Holiday Cottage Renovation

n&s

New Member
I wondered if it would be viable or an attractive proposition to offer 25 hours work a week to renovate a ruin or existing old stone building to a holiday let standard. By a couple in exchange for staying on the land by the cottage/ruin.

I understand you can submit planning notice that you are renovating farm buildings which is not subject to approval and gives you the right to put a caravan near the work for 4 years.

Would this be an attractive proposition or a fair exchange? I was thinking of a 6-9 month period. Materials would have to be purchased by the owner. having a holiday let cottage renovated in exchange for siting the caravan for 6-9 months? interested to hear forum thoughts.
 

Still Farming

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
South Wales UK
Depends where you are and what Council and neighbours like - usually "on case"straight away ?
Face value looks good until goes pear shaped and sqatters rights kick in etc.etc.
25hrs ?-2 days work ?
Pay and be paid always better ?
 

n&s

New Member
Depends where you are and what Council and neighbours like - usually "on case"straight away ?
Face value looks good until goes pear shaped and sqatters rights kick in etc.etc.
25hrs ?-2 days work ?
Pay and be paid always better ?

Thank you for your thoughts very interesting to know what would be a blocker to this kind of agreement. I am actually from the other side as a prospective offer as opposed to a landowner. So as I understand your points your main concern would be to get stuck with tenants you didn't want and having more hassle than having renovation done?

Having a contract and a trial few weeks at the start would that alleviate these concerns?

Also to be specific to me we have a home to return to in London this would be a trial of "good life" (sorry to use that term! ) I wanted to know whether this would be an interesting prospect for Farmers /landowners.

Do you think there are a lot of Farming/landowners with old ruins or derelict buildings that they would want to renovate for holiday let but just dont have the time?

Once again thank you for your response its great to have an idea of a real owners view.
 

n&s

New Member
25 hrs a week isn't going to get much work done even if the people were qualified and experienced? Plus problems with sitting tenant / squatters. I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. Why not get some experienced local builders to quote you for the job.

Thanks GTB I based the hours on about 3 days work a week as we would still be working to earn a living too. Would it be better to work more hours but to have a pay arrangement? My thinking was to have little to nil cost for the landowner being a more attractive prospect. But as I understand you would rather pay to have this type of work done?

if you had an old ruin/shed etc that you'd always wanted to renovate but did not have cashflow to allow that would this then be more viable? Or is the risk or potential for hassle outweigh the potential benefit?

As I put in other post we own property in London so would return there (unfortunately) would this make any difference to your position or worry about squatters?

(My partner used to actually evict squatters in the 90's as his profession! funnily enough)

As I understand from the majority here being stuck with a tenant would be the main understandable worry.

If you were to work out something like this what hours v pay would you think reasonable?

We both have building exp by the way and have both done our own builds and worked in the trade. I would not class us as master joiners or anything but to renovate a one room/small holiday let I would think well within capabilities. I have done some limework with old buildings and Plastering, tiling, carpentry and all the laying out for 1st fix sparkies and plumbing would be the kind of thing I was thinking. For electrics and plumbing they would in need to be inspected and signed off by a pro. finishing and decorating of course would also be in our tasks.

I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on this its extremely useful. Thank you
 

n&s

New Member
where is this '4 years' from? you can stay until building works are largely completed, i expect if it took 4 years the council would be pushing you off....

I think I read somewhere on this forum with regard to putting caravans on land which councils really do not like ! I understand there are special rules for agricultural renovations that give automatic right to site a caravan if renovating an existing dwelling or home. Is this the case do you know? or am I creating rules..... I also read that you have to show progress as you mention or your "permission" can be withdrawn. So you are quite right there!
 

Greenbeast

Member
Location
East Sussex
well yes you can site a mobile home during engineering works, but there is no fixed time period and if you don't get a shift on they will move you off. they will appraise you progress or lack thereof....
 
Thank you for your thoughts very interesting to know what would be a blocker to this kind of agreement. I am actually from the other side as a prospective offer as opposed to a landowner. So as I understand your points your main concern would be to get stuck with tenants you didn't want and having more hassle than having renovation done?

Having a contract and a trial few weeks at the start would that alleviate these concerns?

Also to be specific to me we have a home to return to in London this would be a trial of "good life" (sorry to use that term! )

Do you think there are a lot of Farming/landowners with old ruins or derelict buildings that they would want to renovate for holiday let but just dont have the time?

Once again thank you for your response its great to have an idea of a real owners view.

If any did then they will have converted them all by now. We had a ruin in view of a motorway, amount of folk who called in asking.

Remember the last few years have been v kind planning wise and money has been cheap
 

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

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