What should I check before accepting an allotment?

Inspect the plot in person, check how you will reach water and read the tenancy agreement before accepting. Pay particular attention to cultivation standards, structures, fruit trees, livestock, vehicle access and shared facilities.

Look at the whole plot

An overgrown plot is not automatically a poor plot, but its condition changes the amount of work needed in the first year. Look for perennial weeds, rubbish, unsafe structures, shade, wet patches and paths that need clearing. Check the plot boundary and ask which items belong to the outgoing tenant.

The RHS recommends checking what facilities exist because not every allotment site has water. Note the distance from the gate and water point, whether a wheelbarrow can reach the plot and whether tools may be stored securely.

Read before you build or plant

The lease may limit fruit trees, sheds, greenhouses or polytunnels. Ask the manager for the current rules rather than relying on what is already standing on neighbouring plots. Existing structures do not prove that a new one will be approved.

If the work looks too much, ask whether a smaller plot is available. Record the answers to your questions before you sign.