blowin Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 My house has a two acre paddock. When I bought the place, the owners had a casual arrangement with a local guy who kept his sheep on there (for free) and, according them, "fixes the fences, keeps the field in good condition and helps us out when we need stuff doing around the place." I insisted that I get written confirmation from both parties that he has no legal claim of any sort over the land. But with that in place, and given that I had no plans for the field in the short term, I said I was happy to leave things as they were. However, in the last two years not a single fence has been fixed (except by me to keep his sheep out of my neighbours' gardens) and I've had precious little help around the place. In fact, the sum total of my 'perks' have been him driving a digger for an hour (which I hired) and a bit of nice lamb (eighteen months ago). Anyway, all this came to head recently when I had a problem with my septic tank and asked him if he'd have a look (he can drive diggers, remember). He said he'd try to get over soon and then proceeded to ignore my calls and texts for ten days. I finally spoke to him last night and his excuse was that he was busy with a show - presumably a show featuring the sheep he keeps on my paddock. I'm on the verge of telling him to take his sheep and flock off – which I'm sure he will. This isn't a case of 'I can't get him off the land'. However, I dont really want to be left with an empty field that will soon go to rack and ruin if it's left to me to mow it! Any suggestions?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Get rid of him and get a couple of goats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essex Keeper Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 (edited) Someone will want to rent it you doing him a favour and he's taken the **** Were are you based i can sort your tank Edited September 25, 2013 by m2tyj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martyn2233 Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Get the sheep out and rent it out for horses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scobydog Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 As above, rent it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarsdad Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Get rid of him. You will be able to get someone else on there easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misser Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 get shut, taking the .... sure you could get someone else to rent it. when you bought the place wouldnt this have come up in the search if he had any legal agreement/ownership? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greymaster Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Tell him to flock off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blowin Posted September 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Thanks everyone. I hoped that would be the response. Shame for him really – shows how getting complacent about a good thing is not usually a good idea! Nothing came up in the searches because there was no actual contract. The letters I asked for were just to make clear that nobody (i.e. he) thought there was an informal/implied contract because he'd been on there a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildrover77 Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 2 acres of grassland is woth about £200 a year in rent, dependant on productivity, to a sheep farmer. You can expect him to put that much effort in for 2 acres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e2000e2000e Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Get yourself some sheep, they are great, I buy lambs in the Spring, slaughter in the Autumn, they keep the grass short over the summer Lamb in the freezer Rested it over the Winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blowin Posted September 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 2 acres of grassland is woth about £200 a year in rent, dependant on productivity, to a sheep farmer. You can expect him to put that much effort in for 2 acres. That's useful information. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blowin Posted September 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Someone will want to rent it you doing him a favour and he's taken the **** Were are you based i can sort your tank PM sent. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RED BEARD Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Tell him to pay rent for it,also he has to make it stock proof as they are his sheep..........or **** him off and stick a few sheep on it yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds chimp Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 2 acres of grassland is woth about £200 a year in rent, dependant on productivity, to a sheep farmer. You can expect him to put that much effort in for 2 acres. and £500-1200 for horses..... if you are local to Norfolk let me know as I deal alot in the horsey world Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Flippen 'ek, what is the problem here, he goes and people will bite your hand off for a couple of acres for their horse etc.! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds chimp Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Flippen 'ek, what is the problem here, he goes and people will bite your hand off for a couple of acres for their horse etc.!or post and rail into 1 acres with a field shelter.... £100 each field..... job done.... easy money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RED BEARD Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Rent to horse folk is easy money,but horses army good for the land like sheep are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbjones01 Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Kick him off ! then plant the land in Norway spruce ( about 4000 an acre ) @ about 65 pence each then sell them as xmas trees in 4 or 5 years for about £20 - £30 pound each plus have some great shooting and no grass to mow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blowin Posted September 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Maybe I'll just dig a two acre lake, fill it with fish and save a fortune on day tickets... or post and rail into 1 acres with a field shelter.... £100 each field..... job done.... easy money Is that per month or per year?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Horse folk would pay £1000 a year for that as said above. Your getting the raw end of a deal here ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Kick him off ! then plant the land in Norway spruce ( about 4000 an acre ) @ about 65 pence each then sell them as xmas trees in 4 or 5 years for about £20 - £30 pound each plus have some great shooting and no grass to mow Norway are the cheapest and it still takes years of work and expense before you see any return, the Norway also needs pruning work, specialist team in chain mail ideally who swing the Machete in an art form, they are also going out of favour for varieties that don't shed their needles so profusely. To get that sort of money it would have to be a pick your own Christmas tree site, it's still less than £5 grower price for these on average wholesale, maybe 5-7 years down the line! VERY poor return! The only way this will ever work is if you can't rent/get planning consents/the ground is useless for anything else. Real trees are making a comeback over the last few years, but it will not last, some artificial trees are almost impossible to tell, they even sell the sprays to make them smell real, and they last years and don't shed their needles. ...and you can probably tell I have some free time today...sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds chimp Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Maybe I'll just dig a two acre lake, fill it with fish and save a fortune on day tickets... Is that per month or per year?! that's per month.... per field Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasper3 Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 you will get more for horses, but they cause more damage, i would get a couple of sheep in... then off to slaughter .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ME Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Kick him off and mine for gold. It is a long shot, but you could be sitting on millions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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