Farms

Owning a Farm comes with a multitude of responsibilities. From large oil tanks to silage storage, to the historic propensity for the use of asbestos in barns, there are a number of potential sources of pollutants that need to be safely managed on agricultural land. Assuring oneself that you are not inheriting any environmental problems from a previous owner is also something that should be checked.

When purchasing a Farm you should be aware if there are any protected hedgerows. Hedgerows are a boundary line of bushes which can include trees and are protected if they meet certain criteria relating to length, location (e.g. on or next to land used for agriculture), and importance (e.g. contains a scheduled monument or contains species that are protected or endangered). If you wish to remove or carry out works to a protected hedgerow you must speak with your local planning authority as there are various restrictions in place prohibiting removal or works being carried out and if you break the rules you could face an unlimited fine.

Unless you intend to farm the land yourself, there are different opportunities for how you manage the agricultural and farming aspects which may include letting the land out on a licence to a local grazier so they can graze their sheep or cattle or entering into a farm business tenancy. There are lots of wonderful opportunities for farmland and it may be sensible to also take advice from a local land agent.

Public rights of way can be an issue – enquiries should always be raised of the seller and the local authority to determine the existence of any public rights of way or any pending applications to create new rights of way.

Many rural properties do not benefit from mains drainage. Where this is the case, it will be important to check where the drains run, where the septic tanks or sewage treatment plant is located, what type of system it is and when it was installed and whether it is compliant with the General Binding Rules 2023. If pipes and/or systems are located on third party land, it will also be necessary to check that the correct easements are in place for the use and maintenance of the drainage facilities. Any contamination caused by effluent from drainage systems can be subject to extensive remediation costs and fines.