Allotment rent and rules: questions to ask

The tenancy agreement is the rulebook for your plot. Most of what you can and can't do comes from it, not from national law. Read it before you sign, and take this list along to the viewing.

Rent and charges

• How much is the rent, and what does it cover? Sites often charge yearly for rent plus services such as water.
• When is it due, and how do I pay?
• Are there any concessions, and what proof do they need?
• Is there a deposit or a key charge?

Rents vary a lot between councils and sites, so we don't quote figures. Your council's allotment page or the site secretary will have the current fees.

Late rent matters. On statutory sites in England and Wales, a tenant who hasn't paid rent for 40 days can be given just one month's notice to quit.

Notice and inspections

• How much notice does the landlord have to give? On statutory sites in England and Wales, the council normally has to give 12 months' written notice, ending on or before 6 April or on or after 29 September. Breaking the tenancy terms or not paying rent can mean one month's notice instead.
• How much notice do I give if I want to leave? The law doesn't set one for tenants, but your agreement might.
• How often are plots inspected, and what counts as "cultivated"? Ask for the written standard and how much of the plot has to be in use by when.
• What happens if I fall behind? Find out the steps before it happens.

Private and "temporary" sites aren't covered by the same allotment law, so their notice terms are whatever the agreement says. VERIFY: confirm the notice-to-quit position for Scotland and Northern Ireland from official sources.

Sheds, greenhouses and polytunnels

• Do I need permission for a shed, greenhouse or polytunnel? Many sites say yes. Bolton Council, for example, requires written permission first.
• Are there size limits or rules on materials and colours?
• Can I keep the shed that's already there, and who owns it?

Not all sites allow polytunnels or greenhouses at all. See our shed guide before you buy anything.

Water and hoses

• Where are the taps or troughs, and when is the water turned off for winter?
• Are hosepipes allowed? Few sites allow hosepipes or sprinklers.
• Can I put up water butts and collect water from my shed roof?

Bonfires

• Are bonfires allowed, and on which days or months?

Even where a site allows them, the general law still applies. Councils can act on smoke that's a nuisance, and you can be fined if smoke drifts across a road and endangers traffic.

Animals, bees and trees

• Can I keep hens or rabbits? In England and Wales the Allotments Act 1950 says tenancy terms can't ban hens or rabbits kept for your own use, as long as they aren't a nuisance or a health risk. Welsh Government guidance adds that cockerels aren't covered and that keeping any livestock is still subject to the landlord's permission. Read our hens guide.
• Are bees allowed?
• Can I plant fruit trees? The law doesn't ban them, but tenancy agreements often restrict them.

Sharing, selling and subletting

• Can I name a co-worker? You can't sublet a plot without permission.
• Can I sell surplus produce? Under the 1922 Act, produce has to be wholly or mainly for you and your family. Welsh Government guidance says the word "mainly" leaves room to sell surplus, but your agreement may restrict trading.

FAQs

Can my council put the rent up?

Ask how rent reviews work and how much notice you get of a change. VERIFY: find the statutory rules on allotment rent levels and notice of increases for England, Wales, Scotland and NI before adding detail.

Do I have to give notice to leave my allotment?

The law doesn't require a set notice period from tenants on statutory sites in England and Wales, but your agreement may ask for one.

Can I be evicted from my allotment?

Yes, with notice. On statutory sites in England and Wales that's usually 12 months, timed to end in winter. It's one month if you haven't paid rent for 40 days or have broken the tenancy terms.

Your next step

Print or save this list, take it to your plot viewing, and get the answers in writing before you sign. Then read our guide to your first allotment.