Want to buy land, Council are making it impossible!!

Rtype

The land I am currently looking at is just over 3 acres, so pretty small (even though the price tag isn't), and the current use is for horse grazing.

I don't see how it will be any different if there are dogs on there or horses, does this mean that if I wish to put goats, chickens etc (which I would like to) I have to apply for change of usage again? Whats the difference??

dominoman

Just buy it and don't tell them what it is for.

If things are selling that quick I would buy now and do the legal niceties later. If you choose to walk your dogs on your own "farmland" then I can't see anyone objecting.

da_rule

Rtype wrote: »

The land I am currently looking at is just over 3 acres, so pretty small (even though the price tag isn't), and the current use is for horse grazing.

I don't see how it will be any different if there are dogs on there or horses, does this mean that if I wish to put goats, chickens etc (which I would like to) I have to apply for change of usage again? Whats the difference??

You'll probably find that if you had your own horses you could graze them there, but if you charged other people for looking after their horses then you would need to start paying business rates.

In terms of goats and chickens etc, this would depends on how specific the grazing description was, if it was limited to horses only then you would need to get a change of use (probably to some kind of non-arable farming use). The reason is because if they didn't limit the uses of land (whether you think this limitation it warranted or not), you could have factories appearing in housing estates etc.

lincroft1710

There is no way you'll be paying £5k a year rates on 3 acres of undeveloped former agricultural land.

I bet the asking price for the land is around £30K.

Rtype

da_rule wrote: »

You'll probably find that if you had your own horses you could graze them there, but if you charged other people for looking after their horses then you would need to start paying business rates.

In terms of goats and chickens etc, this would depends on how specific the grazing description was, if it was limited to horses only then you would need to get a change of use (probably to some kind of non-arable farming use). The reason is because if they didn't limit the uses of land (whether you think this limitation it warranted or not), you could have factories appearing in housing estates etc.

So if I had horses on there and and wanted to get a few goats, would I have to apply to the council?
Would I then have to apply to the council again if I wanted to get some chickens?

I have to say, this is absolutely ridiculous. I understand the example of houses and factories but this is a little different from that extreme. No wonder so many small business struggle to get started and then go bust!

With regards to just buying it, 'if' the council found out they could stop me from using the land immediately and then i'm stuck with some extremely expensive land, it's a big risk to take!

Rtype

lincroft1710 wrote: »

There is no way you'll be paying £5k a year rates on 3 acres of undeveloped former agricultural land.

I bet the asking price for the land is around £30K.

Try doubling that and then add a little bit more!!
Like I said, land in Surrey (in the right location) is extremely expensive!!

Rtype

Something else that has just come to mind, If I rented land for my business would I still have to pay business rates?
Would the owner of the land also then have to pay business rates meaning that the land is earning 2 x business rates??

da_rule

Unfortunately the rules can be ridiculous and are pretty much geared up to prevent the extreme abuse of land. But in doing so it can be restrictive for businesses such as yours.

Could you possibly invest in something like a horse box which you can transport the dogs in, then walk them 4 at a time around a country park? Admittedly it may take more time than usual but may be a temporary fix until you can get the land sorted out.

Prothet_of_Doom

If it's agricultural land, it's not a change of use, as you are farming dogs.

da_rule

Rtype wrote: »

Something else that has just come to mind, If I rented land for my business would I still have to pay business rates?
Would the owner of the land also then have to pay business rates meaning that the land is earning 2 x business rates??

Depends on the terms of the lease, but in most cases the person using the land has to pay it, like tenants in a residential property paying the council tax. If the landlord does agree to pay it, then you will essentially still be paying it through an increase in rent.