Inaccuracies in the Law Society Property Info Form - should seller address this? (prior to exchange)

princeofpounds

"AOCs - clearly well intentioned, but open to huge abuse"

"Those who are in farming full-time cannot do that, so they must look at the existing situation and feel that it's very unfair to them. People who are not farmers are being rewarded for breaking planning law."

This is almost inevitable when you engage in fixing markets, which is effectively what an AOC is, to the favour of a particular group. You get very similar problems arising from attempts at rent controls. Look at all the scams that take place over council housing. Black markets only exist when white markets are prohibited. Unfortunately over and over again through history 'good intentions' (which are really just subsidies to favoured groups) fail to overcome basic economic incentives.

Davesnave

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Davesnave said:

Jeepers_Creepers said:

AOCs - clearly well intentioned, but open to huge abuse.

Look at it the other way round. Because the system is broken and AOCs aren't now policed adequately in many places, people with the cash may buy one of these properties, live in it without complying with the conditions of the tie for 10 years and then apply for a Certificate of Lawful Development. Once that's granted, anyone can buy the property, so it's value immediately rises by at least 25%.

That's exactly what we set out to do, and by failing to comply with the tie, the previous owner gave us several years head start.

Those who are in farming full-time cannot do that, so they must look at the existing situation and feel that it's very unfair to them. People who are not farmers are being rewarded for breaking planning law.

In my defence, I'd add that although we do not comply with our tie by earning a living from the land, my wife and I do farm it in a traditional manner in conjunction with a local farmer. Both house and land are in a much better state than they were 11 years ago, because we've had the confidence to invest time and money in them.

I agree, Dave, and we are fully aware of both sides of the argument.

I know; I remember the back-story. I'm not here now to inform you, or to make any kind of moral judgement on your case, but simply to give others reading the thread a fuller understanding regarding AOCs in a world where councils are too strapped to manage them effectively.