[Anton]

The plot of land I have been working on for the last two years is now going to be partially built upon. I found another plot of land, which is a bit further away (I don't drive) but is in a really nice spot, fenced off and water supply from a tank and a neighbour's roof.

The owner charges Euro 45 of 85 depending on the size of the plot. Euro 45 is about Pounds 40 I think.
I have always had plots for free for the last 18 years I have been gardening in this area, provided I kept them tidy. Does the rent sound excessive to you? The land is privately owned.

Anton

[Aunt Sally]

You don’t say how big the plots are but we are very happy to pay about £40 per year, including water and liability insurance, for plot which measures about 10 x 15 metres.

[AndyRVTR]

If you can give e us an idea of the size of your plot, it might help answer your question Anton! 

[Anton]

Thanks for your replies. I'm not sure about the size yet. I was talking about 10 metres by 10 metres but I have to see the owner again. I should also have specified the Euro 45 is per month.

Anyhow, I wrote to the owner yesterday saying I had never had to pay before and have not received any answer so far. Maybe I annoyed him. If he's that sensitive perhaps it's best not to get involved. We'll see!


Anton

[vikingraider]

I'd say my allotment is about 250sqm and costs £40 per year. 45 euro per month sounds expensive to me

[Anton]

Thanks Vikingraider. Do you rent off the council, local authorities?

[Yorkie]

That's over 500E per year for perhaps 100 sq m 

Probably about 10x more than in the UK for a council run plot.

Private sites can be far more expensive, but I doubt they are anywhere in that region, nevertheless!!

[snowdrops]

Well, I’d say you have been very fortunate not to have had to pay for this length of time, but I’m not sure what your economy over there is like? But that seems a lot per month/ year,  but the landowner is probably just trying to keep himself afloat maybe. Or he is robbing you. I suppose it comes down to how much you want the land and how much you are prepared to pay in all honesty. I hope you find somewhere to carry on

[vikingraider]

Thanks Vikingraider. Do you rent off the council, local authorities?

Yes, rented from the local council

[Anton]

Thanks for replying everybody. Yes, I thought it was a bit steep.  Well, I think I can continue, for at least another season, in a plot to the left of the one where they intend to build, but I suppose they will be building on the entire piece of land at some stage as this is an expensive and much-sought-after place to live (we moved here over 35 years ago and bought and gradually did up a house that was a complete ruin, so really cheap). It's a great spot to live in.  The plot I have been working on is a five-minute walk from a forest that stretches for miles, for example.

Anton

[coldandwindy]

Does sound expensive but I suppose it depends what is included. If it's just a square of soil I'd look for something else. If it includes a cafe/clubhouse, seed swaps, manure deliveries, good security, good parking etc you might think it's worth it? Who else is there? Is there a good community on the site? How secure will the tenancy be - will you just get it how you want it & then have to move again?

[Anton]

No. Just a piece of land, in a lovely spot. One other gardener apparently. I am supposed to see the owner this Sunday, when he said we could discuss the price. I guess the person is keeping the land as an investment, as he lis retired and lives elsewhere. I am 72 so if I can keep gardening for another few years, I would be pleased.

Anton

[vikingraider]

Hope you can negotiate a good deal Anton 

[Anton]

Well the owner has gone off on holiday (honeymoon) so I have not met him yet but I met the prospect fellow gardener who is a nice Spanish lady and the owner will be back in two weeks.
Starting preparing the site as there is a lot of rubbish there (plastic  sheets and so on - Spanish lady said the previous tenant grew strawberries!).
Anyhow, I have just noticed that the plot I will be working is full of small stones (see photo). Any advice you may have about this would be welcome.

Anton

[missmoneypenny]

Maybe the land doesn’t have planning permission and he’s holding it, hoping to get permission down the line? A cousin of mine inherited some land in France her father bought decades ago hoping to be able to build on it one day. That’s unlikely to ever happen, so it’s a white elephant really. Sorry, I digress.