rents

[Chris]

Hi!   Sorry to introduce myself with such a boring subject but I just found the site as I was doing a bit of research.   Is there anyone who knows what rent is charged on allotments owned by the Crown or by the Duchy of Lancaster?

I rent one of a group of 6 allotments which have no facilities and no maintenance.   We are currently being asked for a rent increase from £40 to £100.   We might get it down to £80 but this still seems an exhorbitant amount.   I'd be delighted for any input as I try to put a persuasive letter together.  Chris

[teresa]

Hi sounds like they want the land for something else? no one increases that amount sorry Teresa

[allotment_chick]

You'd think these guys have enough of the readies without that kind of hike (gulp! Hope I won't be sent off to the Tower  :-/)   Can't you check rents for local council plots to help your argument?

[LynneA]

This year our rent went up from £40 to £50 - 25% rise.  Last year the Tories got back in charge of the council.  They have decided to "maximise income" from Leisure Services, so have removed OAP discounts on services, trebled fishing permit prices, sold the only bowling alley to a private gym and our allotment rent will rise from £50 to £100 - a 100% rise!  On top of that we will be charged an extra fee for use of water.  We get nothing extra for that - no site improvements, no security.  It's just a plan to put as many people off and  declare the site vacant and ready to be passed to their developer friends.

The council refuse to enter into any correspondence in the matter.  Some sites have put together petitions, got their MP involved.  There has yet to be any response.

We're still writing and intent to fight this even after the invoices arrive.

[Chris]

Thanks to all for your replies re rents.    I see we are not the only ones to suffer though we have been assured that the land is not down for any other use.   I wouldn't mind paying a bit for water but there is none laid on at our site - another bone of contention.   Looks like I may have to go straight to the top!   See you in the Tower.   Chris

[Ceri]

our local train system is run by Nexus, who 'manage' allotments alongside the tracks.  I was told today that they are charging an initial £80 to 'draw up' the legal papers, and then the new holders are responsible for putting in new fencing themselves. Apparently they are re-naming the plots as 'garden extensions' rather than allotments. No checks are made to see if the allotments that are rented out are used, so most are in rack and ruin and would take years of graft to get in any usable shape.  As the lotties are in long rows between pavement and track not in block there is no development potential so what's all that about?

[Chris]

Hi!
Calling allotments 'garden extensions' is a crafty one.   We have had some genuine rentable gardens added on to a row of cottages in the village with rents of £100 and again owned by the Duchy.    I suspect our allotment rent increase is an attempt to bring the rents in line.   However I am assured by a surveyor that high rents such as these can only be charged if the 'garden' abuts the relevant building - thus making it of particular value to that householder.   It sounds as if your BR 'garden extensions' are misnamed as there is no house there and they are trying to pull a fast one.Chris

[Ceri]

thanks for letting me know about the misnomer - I'll pass it on to our council's lotty man who is less than impressed by the situation and I think may well get involved.  I'll let you know if he gets anywhere

[newboy]

where is everybody from here £40-£100 rent for a garden I just fell off my chair We pay £10 and have water a car park no crime.
I am just outside bishop auckland in county durham

[legless]

£31 a year in whitley bay (tyne and wear) for me for 10 poles (?). we have water.

[teresa]

Hi 5pole 12.00 Northamptonshire, spring water and small car park next to lottie no vandles. Some prices frightening Teresa

[cdchater]

I've got my lottie yesterday and only pay £4.50, which is just to cover the water bill! I'm in North Luffenham, Rutland (lovely quiet village) and there's quite a few lotties available - which is surprising at that cost!

[Ceri]

mines 1/2 plot, water, car park, security fences - £12 quid a year (its about 50ft x 15 ft - don't know about poles!)

[good_life_girl]

Blimey, some of those sound expensive

I'm one of the lucky ones - 1/2 plot is only about £20 a year, as much water as we can use, space for cars (if not strictly speaking a car park), very secure with high fences and no rules about sheds etc.

As far as I can tell our local council (Surrey) is actively trying to encourage people to take on allotments. I guess prices will always be higher in some parts of the country - which I suppose is why mine's more then some not near London - depending on the value of the land/amont of free space in the area. We're also lucky that it's part of a 'greeen belt' classification so fairly well protected (touch wood!)

[traceym]

Our site is in delves green road ,Walsall,we pay £12.00 per year includes water, on site toilets,fright container to store tools including the sites rotavator and motorised truck that we all have use of,and a very helpful site manager,only thing missing is a clubhouse with bar,but wer,e working on it.

[Jules]

My rent is £30.00 for approx 80 x50 site, all the water you need, next to a stables (so all the horse muck you need too) and a cemetary (gods way of making compost)...in east london...also have portable toilets which are  dead handy.  £100.00 sounds outrageous...I hope you can fight this, although I do understand that the duchy could do with the extra income!

[campanula]

£8 per year with water (sorta - one tap at far end of lottie but better than nowt). Right in middle of town so bounded by roads, roads and back of warehouse - no nice views but will plant many sunflowers.

[rewsal]

Hi,
   From your tales i think i have been very luckly with the allotment i have just joined .the land is owned by the plotholders and covers 24 acers it has a canteen a social club and a large trading hut flush toilets and mains water every 50 yds for a rent of £28 for a new plotholder.Some of your tales are very bad i thought goverment policy was to encourage fuller use of allotments for all not drive poeple off them.Good luck with your fights give them hell !!!

[Mrs Ava]

4 quid a year, no car park, no security, no vandals, as much water as you can lug from the stream!  

[busy_lizzie]

Hi, There seems to be a huge variety of charges doesn't there?  We pay £21 for our Plot in Whitley Bay,  the odd £1 is to belong to our allotment association.  We have water, its enclosed and we have a Horty Shed which opens on a Sunday.

I was very surprised some charges were so exhorbitant as having a lottie should be encouraged, when you think of all the health benefits both mental and physical, and not everybody would be able to afford such a high fee.  As Ceri and Jo would know there is so much land in our area going to housing now, there will soon be only a few bits of green open spaces left.  Allotments are a must, especially because they house such a lot of wildlife as well.    busy_lizzie