Can I buy my croft?
If you’re a tenant of a croft, you can buy it. This means you become the landlord of the croft rather than a crofter. You must rent it to another crofter or live there yourself. If you want to buy your croft you’ll need a solicitor.
Can you get a mortgage on a croft?
A croft is a piece of land sometimes rented from a land owner, and since the 1970s crofters have had a right to buy their crofts. In order to acquire a croft, whether or not it is a tenancy or owner-occupied, the purchaser has to come up with 100% of the funds. There are no mortgages available to buy the land.
How do crofters make a living?
Most crofters don’t make a living from the land, but have other sources of income as well, such as part-time or full-time employment, or running their own businesses.
How do I get a Scottish croft?
If you want to get a tenant for your croft, rather than live on and work the land yourself, contact the Crofters Commission. They hold a list of people who are interested in taking on crofting tenancies, so can help you find a suitable candidate. You can also try advertising in the local paper.
Can you build a house on croft land?
Enabling more people to live on or near their croft and work their land is key. Crofting legislation entitles a crofter to build a croft house on the croft, subject to planning consent. In almost every case the croft house must be provided by the crofter themselves.
Do you have to farm a croft?
Owner-Occupier Crofter The same duties apply to both owner-occupier and tenant crofters. Those duties are that you must be ordinarily resident on, or within 32 kilometres of, the croft; you must not misuse or neglect the croft, you must cultivate the croft, or put it to another purposeful use.
What are crofting rules?
What are crofters duties? The same duties apply to both owner-occupier and tenant crofters. Those duties are that you must be ordinarily resident on, or within 32 kilometres of, the croft; you must not misuse or neglect the croft, you must cultivate the croft, or put it to another purposeful use.
Can you make money from crofting?
Older, more established crofters can get 60% grants. The money may be used for capital projects, such as the construction or improvement of agricultural buildings, drainage and fencing, but the money only comes in after the work is completed. Common grazings can also access 80% grants, up to £125,000.
What are the rules of crofting?
Crofters Duties
- To be ordinarily resident on, or within 32 kilometres of their croft.
- Cultivate and maintain the croft.
- Not to misuse or neglect the croft.
What does the Crofting Commission do?
The Crofting Commission’s principal function is regulating crofting, re-organising crofting, promoting the interests of crofting and keeping under review matters relating to crofting.
Can you split a croft?
Division is the term used when a croft is separated to create two or more units. If an owner-occupier crofter wishes to sell or otherwise transfer ownership of part of their croft, they must first obtain the Commission’s consent to divide the croft in to the respective parts they wish to transfer and to keep.
What are crofting rights?
Crofting community right to buy is a right that can be exercised at any time. This distinguishes it from community right to buy, as land can be acquired without the consent of the owner.
What is the law on crofting in Scotland?
Crofts are underpinned by statute – largely now the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 – and are regulated by the Crofting Commission. Crofting legislation in Scotland affects crofts contained within certain specified “crofting counties”.
Where does Inksters solicitors deal with crofting law?
Inksters deal with all aspects of crofting law and that throughout the Crofting Counties of Argyll, Inverness, Ross and Cromarty, Sutherland, Caithness, Orkney and Shetland. Crofting Law is contained in the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 and decisions of the Scottish Land Court.
Who is the legal director for croft land?
Gail is a Legal Director within the Agricultural Law and Rural Property team in the Private Client department. The complexity of the law surrounding croft land and crofting means that you cannot afford to take chances or cut corners.
Do you need Crofting Commission consent for decrofting?
Quite often renewables projects in the Highlands and islands are on croftland and crofting common grazings. Projects are therefore likely to require a form of consent from the Crofting Commission, depending on the size of the project and who is developing. If it is a crofter developed project then an application for decrofting may be appropriate.