thanks

i_like_cats

thanks guys

elsien

You think having two donkeys to look after is going to be less hassle than a dog? 

Them buying the land to add value to the house when it’s sold is going to be of no benefit to them at all if they don’t want to move. Maybe there are a better ways to maximise the money for their use now rather than for any potential future beneficiaries? 

Section62

i_like_cats said:

....It’s accessible by footpath from two directions, but not by vehicle....

...I wonder if I should suggest to them that they could buy it....

Only if you really don't like them and want to cause them a headache in their later life.

Land needs to be maintained (unless the objective is to rewild it) and in practical terms maintaining land means having to have vehicular access.

How was the developer intending to access the land for housing if there is no vehicular access?

teaselMay

It doesn't sound likely to make them anymore money, and probably a lot less, than a savings account. It will certainly generate a lot more work and hassle for them.

elsien

A relative had some land attached to their house, although it wasn’t suitable for horses or donkeys. 

Purely to keep it maintained, he let a local farmer use it for sheep for the princely sum of one large turkey every Christmas.
It really comes back to whose benefit you are doing this for, and it doesn’t sound like it’s for your parents. 

Emmia

Is this query partly on the basis that planning/zoning might change in the future leaving your parents (and you potentially as a beneficiary when the time comes) sitting on a plot of land that could be redeveloped in the future?

Your parents house presumably has vehicular access so (if your parents aren't around) the house and land could be sold as one, your parents house demolished and the area redeveloped with multiple dwellings...

sheramber

i_like_cats said:

teaselMay said:

It doesn't sound likely to make them anymore money, and probably a lot less, than a savings account. It will certainly generate a lot more work and hassle for them.

I think they would like the idea of doing something to preserve the character of the village.  Although in fact the planners have just done that, by turning down permission for the development!

They’d quite like it if there were donkeys that they could visit that were very close by.   Although then they’d need a good relationship with whoever had the donkeys so that they didn’t mind it!   

Owning this field might one day make selling their house more complicated as it could put off a buyer who didn’t want it.  It wouldn’t be on the same title obviously.  

But I think just as many people would be attracted by it, as the house then offers more of a rural lifestyle.

Your parents pay out a large sum of money to be able to feed donkeys?

There must be cheaper ways to do that.


They won’t benefit from the value of the land  but will have the responsibility of any  maintenance needed needed - fences/ hedges etc

sheramber

i_like_cats said:

Okay so it sounds like the idea is a non-starter.   As I said just thinking aloud.

The field apparently has various reptiles living there, and one reason planning was refused, was the threat that would be posed by new householder's cats, even if not all of the land is developed.  I am not sure if it’s tended at all - perhaps it’s mown a few times a year.

You’d have thought the houses backing on to it would come up with the money, maybe they could do it collectively. 

Maybe the house owners backing on to it do not want the responsibility of owning it and are quite happy with the situation as it is. 

SarahB16

i_like_cats said:

teaselMay said:

It doesn't sound likely to make them anymore money, and probably a lot less, than a savings account. It will certainly generate a lot more work and hassle for them.

I think they would like the idea of doing something to preserve the character of the village.  Although in fact the planners have just done that, by turning down permission for the development!

They’d quite like it if there were donkeys that they could visit that were very close by.   Although then they’d need a good relationship with whoever had the donkeys so that they didn’t mind it!   

Owning this field might one day make selling their house more complicated as it could put off a buyer who didn’t want it.  It wouldn’t be on the same title obviously.  

But I think just as many people would be attracted by it, as the house then offers more of a rural lifestyle.

Personally, with further due diligence undertaken, (i.e. no ground contamination, etc that needs to be remediated at a great cost) I definitely like the idea of your parents purchasing the land (but not so sure about the idea for donkeys but maybe that is a possibility).  I even know of somebody who purchased land beyond his back garden to ensure it could never be developed upon. 

If your parents (and the village) don't wish homes to be built there your parents purchasing the land would stop this.  I know you say planning was refused on land elsewhere in the village but developers can appeal to the Secretary of State so there is always that risk.  There is always the risk that the houses adjoining the land could be purchased by somebody connected to this land and therefore the land you are referring to being built on.  

I do think looking after this land may be too great an ask as your parents get older though.  Perhaps in time the land could be owned by a Community Land Trust that your parents' village sets up to look after this land, i.e. with volunteers?  This would reduce the burden on your parents and ensure the land is never built on for housing.  

There won't be a great financial return from this but I don't think your parents are approaching it from this angle but it would be good for your parents to know the local village would be supportive and perhaps help them out (not financially) too with any upkeep required.  

I don't wish to say too much regarding what the profession is that I work in nor what I do on a voluntary basis for my local community re protecting local assets but suffice to say if you have any more questions and wish to pursue this as an option for your parents I will help you as much as I can (from you posting questions on here) as I genuinely think what your parents wish to do is an excellent idea but most of the time people don't know where to look for help and opinions.  

elsien

This idea doesn’t appear to have come from the parents though and the OP was looking to increase value so possibly has plans of their own for it in the future?

Skiddaw1

I think the idea of them purchasing the land has some mileage. A friend of ours was in a similar position (though in his case the land came with the purchase of the house he lived in) and rented out the paddock in question to a local farmer for sheep grazing. He didn't make a lot out of it but enjoyed watching the sheep and it saved him the maintenance of cutting the grass! Even if the OP's parents don't want the responsibility of caring for donkeys it's possible someone else in the village would.