-cousin were/are dairy farmers and after childhood holidays there helping out/getting in the way, it's kinda in the blood. Hard to get a bit of the action though!

 

[Landless Gentry]

It never hurts to ask. And it may be a local farmer has a corner he would be perfectly happy for someone else to take on for a smallish sum. Probably would want an uplift agreement in the sale though. Dont forget you will also need to pay for the solicitor

I suppose the worst that can happen is that they say no.

I've worked hard, bought my own house and married and now I would like to do this just for me! A bit selfish but it's something I really enjoy

 

[farmerm]

I wish to buy approximately 1 acre on which to grow a few vegetables and an orchard as a relaxing hobby (I'm currently limited to a very small area in the back garden) but how do I go about it?

Do I just approach farmers in the area and ask if they would sell me a corner of a field? Seems cheeky!

The odds are not stacked in your favour though nothing is impossible. Farmers don't like to give up land especially if they continue to farm around it.. I wouldn't be keen to sell an acre, pay the capital gains tax on it and then find in a years time the new owner has sold it on for a traveler camp, used it as a dump or more annoying still turned it into something profitable . You will get lots of no's, probably a good few f offs too, but your dream plot is out there somewhere...

 

[Exfarmer]

I suppose the worst that can happen is that they say no.

I've worked hard, bought my own house and married and now I would like to do this just for me! A bit selfish but it's something I really enjoy

The problem is in many places ( I have no idea of NI ) an acre of land added to a house will add anything from 20 - 50% value to the house.
Unfortunately for you, many farmers are quite astute and well aware of this. So when you ask them, the first thing they will be thinking , how big a house does he live in?

 

[Landless Gentry]

The problem is in many places ( I have no idea of NI ) an acre of land added to a house will add anything from 20 - 50% value to the house.
Unfortunately for you, many farmers are quite astute and well aware of this. So when you ask them, the first thing they will be thinking , how big a house does he live in?

My house is landlocked by other houses so the 'dream plot' is approx. 5 -10 minutes away

 

[Landless Gentry]

The odds are not stacked in your favour though nothing is impossible. Farmers don't like to give up land especially if they continue to farm around it.. I wouldn't be keen to sell an acre, pay the capital gains tax on it and then find in a years time the new owner has sold it on for a traveler camp, used it as a dump or more annoying still turned it into something profitable . You will get lots of no's, probably a good few f offs too, but your dream plot is out there somewhere...

Yes, completely understandable. Is a few grand worth the potential hassle for them - probably not.

I guess I'll ask in my local area and if the answer is no then I'll just have to make my fortune and buy a hobby farm in my retirement! lol

 

[nick...]

I had someone offer me £10k an acre for 2acres last year.im sure the man thought I’d jump at it but told him I’d not take £50k an acre.another small parcel about 2 acres sold recently at auction and that made £88k and the whole field has large trees all round and field was 90% brambles and black thorn but it is slowly getting cleared.
Nick...

 

[Landless Gentry]

In the meantime I will continue to follow the experts on TFF with interest!