Now you can site a static caravan on your land then what's the best way to find land if you haven't already done so..? th-cam.com/video/yhZft8jXW-Q/w-d-xo.html
Hey Craig, hope you're well. I came across your channel last night, and I think it's one of the best things that's happened to me for a while! I have lots of questions, but I will watch all of your videos first AND read every single comment in every video first, as no doubt you will have answered most/all of my questions. Really appreciate what you are doing buddy. Take care
No probs ill try to keep the videos coming and hope I can help you some more. Stick around and see what pops up the best advice is from people who have actually done it..! Thanks for the Comment
Hi Paul there are many people who want to do the same live off-grid but I think some people think that way of life means something totally different. I say this as I have had a few comments from some people saying that we are all scroungers and that everyone who wants to live this way wants to live off other peoples taxes...? But large farmers live off other peoples taxes through subsidies the most money that used to come from the EU 80% went to farmers, the large corporations who pay no taxes use our roads and other infrastructure to make their billions. But if you want to live a peaceful life these people think you should not have that right what would you say to those people...? I mean I'm assuming you would like to live a nice life it's a basic human right after all to live how you see fit and probably sell some of your leftover produce at farmers markets etc. You know to pay for those little extras in life Because I pay taxes and have several businesses which are stressful as hell and would rather just stay on my small farm which makes a profit already but I would like to make a little more just so I can give some or should I say leave some to my children. I will defiantly pay taxes from that income also you can bet your backside on that lol death and taxes unless you're rich...!
@C Bee Amen to that. Me and the Mrs just bought 5 acres with a solar powered/LPG gas cabin with log burner, few chickens, geese and ducks with pond. Rare find so took the leap. Good luck if you do my friend. the same viewpoint as you stated. We're DONE, want no part of this shitshow
Hi Matthew yes your right, but many things in life are scary and this is what stops us from living our dreams, starting new businesses and many other things. The one thing I can say is that you can always start again and if you keep trying you will get there in the end. I have failed several times, but you have just got to keep going. All the millionaires and billionaires have failed at some point its just what keeps you going that gets you to where you want to be in life. You will never know if you never try..? The richest place on the planet is the graveyards of the world. Full of dreams never realised, books never written, inventions never invented, businesses never started because of fear the list goes on. I would rather say that I tried than to have never tried at all. Don't let procrastination hold you back. trust me if I can do it so can you its all in the mindset. Hope you have a go at it Matthew..? Success is just a mindset..!
I have been really enjoying watching your content on You Tube over the last few weeks. I have always been a rural outdoors nut who just cannot cope with a City. I live in a Village now(lived in a handful) and I would sooner live in the worst house in a Village than a 4 bedroom posh house in a soulless City. I am just starting over again at 62 after having a little adversity in my life(fine now) and probably have 50% of a small average type home in my back pocket. I thought about a smallholding in Portugal or Normandy France which I could just about afford, but rural England would be my preference. After watching your no BS videos🙂 I am starting to think that just might be a way if I start getting creative like you. Great content, really enjoying your attitude and take on every day problems
absolutely fantastic information Craig I've been battling with the Cornish council for 15 years now . This video has given me a fresh look at things going to get a static caravan this week now
Have a business plan first make sure you say that all the medication etc will be stored in the caravan and you can alarm it etc. You cannot allarm barn as birds get in, wind and so on. Make sure you have all your ducks in a row so to speak \
Thank you for this. I'd like a caravan on my future garden plot, and hook it up to sewage etc as a tiny house. I don't drive, but I want a small house/caravan
Mate youve just made my dreams come true seriously where have you been all my life man u just made my day thank you so much for letting us all know good man .😎
Hi, I don't see why not if you are working in. the woodland. I do know that you have permitted development rights in woodland no matter the size. This would make it easy to build a cabin without the need for planning permission
I cant stand when I hear someone's planning permission application is rejected because of some jobs worth neighbor who thinks it's an "eyesore", people should be able to put what they want on the land if they own it, unfortunately some people dont like it that others want to live truly free and not slaves in the system
Excatly but thats what people have had drilled into them that they must be slaves to the system and do has you are told. If you want to live like your ansectors then "NO" be in debt and pay taxes and. don't ask questions..! Agree with you all the way..!
I had a neighbour like that who went about bad mouthing me and complaining about my mobile , I left a bottle of petrol with a rag in it and a note saying anymore complaints , the bottle will be lit , I got into trouble but no evidence but funny enough the complaints stopped and I am happy now 😂😂😂
Thanks again I have made another video about this subject as I know the audio is terrible but I am getting better thanks again for the comment they all help
Thanks for the advice, what about if you build a temporary cabin, that is kind if static caravan size. personally I think people could look a bit less like a gypsy by making their caravan blend in with the landscape a bit better, perhaps painting it camo and have some camo netting
Hi you can build a cabin, but honestly, I built my cabins with no planning and they said I needed planning for those but not for the caravan to stay the way I did it. I would very much say you won't look like a traveler as I call them. I have some as friends and people will not be bothered once it has been there a while if you place it in a way that it's not in full view or their front room window say...? Also, camo paint or netting is not needed just plants some trees to break up the caravan that's all I did and a small hedge, Not that anyone can see it anyway and all of my neighbors know I'm here and they are fine all 9 homes are expensive homes to and businesses. I mean I was using this land before any who live here came here so they knew I would be passing their windows to access my land.
If the old guy was going to be kicked out of his home and have to sleep on the streets, where he would surely die, he may as well get himself a jail cell. He did the right thing.
Hi Craig great videos and I’m slowly working through them. My husband and Me bought 6 acres of agricultural land about 18 years ago we changed use to equestrian and built a stable block with planning. Last year we decided to buy a second hand static lodge, it is not hidden. Our neighbours are ok about it. We are basically waiting for the council to approach us then I guess we will put in planning. We pay business rates since we got the land. Ideally we want a house there. We have installed treatment works for sewage and are getting solar panels we have water so completely off grid. We only have 2 horses and maybe should get some more animals. Any tips would be helpful thanks Suzanne
@@unearthed-detecting-tv we have decided to move into the lodge and wait for council to approach us, we have a postcode now and letterbox at the gates, ( not hiding anything) Hopefully the 4 year and one day rule will still be applicable in 2 years time. We hope due to the next election the bill to change it will be held up. Either way will put in planning when we get approached by council, which doesn’t seem likely soon. Our business rates were taken off after our argument to them so not paying now.
@@suzannedavis4338 4 year and one day rule seems to have gone now, as of October. I've got a shed/workshop going up in December and I'm panicking a bit - it's a test to see if I can then get away with a small lodge. Been here on 2 acres for 1.5 years, (in a converted horse lorry). community know me, know what I'm doing (setting up a smallholding and alternative provision for kids) - fingers crossed!
Thanks for the sub and thanks for the comment. Hope to see you around more often and your comments on other videos. Plenty to come in the newyear All the best for 2022 Regards Craig
Thanks for the video. Quick question: I'm planning to put a static on somebody else's land for free (with their permission) in return for looking after the land (rewilding it, planting trees, etc) I am allowed to keep stock so planning on keeping some chickens and sheep to keep the grass). The caravan is out of sight from neighbours but will be seen by the postman as he comes up the owners drive. Should I apply for planning with the argument that we are planting trees and rewilding the land, keeping animals... or is it best to wait until we get noticed? If we get noticed I have two young children and I will be telling them to house us is they don't want us there (there's no housing here - I'm sure they'll give up on the idea quickly). Any advice please?
We own an acre that has a mobile on it and has been there for many years. Got permission to keep as we had a tourer there first for more than 10:years. Have recreational use on there but would like to find a way so me the wife and child could live on there.
Hi, Jack were is the caravan placed is it in the development boundary of your town you can check this online on your town's website..? Also, have you checked for any planning application for the land to see if anything has been applied for in the past or have you owned it for a long time..? Also is the land near any homes or is it in the countryside or sort of away from the town or on the edge. You will be surprised how much money you could make from 1 acre of land. You obviously have to think differently from large farmers. but some people make $100.000 from a quarter of an acre so you could do well with the land you own. I know our councils are a nightmare but this is what we are out to change. People who have land and are willing to keep it clean and tidy and farm it if they choose should be allowed to stay on it. Have you thought about building a log cabin it more or less the same as a caravan. I know its easy for me to say but if the caravan had been there that long and the council said it could stay I would just move in it. They have only ever evicted 3 people from land over the past 20 years or so but you have to give up your home and move into the caravan. They will move you back to your home if you still have it. But if you have no where else to go then it does not look good on them evicting you from your home. They don't want that sort of publicity and I would just say we couldn't afford the home and we are going to farm this. Even if you get enforcement notice it does not mean the council will act on it. It is just to show that whoever told them that's if someone does that they came out to see what was going g on. It happened to me and they were saying all sorts of things. Saying things like this will have to go and that will have to go. But I took no notice of the guy and just applied for planning and laid out my plan in detail with a good planning statement and all was well and sailed through even after I refused to pay an extra £360 they asked for. So it's not as hard as you may think you just need to know your land where it is situated and is there homes nearby etc. Would you like to start growing thing and so on. But me personally I would just move into the caravan. If it is in the open then purchase lots of leylandii large ones and plant them around the boundary to keep prying eyes from looking in.
@@thesmallfarmerlife thank you for the reply. Yes the plot is on a residential road and surrounded partly by expensive houses. Sort after area. Many eyes..
@@Jack_shearing Hi Jack have you tried to go for planning for the site..? Or have you looked into the planning applications that may have been applied for on the site..? If it has many houses around it and if it's in the development boundary of your area then you may have a good chance of getting planning permission for the site. Its sounds like you may be sat on a little gold mine if surrounded by many large houses. I mean what would the council of your area rather see a caravan or a home..? You could go for one of those chalet type homes you get or even a log cabin. I would defiantly check out the local council's development boundary and see where your plot is sited because if it's in the boundary then you can apply for planning and they should pass it because they have no reason not to. I would do a little online research of the site it's all available on your towns planning portal and see where the site is located and anything that might have be applied for on the site. Also, have you got the title deeds and what do they say..? Is there any uplifts on thew site or restrictions? You can download them for £3 from the land registry site and have a look to see what they say..?
Hi Brilliant video's. I haven't got through them all yet but look forward to viewing them all. Quick question do these rules still apply if I was to buy 50 acres or possibly more ?
Yes, the same rules apply you will have a lot of rights to do things with that much land than smaller parcels of land, try to find some land with some woodland attached if possible. you can build a nice woodsman's cabin in there
@@thesmallfarmerlife Thanks the land I’m interested in is 50 acres and has about 5 acres of woodland. I can’t afford deposit until Christmas time so hopefully still for sale but probably sold by then. We are currently on a Norfolk county council farm so I’m extending my ewes and cattle so when we have our own land I have an established business to move onto it and the dream would obviously to build a home on it. Thanks for your advice 👍
@@charlottem1976 Well keep the dream alive and keep moving forward and if you want it bad enough you will get it. It's all about persistence no matter what you want in life. Good Luck For The Future.
@@thesmallfarmerlife So i am thinking of putting a static caravan on my mothers land. She has a farm and i have 33% of the business. If i had say one meal a day at her home then it should stand good? Field is near a road. Cheers
@@reallivingtv1662 If the land is not next to the home it won't, but you can just put the caravan on and say you need it for the health and safety. Use compost toilet for now and put blackout blinds up. Plant lylandi around the caravan. They will not let you live in it if you say you're having one meal a day at your mams. Just don't tell them and they will not stake the place out and don't open the door on a morning in your boxers either. The one meal only stands if it's in the garden of a home not agricultural land
I will be doing one at some time don't know when but I will be doing a video on a business viability test. but every business is different. It's more about how you go about it but it is basically a business plan that shows how your business will be a success
do you need planning for a container. My relative has some land behind a shop and I would like to put a container on. It would be visible from a main road that goes into the city. It would be 1.5metres in from all boundaries and used as storage. I can imagine someone will complain about its appearance, although I'm more than happy to make it look nice. just subscribed after watching your video on what to look out for when buying land. very informative videos, thank you
Hi It all depends on your neighbours and then your council. If you say it is extra storage for the shop then I cannot see why there would be a problem. It also depends how far the land is away from the shop...? Is it in the curtilage of the shop garden area so to. speak or is it a plot of land separate from the shop.? All this will have impact on whether you need planning or not, but watch out for planning officers they will say you need to apply for planning for anything
@@thesmallfarmerlife It is in the curtilage of the shop. I was considering ringing them and asking of there local rules or guidelines for containers. Just don’t want to have it transported only to have a removal order
Can I ask you a question is it ok to put caravan on land where my boyfriend works and he does call out at night and also we have nowhere to live but his boss has said we can put on his land is this ok thank you❤
Please get back to me asap I just need to know apparently he said it's a few complaints about the washing we put out and a couple of neighbours that said have you got like travellers even though it's only me my boyfriend who works there day and night and also need to have some sleep because it just call out at night and works in the day❤
Alright Craig, your videos are brilliant, please keep posting, as I'm in need of guidance. Can I ask a question please, in your video you talked about £26,000 average to show the business turnover. Is that £26,000 in the space of 5 years or £26,000 each year? Many thanks m8
It doesn't really have to be that much as if you are living on the land your costs of loving will go down they just say that but many have got the right at much lower earnings. Also, it only has to be one year out of 3 or 5 whichever they give you. Have better info on how to make the income if you pm at The Small Farmer Life Facebook page 😜
Hi Craig, I’ve found your videos really informative and wondered if you could answer this question for me: can I have a static caravan within the curtilage of my garden to be incidentally used as a home office/gym? Occasionally to be used as a guest bedroom. It won’t interfere with any views of my neighbours however it will be replacing an old deteriorating stable block that has been there for 40 years! Lots of mixed answers and no definitive responses on my local council website without having to pay for an informed response! We are on green belt land but I’m looking to wood clad the outside so it’s ‘in keeping’ with the buildings already in its surroundings. In my opinion it’ll be a huge improvement on the current appearance of the rotting stables but my partner is very skeptical of our council being able to have it moved. It’s a large investment but I’m 90% confident it’s legal. Any thoughts you have would be greatly appreciated!
Hi, it's a good question and simple to answer yes you are allowed to have a static caravan in the curtilage of your garden, along as the garden so to speak is part of the house garden. It shouldn't be like land that is attached to your garden but is classed as in agricultural land whereas your garden would be classed as residential. Even if someone was to live in it as long as they take one meal per day in your home then you would not have to pay council tax as you would if it was a separate dwelling which you would need planning for. You will get people saying it is different to have a static over a touring caravan but under the caravan act they are both one in the same. Also, its like when people build garden offices or mancaves as long as those are under 2.5 meters in hight if next to the boundary of neighbouring property no planning is needed. If its further away then you can go to 3 meters in hight. Yes, its a good idea to clad it as locals will get pissed not that you have to and you will probably get planners who will try and tell you that it's not allowed but honestly and I mean this some have no idea of the planning system or policies in place. they have never read the national planning policy or guidelines on what you can and cannot do. I have first-hand experience with these people and that's why people need planning consultants to help them as they know planning policies, but that is an industry that people paying council tax and income tax should not have to pay for. If they need the right advice it should come from the people who are getting paid from that tax and that's the planners, so if your paying their wages why shouldn't they be the ones to help with any planning advice..? Anyway yes you can lol
@@thesmallfarmerlife thank you so much for your quick reply! Very reassuring to know that it’s well within our reach. Our land is approx 5 acres and runs 250 metres in a rectangle, then goes behind neighbouring land in an L shape. The static will be where the stables are within 20m of the house and within the ‘garden’ boundary. Although on our deeds, the red curtilage line runs the full way around the plot with no garden depiction or description of agricultural use. It’s more of a paddock. It isn’t historical or AONB/Listed, just in a green belt area which the council enjoy using as their own platform to customise regulations! In the future we’d love to see if we could get planning for the stables - do you think that having a caravan could increase our chances? Obviously there’s a lot to consider but my partner also thinks that removing the old block of stables will decrease our chances. Thank you for your input, it’s been very helpful!
Hello Craig great video could you tell me the best way to find land for sale at a reasonable price, what are your chances of staying on your land if you don't want to be a farmer you just want to have a bit of peace and quiet,and grow veg and few chickens and duck to sell the eggs at the gate or few people. Thanks Col from Manchester
Hey, great video. I want a Glamping site in the south west. Ie cornwall/devon. Do you think I'm wasting my time researching buying land with barns/stables to live in a static and gradually start a Glamping site and planning to turn barn/stable into a residential property. Any help would be tremendous. Thank you anyone in advance.
Very useful information! Thank you! What about if you want to go and sleep rough on your land without any roof above your head, just pretty much on the ground like wild deer?
I about to buy a pub with land on it .. it doesn’t have building permission.. im thinking of putting a static caravan on it … will I need building permission for this ?
Hi yes you are aloud to put a caravan in the curtilage of your garden without planning permission, but if it is to be used as seperate dwelling then you need to pay council tax and so on. You could connect your caravan sewerage to the houses sewer if it in the garden and connect the water to external tap and the same with the electric. But if you want a seperate septic tank then you need to apply for planning permission etc. But yes you can put a caravan in your garden
Great information thanks. My dream is to escape the rat race, on a budget...probably like most who arrive at your channel. I love the thought of a small farm but curious as to know how the dog groomer got away with it.😜😂
Hi, he just moved on starting a business and I think because they did a dogy hotel also. That is why they were allowed to stay all the time so they could look after peoples dogs, It also already had the planning form stables. So they used them for the dogs. But I think if there where no stable block permission don't think it would have been so easy. But he did all the committee meetings himself and put his business idea across and they granted him the 5 years I think it was to make it work. But they are doing really well its like high end and on the awesome road to the most expensive part of the town. So they are charging so coin...
Ps: Hope you get your dream. Just keep trying and you will do it and don't let anyone say you can't. If they have never done it then they Know nothing about it's as simple as that so don't listen to them and go for it. If you put yourself into that position then you are going to do what anyone would do and that's, do your utmost to make it work. Go For It Soon As You can
@@hms935 Without taking risks life would be one very boring place. Hopefully, your investment pays off and you get to live your dream. Also land is one of the best investments as they cannot make any more of it so the price only goes one way, that's up..!
@@thesmallfarmerlife probably building a shipping container home. I would assume that these are the same regulations for something like a shipping container/tiny house on wheels?!
@@katjafritzmann4075 Hi not really they can be put on site when building a barn or something but the councils do not like them to be seen. Though I have seen one where 5 used to build a home which was amazing inside but the outside was cladded. They also get really small if just using one in the width, because of using installation etc to keep them warm. So if your going to use one my advice would be to use external insulation and then clad that leaving more rood inside. But I do not think they are classed the same as a caravan..? But again probably depends on the council really and what they are like..?
It would have to comply with the caravan act which essentially says it would have to be possible to move it by road (it doesn't have to be moved just be able to be moved) That means if its three containers with one stacked onto two others, they have to be bolted together not welded and cant be concreted to the ground for instance. It's quite technical but if it was one large container sat on a normal shallow hardstanding you could get away with it easily provided you think about how the sewage and services are going to work. A caravan doesn't have to have wheels at all to be a caravan really, its just easier to convince the council if it does. You would still need to comply with the rules on siting (forestry / agricultural land or within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse)
@@thesmallfarmerlife I am not sure, I think if you can install it on a trailer you might be able to get away with it?! But I'm really not 100%, I think it's very much down to the council. They are popular as tiny houses in the US and NZ I think but regulations there are a lot looser.
Sort of mate if it is built of site, I know how would they know where is was built lol but that's what they say and they would rather see a wooden cabin than a caravan that's for sure. They will probably ask for planning app from you and why you need the cabin and just say what I said they cannot refuse as its the law that you have to provide
Great video! Wish i found you before all my online researching, you would have saved me hours in fact I've learnt more in 12 mins than i have done from reading up on this for about 6 hours. Is it possible to buy land and put a static carvan on it to live in and not run a business from it but treat it as a normal home. Dont fancy spending £350,000 on a house and being tied down to it. Cheers
No, it isn't possible to put a static caravan on a piece of land and live in it without starting a business around farming on that land. You can only use the caravan for health and safety reasons not to live in that would need planning permission and change of use.
@@thesmallfarmerlife no lol as in buying land and living on it. So you said in 1 video that they want to see a profit in one year of £26,000 for them to grant you permission to live on it. So assuming you have a fairly big farm to make that? I didn't think farming was easy to make a good income. Is it possible to do a video on what a small farm looks like that would get you permission to live on the land? I would be up for keeping some live stock but not necessarily to have it as a career unless i could see it being a career.
If we’re talking about the curtilage of a property - where does that stop? My parents own a farm house with land that has a big drive way which leads down to an apple orchard with a bbq hut. We hope to put a static caravan in there for a few years while we save for our mortgage. It is technically part of the ‘driveway’ but it’s not exactly super close to the house (probably about 50 meters away). Would this be an issue? It will have all the shared services with the house and we will obviously be spending a lot of time at my parents too.
Hi Craig I have a family member who has 3 acres of land , he also lives there in a house and wants me to move a static caravan and live in it, I work full time , the caravan will be fully plumbed into drainage and water supply, what is my rights to do this x
If your caravan is in the curitlage of the house meaning the garden then you can do this as an extra bedroom along as you have one meal a day in the house stupid rule but this is the planning system. If you use as separate dwelling you will have to apply for planning and pay council tax
What about if you are currently trying to claim the land that is un registered? Can you put a caravan on it or do you have to wait until you have claimed the land? Thanks in advance.
Hi no you can put a caravan on it soon as you are using it, also it's better for when you come to make the claim that you have had the caravan on there that long if you can live in it also and get away with it. Ten years down the road you get to claim the land with the right of lawfulness to live on. it. We lets just say if it was a couple of acres you would bank...!
Yeah can put one anywhere but you will certainly have a fight on your hands if you do that. You would be better off building a cabin that blends into the surrounding area and looks like the buildings in the local area. A big white or cream coloured static will stick out like a sore thumb and it will really get the local's backs up doing something like that, you would probably have an Enforcement Officer around the same day or as you were pulling it on
@@thesmallfarmerlife Jesus! why can't they just standardise the rules and stick to them instead of ppl having these endless battles over interpretations. thanks for the info!
Great video and info thanks. Do you think certain areas are more likely to be open minded towards this kind of thing than others. Or maybe areas with a certain brand of local council. Liberal for example. I'd imagine a Conservative area might have big land owners that may frown upon the little guy and have enough local clout to make your plans fail.
Hi, I think it would be more of the area inclined to be conservation or area of outstanding natural beauty. Because you have the right to have health and safety in the workplace and the static caravan provides all of that including a farm office. Also the part of my town. where mine is situated is conservative and so are my millionaire neighbours lol. So I think its more like how you put it across to the council that they will allow it. If you just say IO don't need planning and that's it. Well, they will say move it. But if you say I need it as I am working the land and will be employing people to work on the farm and I need to provide them with the laws that our government made up for workers meaning health and safety. I also use it to lock up medications and can alarm the place and it has expensive office equipment they don't have a leg to stand on. If you did stay in it overnight then what they going to do stake you out for more than 28 days which is what you are allowed to stay in it for legally anyway, it's not going to happen even the police couldn't stake out a criminal for that long. So what can they say? What the council go on is they think everyone is stupid and they know best. They think if they threaten you to move it then you will as your a law-abiding citizen. Even if they did give an enforcement notice it doesn't mean they will act on it. It just shows the person who complained that they have been round. If they did keep going with it you could appeal and they would back down because its the law to provide such things at work, that is if you are working the land..? If you are not living in it then you do not need planning end of. Thanks for the comment
@@thesmallfarmerlife hi,ive just come across you and was wondering if you could answer my questions?im in scotland so the laws up here are maybe a bit different but to the best of your knowledge, if i have a bit of cash to buy ground to sit a static on,purely with the intention of living in and not to run a business from,would this be unlikely?my drive to do this is because i currently rent my house and the neighbours are absolutely toxic,horrible people.police are repeatedly phoned on me for nonsense,ive had arguements with them in the street,been threatened and last weekend had rotten food and piss thrown at my door.i never want neighbours again and would love to plonk a caravan in the middle of a field.a slight exaggeration but you get what i mean.any advice is appreciated.
@@missg3188 Hi yeah you couldnt do that be you could start crofting and then once your onsite your on site you dont have to go down old route of farming there are plenty of other things to do and if it doesnt work out if you know what Im mean it doesnt work out. But you would have to keep the place all clean and tidy etc and make it look like a smallholding at least a little even if you get chickens and maybe a few goats they are not hard to keep
@@missg3188 Just go down the crofting route a nd start a smallholding with few chickens etc, but they wont just let you site acaravan on land just to live in
Most helpful video I’ve seen on this matter thanks for posting , we are going to look at 8 acres tomorrow to start a holding , is there a minimum size of land to ultimately get permission to live there ? Thanks again
No not really I mean you have a better shot with one acre than half but if you looking at plots of land that size I think you will find it too big really. 8 acres is some land you know. Now please don't keep sheep or anything for grazing as it will never be profitable for a business to get the right to live on the land. I know people with very small plots of land and turn a mint because they don't need machines to run it. The cost to keep fencing in good condition on 8 acres is quite a lot and you will need a machine to take care of it. I don't know the price or the way you are buying it. If it's from and agent or through one then there will be an uplift if you get a right to live on it whether in a caravan or home. Soon as it becomes residential it will become due within a year. So what may cost you £80,0000 you now owe another £150,000 within a year so check the dots and cross the t as they say. Maybe get some advice also..?
@@thesmallfarmerlife thanks very much mate that’s really helpful . We were under the impression you needed a very large amount of land to have what they see as a genuine business. We had hoped to keep pigs to breed and also ducks and chickens and grow veg and plants in polytunnels
Hi Craig, I have been watching your videos all afternoon and been really impressed and inspired. Currently I am living in Spain but going to move back to the UK and we want to buy some land and build a small farm. I have a wife and two kids so not sure if it is best to rent a house, buy the land and then seek planning permission or buy the land, place a static caravan and then get the planning permission for the farm buildings that we will need. I really look forward to hearing from you.
Hi Andrew if you have the money available to purchase 5 hectares of land then you have permitted development rights for that land meaning you only need to put a prior warning notice into the council telling them you are going to build a barn At this moment in time it can be 1000 square meters which is huge compared to a normal home. You can then from what I know place a static caravan on the land live in it while building your barn and starting your small farm. As you are starting your small farm and making a profit from it in those 5 years then you will be allowed to live on the land and build a home for you and your family to run the farm. You have a better chance of living on the land if you go down this route than living in a home while building up your farm to be profitable. The reason being if you are running a profitable small farm while not living on the land itself. Then the council will say why do you need to live on the land when you are doing so well while not living on. the land..? I know it can be a bit scary but if we had more local farmers providing local food to our own communities and educating them on the value of purchasing locally. Most people don't understand that the salad greens and vegetables they purchase from their supermarkets have travelled so far in the distance that there are around 50% fewer nutrients left in them and then they lose more being stored in a fridge etc. But if they knew they were getting the full benefit from the freshly picked produce from small farms they will pay more and your farm will be profitable. More and more people are understanding where food comes from and are looking for alternative ways to get fresh food. with the advent of the internet, more information is available. This is what I want this channel to do and that is changing the way small farms in the UK are viewed and why small farmers should be able to live on their small farms so they can provide locals with the right type of unsubsidized produce that farmers in other countries including ours are providing. Through large conglomerate farming industries etc. Why can't a small farmer live on their land but large unprofitable farmers can..? makes no sense to me. If I can build this channel into a large enough community then I will build a petition and go to the house of parliament myself and ask for a change in the planning laws for small farmers. If enough of us come together then they have to listen and things take the time I understand this but it's one step at a time. If we all are willing to stand up for our rights like other countries have then we will win even if it takes a little time to do so. Sorry went a bit off-topic there but really passionate about this sort of thing and want to help as many people as possible and get them involved in this fight for rights. It's not like we are asking them to pay for it. We are asking if we can provide local communities with locally grown produce and locally raised animals instead of the crap we have to eat from supermarkets
@@thesmallfarmerlife Inlove the enthusiasm and cant believe you havent had more views. We also watched a BBC programme about a couple who built a goat farm. We need to try and get your story on National TV. It is so inspiring and I love the way you set the farm out. I might send some more messages on Facebook and try and keep in contact because you clearly know a lot
Also if you don't want to have so much land then purchase that much land get the planning permission and then sell off some of the land. You will get more money selling smaller plots as people have the money to pay for small plots more than they do large plots. This is what I did and I ended up getting my land for free after only a couple of years but that's because I wanted the right person next to me. I also got the planning permission for 6 stable block which is really the size 3 bedroom home if you converted it when had the 6 acres and then sold the land. but they cannot remove the planning then I also added another 4 buildings including a static caravan and I got a visit from the enforcement officer who was saying this will have to go and that will have to go...? But I don't know if you can tell from my videos but I didn't care and then applied for retrospective planning and put in an excellent planning application with a planning statement and I got permission for everything even the caravan to stay. This is an easy way to get cheap land by purchasing a larger plot and splitting it into a couple of plots and sell a couple of acres to someone who has horses this is what I did and like I say I got my land for free after I sold the other piece. Something to think about. In fact, was thinking of doing this as a business but don't have the capital available but have a great idea that would make lots of money purchasing large plots and splitting them up. Have a great business model for this type of business but for you could be a way to get cheaper land and also the planning permission you need
@@thesmallfarmerlife Yeah I watched all the videos and loved the drawing. It was all really impressive but also impressive that you managed to stick to it as well. Do you only sell eggs ans vegetables and fruit in your shop, or going to should I say.
Hi Craig, I’ve just purchased 800sq meters in Birmingham and have just been refused planning permission to build a house. I’m now planning of putting a log cabin under the caravan rules you’ve just discussed as we want to permanently live there. What are the chances of the council booting us out?
@@thesmallfarmerlife it’s about 4 miles from the city centre and I have not checked the development boundary and will do that first thing tomorrow. Only downside is that the access is roughly 2.2m wide
@@tottyhussain4237 You need a minimum of 12ft wide for vehicle access if you are applying for planning permission. Again why did you buy such a small piece of land..? Was it to just build a house on there..?
@@thesmallfarmerlife we purchased that with a view of building a house on it. I may have to purchase the adjacent garages to extend the vehicular access to the plot.
@@thesmallfarmerlife it’s also located amongst a residential area with houses surrounding the plot. It’s not suitable for farming. It is a few trees on there which I will try selling if I can
Hi Craig I have a question, can I do the same with a log cabin? I hear you don't need planning for these and want to live in it full time while I develop my farm. Any help would be appreciated
Hi yes, you could do the same with a log cabin but you would need planning permission to live in it. Now whether you ask them which they will tell you to apply for planning or just move in itas up to you. But if there is nothing on the land-only the cabin they will not allow that or grant planning. I would say start putting things in place first or at least some then go for it so they can see that is your intention to farm. Otherwise they may just think that you are just trying to live on cheap land so to speak
Erm not sure but I know that wales have changed its planning laws to help small eco loving and farming. You may want to read wales national planning policy. Yes, they are quite long but just look for the section that mentions the countryside as they go from commercial to housing and countryside etc. You should always read that and download it to your computer as a PDF and read it again. Then read your local towns planning policy which you can find online also and download that. I am always keeping up to date with planning policies as they are always changing..?
@@thesmallfarmerlife yes Wales is slightly easier you can if you can generate minimum income off the land of £500 per month always worth checking as things change
Thanks for the video. Though I can't make out what you said about the stupid rule at - static caravan at the beginning.. @ 0.45 seconds in.. It sounds like you said, they have to have one mate or one meal ? Cheers
Hi if you want to start a small holding I would buy the land and build the smallholding so the locals can see what you are doing the problem is people buy land and the first thing they do is stick a 35ft static on the land. The locals don't know what is going on on that land and anyone who lived near land and woke up to find a big static through the kitchen window would go crazy. But if they see you with animals and growing food maybe they talk to you while walking the dog. You plant a few fast growing trees where you want to put the caravan to hide it a little or it does not stand out as much you will have a way better shot at staying on the land. Even if you want to keep your job you could still start a small business growing micro greens or mushrooms. You could say after many years as a nurse you see what food can do to people so you want to grow healthy micro greens for locals etc. Keep a few animals aswell and you will get to stay but if you just try to live in caravan un less the locals don't care you will be moved off. What I say takes a few years but that's what you need to do to get to live this sort of life. I don't do anything really I do what I want when I want and that's what I want to do in life if I don't want to go to work I don't. If I want to earn some money I will book a job do it and then again do what I want. I mean my place I am trying to make it look like a park with trees nice pond, orchard, tiny home for people to come and stay etc. My neighbours are all ok with that, well except for one arsehole but the rest are fine with me living like this hear lol
What about putting a caravan on the land and only coming to it during the weekends? That's not living in it, what's the likeliness of encountering problems with the council/enforcement officers?
@@thesmallfarmerlife I bet they would 😅 but can they really do anything if its not the main residence? Bcs technically they don't want someone 'living' there. So if it's not full time one could argue it's not living there..
@@marilondon205 Yeah can but you just got to convince them that its for use while you take care of the land and also try and keep it out of view of road etc. Also really goes on just how much of arseholes the enforcement want to be or are in your town..?
Thanks, I understand audio was bad one of my first videos really, I will have to make the video again with a lot better sound. At least you were more polite about the video than others lol but glad you got something from the video.
What problems have u encountered over access, if any? If u are living on land that was only farmed isn't it an intensification of use? Especially if u only have an access that crosses someone else's land but had access for farm vehicles.
I purchased my land with the right of access there is no stipulations on what or how I can use it. I could break my land up into 30 parcels and give each buyer right of vehicle access, which I did to a guy who purchased some land from me. I could only see that being a problem if the land is sold with a restrictive covenant for what the land can be used for. I have not seen any land sold with such a restrictive covenant but did hear of a guy who put one on some land he sold but it was only to protect his view. Also, it is not an intensification of the land I mean coming and going everytime you needed something or anything from home and back to the land would be using the track and access more no....?
Or sorry and problems that I have encountered are many, but only from arsehole neighbours who know nothing about title deeds right of access and so on. Hence me seeing neighbours with solicitors in my access saying stupid things to the solicitor like 'well the guy who sold me the house said they didn't have right of access and the solicitor replying it's not what someone says it's whats on paper that count's, me driving by laughing at him in the process and then him having to pay solicitors fees for coming out to view the situation. But he could of done what I did before I purchased the land and check did it have the right of access for vehicles and foot which it did.
@@fie8612 Care about anyone else..? Of course, I care about others, I help as many people as I can. But I don't understand living on land with caring for others..? Can you explain why you think I don't care for anyone else
@@thesmallfarmerlife Hey, sorry, I really wasn't meaning to be rude. Just sounds like you've had to take on local councils, residents and neighbouring landowners and I'm not sure I'd be up to the fight. I would love to set up a stable for my horse, live there on a bit of land and have my own space. I can't afford to buy somewhere already established but I'd worry about going down the route you have.
Yep I have showed a couple that did that over road from me on 8th of acre and they are still there and business is doing great lots of people in country setting have plenty of dogs to groom and also pet sitting and dog walking service do well too
Yes, it's just another type of caravan but if you put it on your land and the council turn up you have to let them in and if it looks like your living there then they will serve you with an enforcement notice after they have asked you to apply for planning permission which you could drag on for ages. You will not get planning for a home on the land unless you go down the small farmer route. If your starting a small farm then you will be allowed to stay in it for 3 years till you start your small farm business. But if you are just using it as a business office then like I say it probably looks better than a normal caravan.
Thank you Craig. I'm hoping to grow produce, orchard, fruits and vegetables plus grains, chickens and Zoey sheep. So I guess I will be ok to live in the Tiny house/trailer?
Just stick a farm sign on the front of the entrance and a mailbox do this as soon as you get the land and post yourself a letter you will get it. Now your address wont be registered but you will still get mail. Your address wont show up on thing like find my address but you can still get things registered you just have to call who ever bank, credit cards and tell them the address and it all works. This is what I did and have all my bills etc registered. But if you start a small farm business then ask for a proper address they will say you need to pay council tax or business rates to get and address to which you reply with Farms Dont Pay Any Buisness Rates...!
I'd love to do this! But land is more expensive than buying a house. I live in West Yorkshire and I've looked for land and it's all over 100k. There's cheaper but in built up areas surrounded by houses :(
It shouldn't be that high..? there must be land with something like possible planning. I mean I'm not that far from that area in Durham way and normal agricultural land should be around 15 grand max per acre. Have you tried going out and asking that what I and my friends all did and got our land pretty cheap Sometimes people think the land is worth a fortune but they are just dreamers. But others know the price and going knocking on doors is the best way to find land and asking around villages and local farm shops etc I found mine by asking in a horse tack shop. It was pretty simple really. Hope you do find someone day
Would the farm need to be large to generate a living income to satisfy the council Jobsworths. . Agricultural land generates just £500/acre according to my very brief research.
Thats large industrial farming. There are people making 250k a year off half an acre using permaculture you can grow a lot of shit on half acre. You can put more time and effort into a small piece of land instead of planting field of potatoes that you really cant compete so you grow high yielding salad, speciality mushroom and so on honestly check out what some small farms are making on you tube
The problem you have is the size of the plot, you need to know where the plot is based in the town is it inside or outside the development boundary of your town..? every council has one and you can find it on your towns planning portal it will show where the town has earmarked land for development and it will show the boundary around the town. If your land is in the boundary you could go for planning by appeal but if it's in the countryside you would have to start a business on the land and even then it would have to be the case that you need to be on the land 24/7 to be able to live on it. They will not just let you put a caravan on there and live in it. You could build a log cabin or get one of those chalet homes and move on the land and then fight it out with the council which could go your way or may not..? But it would take them some years to get you off the land but it could also cost you a small fortune trying to stay there and plenty of stress. Can I ask why you purchased 800sq meters
@@thesmallfarmerlife it was a small plot near the city centre, we had no intention to farm on the land due to size, however, I am fond of farming but need a reasonable plot.
Hey Craig! Great video again mate! Could I build a stable and convert it whilst I was trying to turn a profit on my land? And If I could turn a profit and have a sustainable farm. Does that mean that I could build my home on it? Cheers!
You can apply for planning permission as soon as you have land as long as you have access. Then you could live in the stable you don't need to start a farm to get planning permission. But they will not give you the right to live in the stable you would have to go down 4 year 1 day rule
Hi Craig. Thanks for posting these useful videos. Regarding the £26000 to be able to get the right to live on agricultural land, is it £26000 profit or turnover? Please can you post some links to more information on it. Cheers.
Hi I seen you post this before but for some reason it wouldnt show up when I tried to reply..? Its happening a lot with comments Im getting so Im sorry about that, even though its TH-cams fault..? Anyway its not that you have to even make £26,000 its more like you have to make enough to say that after all your bills arew paid and you have profit left. Then you are turning a profit, really it's this what you want to be doing is just making a profit. Coucils once you get the right to live on the land and farm the land then if you make your living from the land. Then you are a farmer and they will let you stay, it's more about showing them a need to be on the land than profits really they just say you need to make average living wage, which £26,000 is not the average living wage for most workers in. the uk the fact that the bigest welfare expense is topping up people wages to make it a liviong wage which is still mopstly below that amount. So don't worry about it worry more about the need to be on the land 24/7 and making enough money to pay your biulls do that and you will pass their stupid test which still shouldnt be used. Just to put it into perspective the average farmer larege farmer 400 acre farms only make aroung £19,000 and they get subsidies ontop of that to top it up, which is abnout to stop. So like I say go for the need to be on the land rather than what you make. But if you have some saving its easy to past the test of what you make in 3 three years as you only have to be profitable 1 out of 3 and like I say if you have some savings thats not hard to do if you get what Im saying...?
Thanks so much for the advice, your videos are the most informative and understandable I've seen, brilliant stuff!! I'm hoping to buy an acre or so of agricultural land and put a static caravan on it, starting a flower nursery business in the longer term. Does growing plants count as farming as far as the law is concerned, or is livestock an essential necessity? To start the nursery, I would need to install a couple of poly-tunnel greenhouses. Do you think this would be a problem as it is more obvious to neighbours? Or could it maybe even help by further proving my intent to start an agricultural business on the land? any feedback from anyone will be much appreciated ! :)
As long as you are making a living from the land and are working the land then you can put static on there. You need it for health and safety in the workplace. Bit of advice grow Japanese Acer Trees every year they grow and you can put thousands on an acre or so the more they are worth and are very popular in the Uk and really expensive. If you grow perennials then the bigger they get the more they are worth. Polly Tunnels can be permanent structures if they have a concrete base, but you may get away with not needing planning if you just use flagstones instead of concrete. It all depends on the size of the polytunnels really. As far as neighbours go just make the place look nice and don't have rubbish all over the place. What could be nicer than plenty of different types of and colours of Japanese Acer trees growing. There are many different colours. Like I say the bigger they grow the more valuable they become. You need to trim them yearly to make them look great but that would be your job. As far as other plants go you would buy them in as seedlings in trays and just bring them on you can pick them up for pennies and sell them for pounds as they grow. The ones that don't sell by the end of the year you can have a big sale and sell the small flowering plants in the sale. This will also help promote your other trees etc and bring customers in locals and all who will then support you in what you are doing. This is because they will be able to see with their own eyes...
@@thesmallfarmerlife Thank you so much - that's music to my ears :D Funnily enough, I bought an Acer this week for a very steep price - they're lovely trees, growing them myself could be an amazing idea! When I do eventually start growing the perennials, I guess I would be best to start with a small, flagstone polytunnel at first and gradually progress from there.. I still need to go out and find the right plot but you've certainly boosted my confidence to get out there and give it a go! Grateful thanks.
@@SolomonDent No problem also grow different Bamboo you can purchase seeds off eBay they grow fast and sell for good money also. Yes start will small polytunnel and get the neighbours used to what your doing. But you shouldn't have any problems with the idea you have and gardening is one of the best markets out there to make money from. You can also add other products as your business grows like benches, plant pots etc. You want to look for local people who make them from concrete themself and support each other that's how you will become part of the local area and an asset to the locals also. Trust me if you start a nursery you will have all the locals coming in to take a look and buy from you. You can also start coffee shops at nursery cups of coffee selling them is excellent markup also. I will be doing a video on how to market your products and will be great for you. So keep an eye out for that video. Good Luck...
Hello, do you HAVE to be making profits of at least the average income on the farm in order to live on it? Also if you had a second job (saying working at Tescos), does that contribute? I'm just slightly confused as you mentioned that one of your neighbors has a dog trimming business, and I'm fairly sure he's not making profits of £25,000 or so. Is it okay just to have a dozen chickens and a large vegetable garden on the farm just for youself? Or does it have to be more like 100 pigs?
.....??? I can guarantee that he and his wife are turning well over £25,000 a year as they have the biggest doggy parlour and kenneling business I've ever seen. Not to mention it's absolutely awesome looking. They have made enough to purchase the land next door of around 12 acres and build even more of the business up and again compared to every other dog trimming or kenneling business I've seen this makes them look like nothing. They probably charge way more than your usual dog trimmer and kenneling services considering they are on the same road as multi million-pound homes not one but 100+ plus of them. Just like one hotel can charge more than and other and one restaurant. This is the problem people put a value on things they have never tried to charge more for. I know lads who work for £80 per day that I get £500 for, so what's the difference, its the service and the way you run business. So you cannot say he or she is not making that money if you don't know the business or what charge just off what you know about the business or people or you may charge. Also no second from Tesco doesn't go towards your turn over and a couple of chickens and some veg is not a small farm business its a homestead. It has to be a farming business and I also get over 5 times more for my eggs than other breeders why is this..? Maybe its because I take better images, copywriting, better service and brand my business and also raise all my hens on pasture and free-range. Versus a person who sells eggs from a chicken coop..!
@@thesmallfarmerlife I see, is there anyway at all to being able to get around having to make an income on the land? I have an uncle who legally lived in a static caravan for 30 years about 50 years ago. As far as I know, he wasn't producing an income on the land of any sorts.
@@brickzandstickz2749 That was a long time ago things in planning have changed multiple times since then. Then you could do anything and there is no way around it unless you hide away unnoticed for 4 years and 1 day and go for a right of lawfulness
Hello there, I have a five acre piece of agricultural land with a natural pond are there any planning rules to stop me putting a canal boat on the pond and start living on it??????
@@thesmallfarmerlife Cheers for the advice I guess I was just hoping there would be a loop hole in the planning process which I could take advantage of 😉
@@harrycarden164 Just build a log cabin next to the pond, thats what i would do. You will easy get planning for that or a barn and then live in the barn. My friend did that after 4 year and one day he claimed the right of lawfulness and then got the right to build a home on the site of the barn. Also the part of the barn he sectioned off was mint to live in
@@thesmallfarmerlife well in that case then I could convert the 60 ft x 45 ft shed I had built as that’s now been up for at least 5 yrs but then I would need another shed for all my toys😉 oops farm equipment
However in addition I have also had a 22ft x 8 ft shepherds type hut on the land for approximately 9 years now which I’ve been using as a welfare hut when the weather is real bad. However we have spent a few nights using that
Hi, I'm just about to buy a land the seller has 2 sites a Farm Land and up the road a Woodland the 2 are divided in plots and some have people there with some sort of caravan and container house the wood land has no trees but I believe there is no one living there yet the farm land is next to the road and there is some houses close by across the road but the wood land is like 400+ meters from a paved road so in the interior of other woodlands. my plan was to put there a log home of static caravan and even maybe a container or build like a garage/workshop sort of thing or Barn like? what can you suggest me doing? Thanks
Hi, it would take more than a simple answer in the comments section to answer this question. I would need more info and time etc to look at the areas but you can do anything, make sure it's not in an area of outstanding natural beauty of conservation areas
@@thesmallfarmerlife Thanks 😊🙏 I will look into it, as far as I know it is a farm land there was a static caravan there that is no longer there there is some containers and a sort of container house with solar panels and water thanks etc i guess a self sustainable house sort of. My idea was to fit a static or a log home but because it us farm land I'm now thinking to do it a diffrent way get a license fir a 2 floors barn/workshop then later convert tye welfare facilities on the first floor to acomodation space? This way I maybe have a chance to Venice utilities as it is right next to the entrance gate and main road there is house on the other side of the road 20 meters away like. Best Regards
Actually, there is a guy about half a mile from me I put his google image in one of my videos I think its this one and they cut dogs fur and have boarding kennels and got the right to live on the land. There where stables or planning for stables before they got permission. But it's not hard to get planning for stables and then convert them. This guy also did it all himself never got consultants and went to the committee meeting and everything. Anything is possible. They just want to know that you are serious and are not just going to build a home on the land..? They had to go to the committee because of all the objections but they still got the right to live there and it's doing really well and they have purchased. More land next door. So it all depends on what or should I say where you are and what your council is like..?
I really am stuck right now. It's getting increasingly difficult for me to own my own home. That's all I've ever wanted. I've recently been thinking about living in a motorhome but then I'll always be moving around. So I contacted my council and asked them if I buy my own land can I park my motorhome on it and live in it full-time? She told me I'd need to get planning permission but I wouldn't be accepted 😅What on earth do I do?! All I want is to live my own life the way I want and escape the system that's designed to keep each and every one of us trapped. I'm not likely to start a farm, I'm going to need to work but even if i can get accepted for a mortgage or shared ownership home, I'm going to be a slave to all those bills and taxes.
Just buy land and get planning permission for a timber shed, say you need it for tools animal bedding etc and just move in it. This is what most people do they dont ask for planning and just live under the radar dont need to start a farm you will not get planning for a house to be built or to live in a caravan it just doesnt happen. Buy some cheap land and live on that land in. a timber building or small barn
@@jamesturner7728 Just tell them to go I had it for a while but put up a sign saying private property and no trespassing and when I seen someone I would just tell them, well in a way they understood sort of thing. But it is a hard one as they say they have the right to roam etc.
@@jamesturner7728 I Know but they still say it and they have a roam path around 40m from my entrance. So ythey come down my road instead of the right one, but they go down the right one when I point it out to them. Are you saying it is aggravated trespass in England..? If so the police would not takle one blind bit of notice. They take days and weeks to come out for a theft or burgalry. Im sure they wouldnt come out for traspass unless they where really board and close by. I still don't understand tye first question you asked me ...?
Hi Craig I like your videos and talk about small farm. I m from Aberdeen. I like to start a small farm about 10/15 acres. Organic vegetables and sheep. I like to live on the land and do a living. I have found a empty land. Can I start that land and build a house to live and grow vegetables abd look after the sheep?? Please advise me how do I start andmake a successful application for permission. I cant afford to pay £5000 consultation fees??
I can advise it will take you years to get certified organic for starters and also the amount of sheep you need to turn a profit is a lot. Plus you need to start-up capital. I understand you don't have the money for consultation fees that's why I am making these videos. But I cannot spend my time helping single people get the right to live on their land. It would take all my time but if you watch my videos you will learn how to do it and I can help everyone at the same time.
I'm just planning to live on my land, I have no plans to start a farm but I am running a software development business which is of course done remotely, do you think I'd run into more trouble than the dog groomer in getting planning permission? Or at least permission to live on the land?
@@thesmallfarmerlife Why do you say that? If it's my land I should be fine to place something "portable" like a static caravan away from the road behind some trees without permission right?
@@jordanski5421 Not really you can if you want, but the council will come out and serve an enforcement notice on you if it's not for some sort of business
Interesting topic. You said you know of someone who didn’t have a farm but had a business that needed him to be and live on site was enough for your local council to grant him temporary residence of living a caravan that what in five years needed to have a house and work specific buildings built or 5 years to prove that his business was an asset to the community and provided revenue result in tax for the council? That sounds very simple. I like it but I fear the pitfalls. I want to buy land just a small ish size,2 acres, and do micro farming small holding loving off grid. Using permaculture, forest garden techniques and vertical farming to utilise my space but also providing a variety of food, to consume and sell on plus offer courses and help others develop schemes and ways to do similar in small gardens to help offset some of their own spend with growing some of their own foods. I have a business idea that has many subdivisions each helping to provide revenue, but no actual live stock other that chickens and ducks initially. I wonder whether if I did what you have done whether I would make it or whether I would face eviction and quick notice. Any advice?
You just have to go for it, it is easy for the council to evict you from the land if you have another home. But if that is your only home then it is hard and yes you might have to argue it out with them but if you truly have a business that will help the community and not to mention the government after Brexit is going to help diversify farming and help smaller farms. Then you will get the right to live on the land it will have to be in a caravan or cabin for a certain number of years so you can prove a viable business. But you only have to show one year's minimum wage out of 3 to 5 years. What the councils want to see is that you are really wanting to be a farmer and not just build a home and sell for massive profits. Also, everything you are talking about verticle farming etc is what the government in 2021 are going to be supporting. You might get a visit from the enforcement officer but it does not mean they act on it. In fact, they have only ever evicted 3 people off the land they moved onto from all the research I have done. But life is about taking risks and going for it, show them you want to farm show a good business plan and how you will build your farm up. Write all your ideas down and put time and effort into the farm and you will get that chance. But if you just stick a caravan on there and nothing else then, of course, they will move you on. But from what you're saying you have an excellent chance at doing or should I say living your dream.
Just one more thing if you let fear run your life then nothing will ever happen image all those people who built the world as we know it..? Do you think. they had fears of course your not human if you don't. Youn just have to push past them and do it. Whats the worst that can happen..?
Hiya, I've just found your channel & wow thank you very informative. It is my wish to buy a small piece of land as a little retreat for myself n my daughter, and place a static caravan Also I'm an artist /upcycle nut & I would love the land for extra space for this also. I've no idea where to start. I do have some savings but not an extreme amount. So would you suggest that I contact local farmers to see if they'd sell me a small piece & if its being used for reasons stated & not to be perminantly lived on, do you think I'd have any issues? Is it possible to do for under £10,000. Thank you x
@@joliejolie1430 One of my subs has just found 4 acres to rent at £300 per year for 4 acres, not a bad patch of land to get started on and it would have cost around 50 thousand for that amount. Saving £300 per year would take a long, long time to save to buy it and that's around the price of agricultural land rent around £100 per acre per year
Hi ya IV been watching your vids I'm an animal beauticians and my partner works near were we are looking for land. Do you think it's possible to get a small piece of land and put a static to live and a work converted small caravan for grooming
@@thesmallfarmerlife how do I find out do I ask council were they stand with tiny house building . Or is it better to get land Brighton and start grooming business how did your mate do it? You said about in you vidio?
@@janeychain6138 He purchased land moved on and done exactly what I'm talking about in tonight's video. If you ask the council then you will have no chance and if you go ahead and do it anyway then they will look down on your application if they told you no when you first asked them. The Uk council take no different view of a tiny house or a huge house its the land you are changing the use of not what size house you are building. Also, your question sounds that you demand me to answer it. No thank you for answering your first question or anything and I have my own things to do than just sit here and water for questions to come in...!
@@janeychain6138 He purchased land moved on and done exactly what I'm talking about in tonight's video. If you ask the council then you will have no chance and if you go ahead and do it anyway then they will look down on your application if they told you no when you first asked them. The Uk council take no different view of a tiny house or a huge house its the land you are changing the use of not what size house you are building. Also your
Just spent 11k with a planning consultant trying to get permission for a mobile home on 1/3rd of an acre... 2 years later... need I tell you the result = Gutted 😞
Yeah don't really have to make that much that's just what they say, just make enough to sustain you and your family really and a little leftover which is possible if you grow your own food or some of it and make some wooden products like bird tables etc and sell free-range eggs you be surprised how much you can make, especially if you have roadside entrance. My pal makes a good few quid a week from passing trade and honesty box.
@@thesmallfarmerlife I have a a 1200 m² plot I house ducks and chickens thinking of getting goats I know it’s only a small piece of land but I’m just getting into farming I’ve put a store up for the hay feed and tools a planning Enforcement officer says I need planning permission how else am I meant to store food and hay for the animals
have to start a farm with profit man wtf the uk is so bad pathetic how people cant just buy land and build whatever they want , pathetic country all jammed in little urban estates with no freedom or privacy
Now you can site a static caravan on your land then what's the best way to find land if you haven't already done so..? th-cam.com/video/yhZft8jXW-Q/w-d-xo.html
Hey Craig, hope you're well.
I came across your channel last night, and I think it's one of the best things that's happened to me for a while!
I have lots of questions, but I will watch all of your videos first AND read every single comment in every video first, as no doubt you will have answered most/all of my questions.
Really appreciate what you are doing buddy.
Take care
You have been more help than anyone I've looked to for advice so far thanks mate
No probs ill try to keep the videos coming and hope I can help you some more. Stick around and see what pops up the best advice is from people who have actually done it..! Thanks for the Comment
I just want to buy a few acres, plant trees, have a garden to grow fruits and vegetables and live peacefully off grid.
Hi Paul there are many people who want to do the same live off-grid but I think some people think that way of life means something totally different. I say this as I have had a few comments from some people saying that we are all scroungers and that everyone who wants to live this way wants to live off other peoples taxes...?
But large farmers live off other peoples taxes through subsidies the most money that used to come from the EU 80% went to farmers, the large corporations who pay no taxes use our roads and other infrastructure to make their billions.
But if you want to live a peaceful life these people think you should not have that right what would you say to those people...? I mean I'm assuming you would like to live a nice life it's a basic human right after all to live how you see fit and probably sell some of your leftover produce at farmers markets etc. You know to pay for those little extras in life
Because I pay taxes and have several businesses which are stressful as hell and would rather just stay on my small farm which makes a profit already but I would like to make a little more just so I can give some or should I say leave some to my children. I will defiantly pay taxes from that income also you can bet your backside on that lol death and taxes unless you're rich...!
@C Bee couldn’t agree more, you just summed up how I think 😅👍🏼
@C Bee cheers mate u too
Amen
@C Bee Amen to that. Me and the Mrs just bought 5 acres with a solar powered/LPG gas cabin with log burner, few chickens, geese and ducks with pond. Rare find so took the leap. Good luck if you do my friend. the same viewpoint as you stated. We're DONE, want no part of this shitshow
Love your videos its exactly what my plan is money permitting very scary though selling up and starting from scratch with land
Hi Matthew yes your right, but many things in life are scary and this is what stops us from living our dreams, starting new businesses and many other things.
The one thing I can say is that you can always start again and if you keep trying you will get there in the end.
I have failed several times, but you have just got to keep going. All the millionaires and billionaires have failed at some point its just what keeps you going that gets you to where you want to be in life.
You will never know if you never try..? The richest place on the planet is the graveyards of the world. Full of dreams never realised, books never written, inventions never invented, businesses never started because of fear the list goes on.
I would rather say that I tried than to have never tried at all. Don't let procrastination hold you back. trust me if I can do it so can you its all in the mindset.
Hope you have a go at it Matthew..? Success is just a mindset..!
I have been really enjoying watching your content on You Tube over the last few weeks. I have always been a rural outdoors nut who just cannot cope with a City. I live in a Village now(lived in a handful) and I would sooner live in the worst house in a Village than a 4 bedroom posh house in a soulless City.
I am just starting over again at 62 after having a little adversity in my life(fine now) and probably have 50% of a small average type home in my back pocket.
I thought about a smallholding in Portugal or Normandy France which I could just about afford, but rural England would be my preference.
After watching your no BS videos🙂 I am starting to think that just might be a way if I start getting creative like you.
Great content, really enjoying your attitude and take on every day problems
absolutely fantastic information Craig I've been battling with the Cornish council for 15 years now . This video has given me a fresh look at things going to get a static caravan this week now
Have a business plan first make sure you say that all the medication etc will be stored in the caravan and you can alarm it etc. You cannot allarm barn as birds get in, wind and so on. Make sure you have all your ducks in a row so to speak
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@@thesmallfarmerlife thank you
Thank you for this. I'd like a caravan on my future garden plot, and hook it up to sewage etc as a tiny house. I don't drive, but I want a small house/caravan
Mate youve just made my dreams come true seriously where have you been all my life man u just made my day thank you so much for letting us all know good man .😎
Your Welcome hope it helps you all out thanks
Some nice points, appreciate time taken to share this with us.
Hi, I don't see why not if you are working in. the woodland. I do know that you have permitted development rights in woodland no matter the size. This would make it easy to build a cabin without the need for planning permission
I cant stand when I hear someone's planning permission application is rejected because of some jobs worth neighbor who thinks it's an "eyesore", people should be able to put what they want on the land if they own it, unfortunately some people dont like it that others want to live truly free and not slaves in the system
Excatly but thats what people have had drilled into them that they must be slaves to the system and do has you are told. If you want to live like your ansectors then "NO" be in debt and pay taxes and. don't ask questions..! Agree with you all the way..!
I had a neighbour like that who went about bad mouthing me and complaining about my mobile ,
I left a bottle of petrol with a rag in it and a note saying anymore complaints , the bottle will be lit , I got into trouble but no evidence but funny enough the complaints stopped and I am happy now 😂😂😂
Love this man.... hes the business 👌
Thank you for easy understandable information
Thanks again I have made another video about this subject as I know the audio is terrible but I am getting better thanks again for the comment they all help
Thanks for the advice, what about if you build a temporary cabin, that is kind if static caravan size. personally I think people could look a bit less like a gypsy by making their caravan blend in with the landscape a bit better, perhaps painting it camo and have some camo netting
Hi you can build a cabin, but honestly, I built my cabins with no planning and they said I needed planning for those but not for the caravan to stay the way I did it. I would very much say you won't look like a traveler as I call them. I have some as friends and people will not be bothered once it has been there a while if you place it in a way that it's not in full view or their front room window say...?
Also, camo paint or netting is not needed just plants some trees to break up the caravan that's all I did and a small hedge, Not that anyone can see it anyway and all of my neighbors know I'm here and they are fine all 9 homes are expensive homes to and businesses. I mean I was using this land before any who live here came here so they knew I would be passing their windows to access my land.
I remember when the guy shot the councillor dead,That was bizzar!I think it was with his or at least an old army revolver,And he was quite an old man!
If the old guy was going to be kicked out of his home and have to sleep on the streets, where he would surely die, he may as well get himself a jail cell. He did the right thing.
Awesome information! Thank you!
Tommy, you are welcome my friend and I hope it helps you and many others. Thanks for the comment, hope to hear more from you in the future..!
Hi Craig great videos and I’m slowly working through them. My husband and Me bought 6 acres of agricultural land about 18 years ago we changed use to equestrian and built a stable block with planning. Last year we decided to buy a second hand static lodge, it is not hidden. Our neighbours are ok about it. We are basically waiting for the council to approach us then I guess we will put in planning. We pay business rates since we got the land. Ideally we want a house there. We have installed treatment works for sewage and are getting solar panels we have water so completely off grid. We only have 2 horses and maybe should get some more animals. Any tips would be helpful thanks Suzanne
how did you get on? we are in the same process
@@unearthed-detecting-tv we have decided to move into the lodge and wait for council to approach us, we have a postcode now and letterbox at the gates, ( not hiding anything)
Hopefully the 4 year and one day rule will still be applicable in 2 years time. We hope due to the next election the bill to change it will be held up. Either way will put in planning when we get approached by council, which doesn’t seem likely soon. Our business rates were taken off after our argument to them so not paying now.
Buy some pigs!
@@suzannedavis4338 4 year and one day rule seems to have gone now, as of October. I've got a shed/workshop going up in December and I'm panicking a bit - it's a test to see if I can then get away with a small lodge. Been here on 2 acres for 1.5 years, (in a converted horse lorry). community know me, know what I'm doing (setting up a smallholding and alternative provision for kids) - fingers crossed!
Can you do video about Green belt land ,what we can do on it ? London , Bromley
many thanks brother
Thank you for the information.
You are awesome, of course I have subscribed and liked .
Thanks for the sub and thanks for the comment. Hope to see you around more often and your comments on other videos. Plenty to come in the newyear All the best for 2022 Regards Craig
Thanks for the great info.
Your welcome and thanks for watching
Thanks for the video. Quick question:
I'm planning to put a static on somebody else's land for free (with their permission) in return for looking after the land (rewilding it, planting trees, etc) I am allowed to keep stock so planning on keeping some chickens and sheep to keep the grass). The caravan is out of sight from neighbours but will be seen by the postman as he comes up the owners drive. Should I apply for planning with the argument that we are planting trees and rewilding the land, keeping animals... or is it best to wait until we get noticed? If we get noticed I have two young children and I will be telling them to house us is they don't want us there (there's no housing here - I'm sure they'll give up on the idea quickly). Any advice please?
We own an acre that has a mobile on it and has been there for many years. Got permission to keep as we had a tourer there first for more than 10:years. Have recreational use on there but would like to find a way so me the wife and child could live on there.
Hi, Jack were is the caravan placed is it in the development boundary of your town you can check this online on your town's website..?
Also, have you checked for any planning application for the land to see if anything has been applied for in the past or have you owned it for a long time..?
Also is the land near any homes or is it in the countryside or sort of away from the town or on the edge.
You will be surprised how much money you could make from 1 acre of land. You obviously have to think differently from large farmers. but some people make $100.000 from a quarter of an acre so you could do well with the land you own.
I know our councils are a nightmare but this is what we are out to change. People who have land and are willing to keep it clean and tidy and farm it if they choose should be allowed to stay on it.
Have you thought about building a log cabin it more or less the same as a caravan.
I know its easy for me to say but if the caravan had been there that long and the council said it could stay I would just move in it. They have only ever evicted 3 people from land over the past 20 years or so but you have to give up your home and move into the caravan.
They will move you back to your home if you still have it. But if you have no where else to go then it does not look good on them evicting you from your home.
They don't want that sort of publicity and I would just say we couldn't afford the home and we are going to farm this.
Even if you get enforcement notice it does not mean the council will act on it. It is just to show that whoever told them that's if someone does that they came out to see what was going g on. It happened to me and they were saying all sorts of things.
Saying things like this will have to go and that will have to go. But I took no notice of the guy and just applied for planning and laid out my plan in detail with a good planning statement and all was well and sailed through even after I refused to pay an extra £360 they asked for.
So it's not as hard as you may think you just need to know your land where it is situated and is there homes nearby etc. Would you like to start growing thing and so on. But me personally I would just move into the caravan.
If it is in the open then purchase lots of leylandii large ones and plant them around the boundary to keep prying eyes from looking in.
@@thesmallfarmerlife thank you for the reply. Yes the plot is on a residential road and surrounded partly by expensive houses. Sort after area. Many eyes..
@@Jack_shearing Hi Jack have you tried to go for planning for the site..? Or have you looked into the planning applications that may have been applied for on the site..?
If it has many houses around it and if it's in the development boundary of your area then you may have a good chance of getting planning permission for the site.
Its sounds like you may be sat on a little gold mine if surrounded by many large houses. I mean what would the council of your area rather see a caravan or a home..? You could go for one of those chalet type homes you get or even a log cabin.
I would defiantly check out the local council's development boundary and see where your plot is sited because if it's in the boundary then you can apply for planning and they should pass it because they have no reason not to.
I would do a little online research of the site it's all available on your towns planning portal and see where the site is located and anything that might have be applied for on the site. Also, have you got the title deeds and what do they say..?
Is there any uplifts on thew site or restrictions? You can download them for £3 from the land registry site and have a look to see what they say..?
Hi Brilliant video's. I haven't got through them all yet but look forward to viewing them all. Quick question do these rules still apply if I was to buy 50 acres or possibly more ?
Yes, the same rules apply you will have a lot of rights to do things with that much land than smaller parcels of land, try to find some land with some woodland attached if possible. you can build a nice woodsman's cabin in there
@@thesmallfarmerlife Thanks the land I’m interested in is 50 acres and has about 5 acres of woodland. I can’t afford deposit until Christmas time so hopefully still for sale but probably sold by then. We are currently on a Norfolk county council farm so I’m extending my ewes and cattle so when we have our own land I have an established business to move onto it and the dream would obviously to build a home on it. Thanks for your advice 👍
@@charlottem1976 Well keep the dream alive and keep moving forward and if you want it bad enough you will get it. It's all about persistence no matter what you want in life. Good Luck For The Future.
Thanks for the video SFL. Do you mind us folk asking you for advice in the comments? Cheers
Hi, no problem mate as long as not too many that keeps me on the computer for hours lol but of course you can ask me questions..?
@@thesmallfarmerlife So i am thinking of putting a static caravan on my mothers land. She has a farm and i have 33% of the business. If i had say one meal a day at her home then it should stand good? Field is near a road. Cheers
@@reallivingtv1662 If the land is not next to the home it won't, but you can just put the caravan on and say you need it for the health and safety. Use compost toilet for now and put blackout blinds up. Plant lylandi around the caravan. They will not let you live in it if you say you're having one meal a day at your mams. Just don't tell them and they will not stake the place out and don't open the door on a morning in your boxers either. The one meal only stands if it's in the garden of a home not agricultural land
Thanks for sharing. Can I ask how does it work with paying council tax, should one pay it soon as sited a caravan or wait for a few years?
Depends if you are going to tell them if you are living there or not if they know they will want you to pay straight away like any other home
Can you please do a video on 'A Good Plan Of Action' list when applying to start a business on a piece of land. 👍🏻
I will be doing one at some time don't know when but I will be doing a video on a business viability test. but every business is different. It's more about how you go about it but it is basically a business plan that shows how your business will be a success
Would this alos work with a log cabin?
Brilliant just pure funny like 😆😆😆🤘⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐✌
Turn up your volume on your videos please great video's keep them coming 😀 👌
what about a wooden lodge.. One that is clased as a static home. Comes in two and has wheels. How do I relocate it?? Any advice please
Hi do you already have the wooden lodge..?
Yes
do you need planning for a container. My relative has some land behind a shop and I would like to put a container on. It would be visible from a main road that goes into the city. It would be 1.5metres in from all boundaries and used as storage. I can imagine someone will complain about its appearance, although I'm more than happy to make it look nice.
just subscribed after watching your video on what to look out for when buying land. very informative videos, thank you
Hi It all depends on your neighbours and then your council. If you say it is extra storage for the shop then I cannot see why there would be a problem. It also depends how far the land is away from the shop...? Is it in the curtilage of the shop garden area so to. speak or is it a plot of land separate from the shop.? All this will have impact on whether you need planning or not, but watch out for planning officers they will say you need to apply for planning for anything
@@thesmallfarmerlife It is in the curtilage of the shop. I was considering ringing them and asking of there local rules or guidelines for containers. Just don’t want to have it transported only to have a removal order
@@Mike-jx2uj Should be fine in the curtilage of the shop along as it's under 2.5m high and not taking up more than 50% of the land
Can I ask you a question is it ok to put caravan on land where my boyfriend works and he does call out at night and also we have nowhere to live but his boss has said we can put on his land is this ok thank you❤
Please get back to me asap I just need to know apparently he said it's a few complaints about the washing we put out and a couple of neighbours that said have you got like travellers even though it's only me my boyfriend who works there day and night and also need to have some sleep because it just call out at night and works in the day❤
I'm so desperate to do this . I'm currently living in a tourer on a caravan site and selling my house. My goal is to have a small holding x
I have my mams address as my address x
Great video,just subbed and will be going through the back catalogue👍
Thanks, Mark your welcome hope you find something of interest that may help you
Alright Craig, your videos are brilliant, please keep posting, as I'm in need of guidance.
Can I ask a question please, in your video you talked about £26,000 average to show the business turnover. Is that £26,000 in the space of 5 years or £26,000 each year? Many thanks m8
It doesn't really have to be that much as if you are living on the land your costs of loving will go down they just say that but many have got the right at much lower earnings. Also, it only has to be one year out of 3 or 5 whichever they give you. Have better info on how to make the income if you pm at The Small Farmer Life Facebook page 😜
Hi Craig, I’ve found your videos really informative and wondered if you could answer this question for me: can I have a static caravan within the curtilage of my garden to be incidentally used as a home office/gym? Occasionally to be used as a guest bedroom. It won’t interfere with any views of my neighbours however it will be replacing an old deteriorating stable block that has been there for 40 years! Lots of mixed answers and no definitive responses on my local council website without having to pay for an informed response!
We are on green belt land but I’m looking to wood clad the outside so it’s ‘in keeping’ with the buildings already in its surroundings. In my opinion it’ll be a huge improvement on the current appearance of the rotting stables but my partner is very skeptical of our council being able to have it moved. It’s a large investment but I’m 90% confident it’s legal.
Any thoughts you have would be greatly appreciated!
Hi, it's a good question and simple to answer yes you are allowed to have a static caravan in the curtilage of your garden, along as the garden so to speak is part of the house garden.
It shouldn't be like land that is attached to your garden but is classed as in agricultural land whereas your garden would be classed as residential. Even if someone was to live in it as long as they take one meal per day in your home then you would not have to pay council tax as you would if it was a separate dwelling which you would need planning for.
You will get people saying it is different to have a static over a touring caravan but under the caravan act they are both one in the same.
Also, its like when people build garden offices or mancaves as long as those are under 2.5 meters in hight if next to the boundary of neighbouring property no planning is needed. If its further away then you can go to 3 meters in hight.
Yes, its a good idea to clad it as locals will get pissed not that you have to and you will probably get planners who will try and tell you that it's not allowed but honestly and I mean this some have no idea of the planning system or policies in place. they have never read the national planning policy or guidelines on what you can and cannot do.
I have first-hand experience with these people and that's why people need planning consultants to help them as they know planning policies, but that is an industry that people paying council tax and income tax should not have to pay for. If they need the right advice it should come from the people who are getting paid from that tax and that's the planners, so if your paying their wages why shouldn't they be the ones to help with any planning advice..? Anyway yes you can lol
Also aslong as its not in historical are or AONB or listed buildings etc
@@thesmallfarmerlife thank you so much for your quick reply!
Very reassuring to know that it’s well within our reach.
Our land is approx 5 acres and runs 250 metres in a rectangle, then goes behind neighbouring land in an L shape. The static will be where the stables are within 20m of the house and within the ‘garden’ boundary. Although on our deeds, the red curtilage line runs the full way around the plot with no garden depiction or description of agricultural use. It’s more of a paddock.
It isn’t historical or AONB/Listed, just in a green belt area which the council enjoy using as their own platform to customise regulations!
In the future we’d love to see if we could get planning for the stables - do you think that having a caravan could increase our chances? Obviously there’s a lot to consider but my partner also thinks that removing the old block of stables will decrease our chances.
Thank you for your input, it’s been very helpful!
Hello Craig great video could you tell me the best way to find land for sale at a reasonable price, what are your chances of staying on your land if you don't want to be a farmer you just want to have a bit of peace and quiet,and grow veg and few chickens and duck to sell the eggs at the gate or few people. Thanks Col from Manchester
I would like the same thing..hope we get answers
Hey, great video.
I want a Glamping site in the south west. Ie cornwall/devon.
Do you think I'm wasting my time researching buying land with barns/stables to live in a static and gradually start a Glamping site and planning to turn barn/stable into a residential property.
Any help would be tremendous.
Thank you anyone in advance.
Very useful information! Thank you! What about if you want to go and sleep rough on your land without any roof above your head, just pretty much on the ground like wild deer?
I have no idea...?
28 days a year youll be fine, more than that the council may say it was a change of use. The chances of them noticing a rough sleeper though is slim.
I about to buy a pub with land on it .. it doesn’t have building permission.. im thinking of putting a static caravan on it … will I need building permission for this ?
Great info! Thank you, subscribed!
You're welcome if you have any question feel free to ask and I will do my best to answer to the best of my ability. Thanks for the comment
Can you put a static in your back garden without planning permission? How would you deal with waste and water etv? Any ideas?
Hi yes you are aloud to put a caravan in the curtilage of your garden without planning permission, but if it is to be used as seperate dwelling then you need to pay council tax and so on. You could connect your caravan sewerage to the houses sewer if it in the garden and connect the water to external tap and the same with the electric. But if you want a seperate septic tank then you need to apply for planning permission etc. But yes you can put a caravan in your garden
Great information thanks. My dream is to escape the rat race, on a budget...probably like most who arrive at your channel.
I love the thought of a small farm but curious as to know how the dog groomer got away with it.😜😂
Hi, he just moved on starting a business and I think because they did a dogy hotel also. That is why they were allowed to stay all the time so they could look after peoples dogs, It also already had the planning form stables. So they used them for the dogs.
But I think if there where no stable block permission don't think it would have been so easy. But he did all the committee meetings himself and put his business idea across and they granted him the 5 years I think it was to make it work.
But they are doing really well its like high end and on the awesome road to the most expensive part of the town. So they are charging so coin...
Ps: Hope you get your dream. Just keep trying and you will do it and don't let anyone say you can't. If they have never done it then they Know nothing about it's as simple as that so don't listen to them and go for it. If you put yourself into that position then you are going to do what anyone would do and that's, do your utmost to make it work. Go For It Soon As You can
The Small Farmer Life Good for them. I like to see ordinary people making a go of it. 😊
@@hms935 Without taking risks life would be one very boring place. Hopefully, your investment pays off and you get to live your dream. Also land is one of the best investments as they cannot make any more of it so the price only goes one way, that's up..!
Would a shipping container count as a “static caravan”?
Hi, what are you planning to do with the shipping container..?
@@thesmallfarmerlife probably building a shipping container home. I would assume that these are the same regulations for something like a shipping container/tiny house on wheels?!
@@katjafritzmann4075 Hi not really they can be put on site when building a barn or something but the councils do not like them to be seen.
Though I have seen one where 5 used to build a home which was amazing inside but the outside was cladded. They also get really small if just using one in the width, because of using installation etc to keep them warm.
So if your going to use one my advice would be to use external insulation and then clad that leaving more rood inside. But I do not think they are classed the same as a caravan..? But again probably depends on the council really and what they are like..?
It would have to comply with the caravan act which essentially says it would have to be possible to move it by road (it doesn't have to be moved just be able to be moved) That means if its three containers with one stacked onto two others, they have to be bolted together not welded and cant be concreted to the ground for instance. It's quite technical but if it was one large container sat on a normal shallow hardstanding you could get away with it easily provided you think about how the sewage and services are going to work. A caravan doesn't have to have wheels at all to be a caravan really, its just easier to convince the council if it does. You would still need to comply with the rules on siting (forestry / agricultural land or within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse)
@@thesmallfarmerlife I am not sure, I think if you can install it on a trailer you might be able to get away with it?! But I'm really not 100%, I think it's very much down to the council. They are popular as tiny houses in the US and NZ I think but regulations there are a lot looser.
Does this apply for a log cabin too buddy?
Sort of mate if it is built of site, I know how would they know where is was built lol but that's what they say and they would rather see a wooden cabin than a caravan that's for sure. They will probably ask for planning app from you and why you need the cabin and just say what I said they cannot refuse as its the law that you have to provide
Great video! Wish i found you before all my online researching, you would have saved me hours in fact I've learnt more in 12 mins than i have done from reading up on this for about 6 hours. Is it possible to buy land and put a static carvan on it to live in and not run a business from it but treat it as a normal home. Dont fancy spending £350,000 on a house and being tied down to it. Cheers
No, it isn't possible to put a static caravan on a piece of land and live in it without starting a business around farming on that land. You can only use the caravan for health and safety reasons not to live in that would need planning permission and change of use.
Unless you mean in your parents garden that is..?
@@thesmallfarmerlife no lol as in buying land and living on it. So you said in 1 video that they want to see a profit in one year of £26,000 for them to grant you permission to live on it. So assuming you have a fairly big farm to make that? I didn't think farming was easy to make a good income. Is it possible to do a video on what a small farm looks like that would get you permission to live on the land? I would be up for keeping some live stock but not necessarily to have it as a career unless i could see it being a career.
If we’re talking about the curtilage of a property - where does that stop? My parents own a farm house with land that has a big drive way which leads down to an apple orchard with a bbq hut. We hope to put a static caravan in there for a few years while we save for our mortgage. It is technically part of the ‘driveway’ but it’s not exactly super close to the house (probably about 50 meters away). Would this be an issue? It will have all the shared services with the house and we will obviously be spending a lot of time at my parents too.
High it stops around the edge of the garden boundary so anywhere in the garden, you can pace it.
Hi Craig I have a family member who has 3 acres of land , he also lives there in a house and wants me to move a static caravan and live in it, I work full time , the caravan will be fully plumbed into drainage and water supply, what is my rights to do this x
If your caravan is in the curitlage of the house meaning the garden then you can do this as an extra bedroom along as you have one meal a day in the house stupid rule but this is the planning system. If you use as separate dwelling you will have to apply for planning and pay council tax
What about if you are currently trying to claim the land that is un registered? Can you put a caravan on it or do you have to wait until you have claimed the land? Thanks in advance.
Hi no you can put a caravan on it soon as you are using it, also it's better for when you come to make the claim that you have had the caravan on there that long if you can live in it also and get away with it. Ten years down the road you get to claim the land with the right of lawfulness to live on. it. We lets just say if it was a couple of acres you would bank...!
hi, are you allowed to site a caravan on your land if the land is in a national park such as exmoor? thanks
Yeah can put one anywhere but you will certainly have a fight on your hands if you do that. You would be better off building a cabin that blends into the surrounding area and looks like the buildings in the local area. A big white or cream coloured static will stick out like a sore thumb and it will really get the local's backs up doing something like that, you would probably have an Enforcement Officer around the same day or as you were pulling it on
@@thesmallfarmerlife Jesus! why can't they just standardise the rules and stick to them instead of ppl having these endless battles over interpretations. thanks for the info!
Great video and info thanks. Do you think certain areas are more likely to be open minded towards this kind of thing than others. Or maybe areas with a certain brand of local council. Liberal for example. I'd imagine a Conservative area might have big land owners that may frown upon the little guy and have enough local clout to make your plans fail.
Hi, I think it would be more of the area inclined to be conservation or area of outstanding natural beauty. Because you have the right to have health and safety in the workplace and the static caravan provides all of that including a farm office. Also the part of my town. where mine is situated is conservative and so are my millionaire neighbours lol.
So I think its more like how you put it across to the council that they will allow it. If you just say IO don't need planning and that's it.
Well, they will say move it. But if you say I need it as I am working the land and will be employing people to work on the farm and I need to provide them with the laws that our government made up for workers meaning health and safety. I also use it to lock up medications and can alarm the place and it has expensive office equipment they don't have a leg to stand on.
If you did stay in it overnight then what they going to do stake you out for more than 28 days which is what you are allowed to stay in it for legally anyway, it's not going to happen even the police couldn't stake out a criminal for that long.
So what can they say? What the council go on is they think everyone is stupid and they know best. They think if they threaten you to move it then you will as your a law-abiding citizen. Even if they did give an enforcement notice it doesn't mean they will act on it. It just shows the person who complained that they have been round.
If they did keep going with it you could appeal and they would back down because its the law to provide such things at work, that is if you are working the land..?
If you are not living in it then you do not need planning end of. Thanks for the comment
@@thesmallfarmerlife hi,ive just come across you and was wondering if you could answer my questions?im in scotland so the laws up here are maybe a bit different but to the best of your knowledge, if i have a bit of cash to buy ground to sit a static on,purely with the intention of living in and not to run a business from,would this be unlikely?my drive to do this is because i currently rent my house and the neighbours are absolutely toxic,horrible people.police are repeatedly phoned on me for nonsense,ive had arguements with them in the street,been threatened and last weekend had rotten food and piss thrown at my door.i never want neighbours again and would love to plonk a caravan in the middle of a field.a slight exaggeration but you get what i mean.any advice is appreciated.
@@missg3188 Hi yeah you couldnt do that be you could start crofting and then once your onsite your on site you dont have to go down old route of farming there are plenty of other things to do and if it doesnt work out if you know what Im mean it doesnt work out. But you would have to keep the place all clean and tidy etc and make it look like a smallholding at least a little even if you get chickens and maybe a few goats they are not hard to keep
@@missg3188 Just go down the crofting route a nd start a smallholding with few chickens etc, but they wont just let you site acaravan on land just to live in
Most helpful video I’ve seen on this matter thanks for posting , we are going to look at 8 acres tomorrow to start a holding , is there a minimum size of land to ultimately get permission to live there ? Thanks again
No not really I mean you have a better shot with one acre than half but if you looking at plots of land that size I think you will find it too big really. 8 acres is some land you know.
Now please don't keep sheep or anything for grazing as it will never be profitable for a business to get the right to live on the land.
I know people with very small plots of land and turn a mint because they don't need machines to run it. The cost to keep fencing in good condition on 8 acres is quite a lot and you will need a machine to take care of it.
I don't know the price or the way you are buying it. If it's from and agent or through one then there will be an uplift if you get a right to live on it whether in a caravan or home.
Soon as it becomes residential it will become due within a year. So what may cost you £80,0000 you now owe another £150,000 within a year so check the dots and cross the t as they say. Maybe get some advice also..?
@@thesmallfarmerlife thanks very much mate that’s really helpful . We were under the impression you needed a very large amount of land to have what they see as a genuine business. We had hoped to keep pigs to breed and also ducks and chickens and grow veg and plants in polytunnels
Hi Craig, I have been watching your videos all afternoon and been really impressed and inspired. Currently I am living in Spain but going to move back to the UK and we want to buy some land and build a small farm. I have a wife and two kids so not sure if it is best to rent a house, buy the land and then seek planning permission or buy the land, place a static caravan and then get the planning permission for the farm buildings that we will need. I really look forward to hearing from you.
Hi Andrew if you have the money available to purchase 5 hectares of land then you have permitted development rights for that land meaning you only need to put a prior warning notice into the council telling them you are going to build a barn At this moment in time it can be 1000 square meters which is huge compared to a normal home.
You can then from what I know place a static caravan on the land live in it while building your barn and starting your small farm.
As you are starting your small farm and making a profit from it in those 5 years then you will be allowed to live on the land and build a home for you and your family to run the farm.
You have a better chance of living on the land if you go down this route than living in a home while building up your farm to be profitable.
The reason being if you are running a profitable small farm while not living on the land itself. Then the council will say why do you need to live on the land when you are doing so well while not living on. the land..?
I know it can be a bit scary but if we had more local farmers providing local food to our own communities and educating them on the value of purchasing locally.
Most people don't understand that the salad greens and vegetables they purchase from their supermarkets have travelled so far in the distance that there are around 50% fewer nutrients left in them and then they lose more being stored in a fridge etc.
But if they knew they were getting the full benefit from the freshly picked produce from small farms they will pay more and your farm will be profitable.
More and more people are understanding where food comes from and are looking for alternative ways to get fresh food. with the advent of the internet, more information is available.
This is what I want this channel to do and that is changing the way small farms in the UK are viewed and why small farmers should be able to live on their small farms so they can provide locals with the right type of unsubsidized produce that farmers in other countries including ours are providing. Through large conglomerate farming industries etc.
Why can't a small farmer live on their land but large unprofitable farmers can..? makes no sense to me.
If I can build this channel into a large enough community then I will build a petition and go to the house of parliament myself and ask for a change in the planning laws for small farmers.
If enough of us come together then they have to listen and things take the time I understand this but it's one step at a time. If we all are willing to stand up for our rights like other countries have then we will win even if it takes a little time to do so.
Sorry went a bit off-topic there but really passionate about this sort of thing and want to help as many people as possible and get them involved in this fight for rights.
It's not like we are asking them to pay for it. We are asking if we can provide local communities with locally grown produce and locally raised animals instead of the crap we have to eat from supermarkets
@@thesmallfarmerlife Inlove the enthusiasm and cant believe you havent had more views. We also watched a BBC programme about a couple who built a goat farm. We need to try and get your story on National TV. It is so inspiring and I love the way you set the farm out. I might send some more messages on Facebook and try and keep in contact because you clearly know a lot
Also if you don't want to have so much land then purchase that much land get the planning permission and then sell off some of the land. You will get more money selling smaller plots as people have the money to pay for small plots more than they do large plots. This is what I did and I ended up getting my land for free after only a couple of years but that's because I wanted the right person next to me.
I also got the planning permission for 6 stable block which is really the size 3 bedroom home if you converted it when had the 6 acres and then sold the land. but they cannot remove the planning then I also added another 4 buildings including a static caravan and I got a visit from the enforcement officer who was saying this will have to go and that will have to go...?
But I don't know if you can tell from my videos but I didn't care and then applied for retrospective planning and put in an excellent planning application with a planning statement and I got permission for everything even the caravan to stay.
This is an easy way to get cheap land by purchasing a larger plot and splitting it into a couple of plots and sell a couple of acres to someone who has horses this is what I did and like I say I got my land for free after I sold the other piece. Something to think about.
In fact, was thinking of doing this as a business but don't have the capital available but have a great idea that would make lots of money purchasing large plots and splitting them up. Have a great business model for this type of business but for you could be a way to get cheaper land and also the planning permission you need
@@thesmallfarmerlife Yeah I watched all the videos and loved the drawing. It was all really impressive but also impressive that you managed to stick to it as well. Do you only sell eggs ans vegetables and fruit in your shop, or going to should I say.
@@andrewpowell-young629 Yes would like to keep in touch and if I can help you in anyway would be more than happy to do so.
Hi Craig, I’ve just purchased 800sq meters in Birmingham and have just been refused planning permission to build a house. I’m now planning of putting a log cabin under the caravan rules you’ve just discussed as we want to permanently live there. What are the chances of the council booting us out?
Hi Totty were is the actual piece of land is it outside of the town and have you checked the development boundary of your local council..?
@@thesmallfarmerlife it’s about 4 miles from the city centre and I have not checked the development boundary and will do that first thing tomorrow. Only downside is that the access is roughly 2.2m wide
@@tottyhussain4237 You need a minimum of 12ft wide for vehicle access if you are applying for planning permission. Again why did you buy such a small piece of land..? Was it to just build a house on there..?
@@thesmallfarmerlife we purchased that with a view of building a house on it. I may have to purchase the adjacent garages to extend the vehicular access to the plot.
@@thesmallfarmerlife it’s also located amongst a residential area with houses surrounding the plot. It’s not suitable for farming. It is a few trees on there which I will try selling if I can
Hi Craig
I have a question, can I do the same with a log cabin? I hear you don't need planning for these and want to live in it full time while I develop my farm. Any help would be appreciated
Hi yes, you could do the same with a log cabin but you would need planning permission to live in it. Now whether you ask them which they will tell you to apply for planning or just move in itas up to you. But if there is nothing on the land-only the cabin they will not allow that or grant planning. I would say start putting things in place first or at least some then go for it so they can see that is your intention to farm. Otherwise they may just think that you are just trying to live on cheap land so to speak
@@thesmallfarmerlife thanks for the help and Info
Great vids. A quick question does Wales have the same rules? I know it says UK in the title but I just thought it's worth an ask :)
Erm not sure but I know that wales have changed its planning laws to help small eco loving and farming.
You may want to read wales national planning policy. Yes, they are quite long but just look for the section that mentions the countryside as they go from commercial to housing and countryside etc.
You should always read that and download it to your computer as a PDF and read it again. Then read your local towns planning policy which you can find online also and download that.
I am always keeping up to date with planning policies as they are always changing..?
@@thesmallfarmerlife yes Wales is slightly easier you can if you can generate minimum income off the land of £500 per month always worth checking as things change
@@neilstewart2036 Thanks for helping answer questions
I've had to turn my TV to full volume just to hear you.
Wow I'm sorry that I've just started making videos and one of my first videos is a little quiet
@@thesmallfarmerlife OK i will let you off with just a fine this time 😉 Good luck with your channel and good content 👍
Thanks for the video. Though I can't make out what you said about the stupid rule at - static caravan at the beginning.. @ 0.45 seconds in.. It sounds like you said, they have to have one mate or one meal ? Cheers
A meal in the house
Hi... Wondering if eire, ireland is same as UK or easier more difficult,
Does anyone know.
Thankyou
What if I want to continue to work as a nurse and live in the caravan x
Hi if you want to start a small holding I would buy the land and build the smallholding so the locals can see what you are doing the problem is people buy land and the first thing they do is stick a 35ft static on the land. The locals don't know what is going on on that land and anyone who lived near land and woke up to find a big static through the kitchen window would go crazy. But if they see you with animals and growing food maybe they talk to you while walking the dog. You plant a few fast growing trees where you want to put the caravan to hide it a little or it does not stand out as much you will have a way better shot at staying on the land. Even if you want to keep your job you could still start a small business growing micro greens or mushrooms. You could say after many years as a nurse you see what food can do to people so you want to grow healthy micro greens for locals etc. Keep a few animals aswell and you will get to stay but if you just try to live in caravan un less the locals don't care you will be moved off. What I say takes a few years but that's what you need to do to get to live this sort of life. I don't do anything really I do what I want when I want and that's what I want to do in life if I don't want to go to work I don't. If I want to earn some money I will book a job do it and then again do what I want. I mean my place I am trying to make it look like a park with trees nice pond, orchard, tiny home for people to come and stay etc. My neighbours are all ok with that, well except for one arsehole but the rest are fine with me living like this hear lol
What about putting a caravan on the land and only coming to it during the weekends? That's not living in it, what's the likeliness of encountering problems with the council/enforcement officers?
They would still come out to check on the caravan and see whats going on
@@thesmallfarmerlife I bet they would 😅 but can they really do anything if its not the main residence?
Bcs technically they don't want someone 'living' there. So if it's not full time one could argue it's not living there..
@@marilondon205 Yeah can but you just got to convince them that its for use while you take care of the land and also try and keep it out of view of road etc. Also really goes on just how much of arseholes the enforcement want to be or are in your town..?
@@thesmallfarmerlife 😂 I hear you, thanks
Thank you! The audio was a bit quiet but I appreciate.
Thanks, I understand audio was bad one of my first videos really, I will have to make the video again with a lot better sound. At least you were more polite about the video than others lol but glad you got something from the video.
What problems have u encountered over access, if any? If u are living on land that was only farmed isn't it an intensification of use? Especially if u only have an access that crosses someone else's land but had access for farm vehicles.
I purchased my land with the right of access there is no stipulations on what or how I can use it. I could break my land up into 30 parcels and give each buyer right of vehicle access, which I did to a guy who purchased some land from me. I could only see that being a problem if the land is sold with a restrictive covenant for what the land can be used for. I have not seen any land sold with such a restrictive covenant but did hear of a guy who put one on some land he sold but it was only to protect his view. Also, it is not an intensification of the land I mean coming and going everytime you needed something or anything from home and back to the land would be using the track and access more no....?
Or sorry and problems that I have encountered are many, but only from arsehole neighbours who know nothing about title deeds right of access and so on. Hence me seeing neighbours with solicitors in my access saying stupid things to the solicitor like 'well the guy who sold me the house said they didn't have right of access and the solicitor replying it's not what someone says it's whats on paper that count's, me driving by laughing at him in the process and then him having to pay solicitors fees for coming out to view the situation. But he could of done what I did before I purchased the land and check did it have the right of access for vehicles and foot which it did.
@@thesmallfarmerlife This sounds rude, but do you care at all about anyone else?
@@fie8612 Care about anyone else..? Of course, I care about others, I help as many people as I can. But I don't understand living on land with caring for others..? Can you explain why you think I don't care for anyone else
@@thesmallfarmerlife Hey, sorry, I really wasn't meaning to be rude. Just sounds like you've had to take on local councils, residents and neighbouring landowners and I'm not sure I'd be up to the fight. I would love to set up a stable for my horse, live there on a bit of land and have my own space. I can't afford to buy somewhere already established but I'd worry about going down the route you have.
What about i run a dog breeding .walking. Grooming business and need to be there all the time
Yep I have showed a couple that did that over road from me on 8th of acre and they are still there and business is doing great lots of people in country setting have plenty of dogs to groom and also pet sitting and dog walking service do well too
Dose the size of land matter??
No
Have you hit the road yet?
How would it work if you have young children that would be living in it too?
You would have to have tolerant neighbours etc
Thank you. Is a towing tiny house that looks like a log cabin on wheels, size of a static caravan be classed as a caravan?
Yes, it's just another type of caravan but if you put it on your land and the council turn up you have to let them in and if it looks like your living there then they will serve you with an enforcement notice after they have asked you to apply for planning permission which you could drag on for ages. You will not get planning for a home on the land unless you go down the small farmer route. If your starting a small farm then you will be allowed to stay in it for 3 years till you start your small farm business. But if you are just using it as a business office then like I say it probably looks better than a normal caravan.
Thank you Craig. I'm hoping to grow produce, orchard, fruits and vegetables plus grains, chickens and Zoey sheep. So I guess I will be ok to live in the Tiny house/trailer?
If someone does manage to live on their land, how do you go about getting an address for your mail and bank account? Thanks :o)
Just stick a farm sign on the front of the entrance and a mailbox do this as soon as you get the land and post yourself a letter you will get it. Now your address wont be registered but you will still get mail. Your address wont show up on thing like find my address but you can still get things registered you just have to call who ever bank, credit cards and tell them the address and it all works. This is what I did and have all my bills etc registered. But if you start a small farm business then ask for a proper address they will say you need to pay council tax or business rates to get and address to which you reply with Farms Dont Pay Any Buisness Rates...!
@@thesmallfarmerlife Brilliant, thanks!
I'd love to do this! But land is more expensive than buying a house. I live in West Yorkshire and I've looked for land and it's all over 100k. There's cheaper but in built up areas surrounded by houses :(
It shouldn't be that high..? there must be land with something like possible planning. I mean I'm not that far from that area in Durham way and normal agricultural land should be around 15 grand max per acre. Have you tried going out and asking that what I and my friends all did and got our land pretty cheap
Sometimes people think the land is worth a fortune but they are just dreamers. But others know the price and going knocking on doors is the best way to find land and asking around villages and local farm shops etc I found mine by asking in a horse tack shop. It was pretty simple really. Hope you do find someone day
@@thesmallfarmerlife oh really! I've only been looking online! Thankyou that's actually a massive help!
Would the farm need to be large to generate a living income to satisfy the council Jobsworths.
.
Agricultural land generates just £500/acre according to my very brief research.
Thats large industrial farming. There are people making 250k a year off half an acre using permaculture you can grow a lot of shit on half acre. You can put more time and effort into a small piece of land instead of planting field of potatoes that you really cant compete so you grow high yielding salad, speciality mushroom and so on honestly check out what some small farms are making on you tube
Or how can we work with the council with a view of getting approval from the council?
The problem you have is the size of the plot, you need to know where the plot is based in the town is it inside or outside the development boundary of your town..? every council has one and you can find it on your towns planning portal it will show where the town has earmarked land for development and it will show the boundary around the town. If your land is in the boundary you could go for planning by appeal but if it's in the countryside you would have to start a business on the land and even then it would have to be the case that you need to be on the land 24/7 to be able to live on it. They will not just let you put a caravan on there and live in it. You could build a log cabin or get one of those chalet homes and move on the land and then fight it out with the council which could go your way or may not..? But it would take them some years to get you off the land but it could also cost you a small fortune trying to stay there and plenty of stress. Can I ask why you purchased 800sq meters
@@thesmallfarmerlife it was a small plot near the city centre, we had no intention to farm on the land due to size, however, I am fond of farming but need a reasonable plot.
Hey Craig! Great video again mate!
Could I build a stable and convert it whilst I was trying to turn a profit on my land? And If I could turn a profit and have a sustainable farm. Does that mean that I could build my home on it? Cheers!
You can apply for planning permission as soon as you have land as long as you have access. Then you could live in the stable you don't need to start a farm to get planning permission. But they will not give you the right to live in the stable you would have to go down 4 year 1 day rule
Hi Craig. Thanks for posting these useful videos. Regarding the £26000 to be able to get the right to live on agricultural land, is it £26000 profit or turnover? Please can you post some links to more information on it.
Cheers.
Hi I seen you post this before but for some reason it wouldnt show up when I tried to reply..? Its happening a lot with comments Im getting so Im sorry about that, even though its TH-cams fault..?
Anyway its not that you have to even make £26,000 its more like you have to make enough to say that after all your bills arew paid and you have profit left. Then you are turning a profit, really it's this what you want to be doing is just making a profit.
Coucils once you get the right to live on the land and farm the land then if you make your living from the land.
Then you are a farmer and they will let you stay, it's more about showing them a need to be on the land than profits really they just say you need to make average living wage, which £26,000 is not the average living wage for most workers in. the uk the fact that the bigest welfare expense is topping up people wages to make it a liviong wage which is still mopstly below that amount.
So don't worry about it worry more about the need to be on the land 24/7 and making enough money to pay your biulls do that and you will pass their stupid test which still shouldnt be used.
Just to put it into perspective the average farmer larege farmer 400 acre farms only make aroung £19,000 and they get subsidies ontop of that to top it up, which is abnout to stop.
So like I say go for the need to be on the land rather than what you make. But if you have some saving its easy to past the test of what you make in 3 three years as you only have to be profitable 1 out of 3 and like I say if you have some savings thats not hard to do if you get what Im saying...?
@@thesmallfarmerlife Great. Thank you.
Thanks so much for the advice, your videos are the most informative and understandable I've seen, brilliant stuff!!
I'm hoping to buy an acre or so of agricultural land and put a static caravan on it, starting a flower nursery business in the longer term.
Does growing plants count as farming as far as the law is concerned, or is livestock an essential necessity?
To start the nursery, I would need to install a couple of poly-tunnel greenhouses. Do you think this would be a problem as it is more obvious to neighbours?
Or could it maybe even help by further proving my intent to start an agricultural business on the land?
any feedback from anyone will be much appreciated ! :)
As long as you are making a living from the land and are working the land then you can put static on there. You need it for health and safety in the workplace.
Bit of advice grow Japanese Acer Trees every year they grow and you can put thousands on an acre or so the more they are worth and are very popular in the Uk and really expensive.
If you grow perennials then the bigger they get the more they are worth.
Polly Tunnels can be permanent structures if they have a concrete base, but you may get away with not needing planning if you just use flagstones instead of concrete. It all depends on the size of the polytunnels really.
As far as neighbours go just make the place look nice and don't have rubbish all over the place.
What could be nicer than plenty of different types of and colours of Japanese Acer trees growing. There are many different colours. Like I say the bigger they grow the more valuable they become.
You need to trim them yearly to make them look great but that would be your job.
As far as other plants go you would buy them in as seedlings in trays and just bring them on you can pick them up for pennies and sell them for pounds as they grow. The ones that don't sell by the end of the year you can have a big sale and sell the small flowering plants in the sale.
This will also help promote your other trees etc and bring customers in locals and all who will then support you in what you are doing. This is because they will be able to see with their own eyes...
@@thesmallfarmerlife Thank you so much - that's music to my ears :D
Funnily enough, I bought an Acer this week for a very steep price - they're lovely trees, growing them myself could be an amazing idea!
When I do eventually start growing the perennials, I guess I would be best to start with a small, flagstone polytunnel at first and gradually progress from there.. I still need to go out and find the right plot but you've certainly boosted my confidence to get out there and give it a go!
Grateful thanks.
@@SolomonDent No problem also grow different Bamboo you can purchase seeds off eBay they grow fast and sell for good money also. Yes start will small polytunnel and get the neighbours used to what your doing.
But you shouldn't have any problems with the idea you have and gardening is one of the best markets out there to make money from.
You can also add other products as your business grows like benches, plant pots etc. You want to look for local people who make them from concrete themself and support each other that's how you will become part of the local area and an asset to the locals also.
Trust me if you start a nursery you will have all the locals coming in to take a look and buy from you. You can also start coffee shops at nursery cups of coffee selling them is excellent markup also.
I will be doing a video on how to market your products and will be great for you. So keep an eye out for that video.
Good Luck...
Hello, do you HAVE to be making profits of at least the average income on the farm in order to live on it? Also if you had a second job (saying working at Tescos), does that contribute?
I'm just slightly confused as you mentioned that one of your neighbors has a dog trimming business, and I'm fairly sure he's not making profits of £25,000 or so.
Is it okay just to have a dozen chickens and a large vegetable garden on the farm just for youself? Or does it have to be more like 100 pigs?
.....??? I can guarantee that he and his wife are turning well over £25,000 a year as they have the biggest doggy parlour and kenneling business I've ever seen. Not to mention it's absolutely awesome looking. They have made enough to purchase the land next door of around 12 acres and build even more of the business up and again compared to every other dog trimming or kenneling business I've seen this makes them look like nothing.
They probably charge way more than your usual dog trimmer and kenneling services considering they are on the same road as multi million-pound homes not one but 100+ plus of them.
Just like one hotel can charge more than and other and one restaurant. This is the problem people put a value on things they have never tried to charge more for.
I know lads who work for £80 per day that I get £500 for, so what's the difference, its the service and the way you run business.
So you cannot say he or she is not making that money if you don't know the business or what charge just off what you know about the business or people or you may charge.
Also no second from Tesco doesn't go towards your turn over and a couple of chickens and some veg is not a small farm business its a homestead.
It has to be a farming business and I also get over 5 times more for my eggs than other breeders why is this..? Maybe its because I take better images, copywriting, better service and brand my business and also raise all my hens on pasture and free-range.
Versus a person who sells eggs from a chicken coop..!
@@thesmallfarmerlife I see, is there anyway at all to being able to get around having to make an income on the land?
I have an uncle who legally lived in a static caravan for 30 years about 50 years ago. As far as I know, he wasn't producing an income on the land of any sorts.
@@brickzandstickz2749 That was a long time ago things in planning have changed multiple times since then. Then you could do anything and there is no way around it unless you hide away unnoticed for 4 years and 1 day and go for a right of lawfulness
Can you put a static in your garden and have a friend stay in it
Nop not unless you get permission unless its also in your garden
Hello there, I have a five acre piece of agricultural land with a natural pond are there any planning rules to stop me putting a canal boat on the pond and start living on it??????
Yep its no different than any other planning application you are changing the use of the land in the pond and out
@@thesmallfarmerlife Cheers for the advice I guess I was just hoping there would be a loop hole in the planning process which I could take advantage of 😉
@@harrycarden164 Just build a log cabin next to the pond, thats what i would do. You will easy get planning for that or a barn and then live in the barn. My friend did that after 4 year and one day he claimed the right of lawfulness and then got the right to build a home on the site of the barn. Also the part of the barn he sectioned off was mint to live in
@@thesmallfarmerlife well in that case then I could convert the 60 ft x 45 ft shed I had built as that’s now been up for at least 5 yrs but then I would need another shed for all my toys😉 oops farm equipment
However in addition I have also had a 22ft x 8 ft shepherds type hut on the land for approximately 9 years now which I’ve been using as a welfare hut when the weather is real bad. However we have spent a few nights using that
Hi, I'm just about to buy a land the seller has 2 sites a Farm Land and up the road a Woodland the 2 are divided in plots and some have people there with some sort of caravan and container house the wood land has no trees but I believe there is no one living there yet the farm land is next to the road and there is some houses close by across the road but the wood land is like 400+ meters from a paved road so in the interior of other woodlands. my plan was to put there a log home of static caravan and even maybe a container or build like a garage/workshop sort of thing or Barn like? what can you suggest me doing? Thanks
Hi, it would take more than a simple answer in the comments section to answer this question. I would need more info and time etc to look at the areas but you can do anything, make sure it's not in an area of outstanding natural beauty of conservation areas
@@thesmallfarmerlife Thanks 😊🙏 I will look into it, as far as I know it is a farm land there was a static caravan there that is no longer there there is some containers and a sort of container house with solar panels and water thanks etc i guess a self sustainable house sort of. My idea was to fit a static or a log home but because it us farm land I'm now thinking to do it a diffrent way get a license fir a 2 floors barn/workshop then later convert tye welfare facilities on the first floor to acomodation space? This way I maybe have a chance to Venice utilities as it is right next to the entrance gate and main road there is house on the other side of the road 20 meters away like. Best Regards
does putting kennels on my land breeding dogs class as a farm
Actually, there is a guy about half a mile from me I put his google image in one of my videos I think its this one and they cut dogs fur and have boarding kennels and got the right to live on the land.
There where stables or planning for stables before they got permission. But it's not hard to get planning for stables and then convert them.
This guy also did it all himself never got consultants and went to the committee meeting and everything. Anything is possible. They just want to know that you are serious and are not just going to build a home on the land..?
They had to go to the committee because of all the objections but they still got the right to live there and it's doing really well and they have purchased.
More land next door. So it all depends on what or should I say where you are and what your council is like..?
I really am stuck right now. It's getting increasingly difficult for me to own my own home. That's all I've ever wanted. I've recently been thinking about living in a motorhome but then I'll always be moving around. So I contacted my council and asked them if I buy my own land can I park my motorhome on it and live in it full-time? She told me I'd need to get planning permission but I wouldn't be accepted 😅What on earth do I do?! All I want is to live my own life the way I want and escape the system that's designed to keep each and every one of us trapped. I'm not likely to start a farm, I'm going to need to work but even if i can get accepted for a mortgage or shared ownership home, I'm going to be a slave to all those bills and taxes.
Just buy land and get planning permission for a timber shed, say you need it for tools animal bedding etc and just move in it. This is what most people do they dont ask for planning and just live under the radar dont need to start a farm you will not get planning for a house to be built or to live in a caravan it just doesnt happen. Buy some cheap land and live on that land in. a timber building or small barn
What happened to private property no trespassing
Hi what do you mean..?
@@thesmallfarmerlife people just walking round your private property
@@jamesturner7728 Just tell them to go I had it for a while but put up a sign saying private property and no trespassing and when I seen someone I would just tell them, well in a way they understood sort of thing. But it is a hard one as they say they have the right to roam etc.
@@thesmallfarmerlife Scotland as the right to roam not England it is called aggravated trespass criminal a fence
@@jamesturner7728 I Know but they still say it and they have a roam path around 40m from my entrance. So ythey come down my road instead of the right one, but they go down the right one when I point it out to them.
Are you saying it is aggravated trespass in England..? If so the police would not takle one blind bit of notice. They take days and weeks to come out for a theft or burgalry. Im sure they wouldnt come out for traspass unless they where really board and close by.
I still don't understand tye first question you asked me ...?
Hi Craig
I like your videos and talk about small farm.
I m from Aberdeen. I like to start a small farm about 10/15 acres. Organic vegetables and sheep. I like to live on the land and do a living. I have found a empty land. Can I start that land and build a house to live and grow vegetables abd look after the sheep?? Please advise me how do I start andmake a successful application for permission.
I cant afford to pay £5000 consultation fees??
I can advise it will take you years to get certified organic for starters and also the amount of sheep you need to turn a profit is a lot. Plus you need to start-up capital. I understand you don't have the money for consultation fees that's why I am making these videos. But I cannot spend my time helping single people get the right to live on their land. It would take all my time but if you watch my videos you will learn how to do it and I can help everyone at the same time.
I'm just planning to live on my land, I have no plans to start a farm but I am running a software development business which is of course done remotely, do you think I'd run into more trouble than the dog groomer in getting planning permission? Or at least permission to live on the land?
Yes you have no chance of getting permission you might as well just hide away there
@@thesmallfarmerlife Why do you say that? If it's my land I should be fine to place something "portable" like a static caravan away from the road behind some trees without permission right?
@@jordanski5421 Not really you can if you want, but the council will come out and serve an enforcement notice on you if it's not for some sort of business
Interesting topic. You said you know of someone who didn’t have a farm but had a business that needed him to be and live on site was enough for your local council to grant him temporary residence of living a caravan that what in five years needed to have a house and work specific buildings built or 5 years to prove that his business was an asset to the community and provided revenue result in tax for the council? That sounds very simple. I like it but I fear the pitfalls.
I want to buy land just a small ish size,2 acres, and do micro farming small holding loving off grid. Using permaculture, forest garden techniques and vertical farming to utilise my space but also providing a variety of food, to consume and sell on plus offer courses and help others develop schemes and ways to do similar in small gardens to help offset some of their own spend with growing some of their own foods. I have a business idea that has many subdivisions each helping to provide revenue, but no actual live stock other that chickens and ducks initially. I wonder whether if I did what you have done whether I would make it or whether I would face eviction and quick notice.
Any advice?
You just have to go for it, it is easy for the council to evict you from the land if you have another home. But if that is your only home then it is hard and yes you might have to argue it out with them but if you truly have a business that will help the community and not to mention the government after Brexit is going to help diversify farming and help smaller farms. Then you will get the right to live on the land it will have to be in a caravan or cabin for a certain number of years so you can prove a viable business. But you only have to show one year's minimum wage out of 3 to 5 years.
What the councils want to see is that you are really wanting to be a farmer and not just build a home and sell for massive profits.
Also, everything you are talking about verticle farming etc is what the government in 2021 are going to be supporting.
You might get a visit from the enforcement officer but it does not mean they act on it. In fact, they have only ever evicted 3 people off the land they moved onto from all the research I have done.
But life is about taking risks and going for it, show them you want to farm show a good business plan and how you will build your farm up. Write all your ideas down and put time and effort into the farm and you will get that chance. But if you just stick a caravan on there and nothing else then, of course, they will move you on. But from what you're saying you have an excellent chance at doing or should I say living your dream.
Just one more thing if you let fear run your life then nothing will ever happen image all those people who built the world as we know it..? Do you think. they had fears of course your not human if you don't. Youn just have to push past them and do it. Whats the worst that can happen..?
💜
Thanks, Mandy hope the video helped in some way
Hiya, I've just found your channel & wow thank you very informative. It is my wish to buy a small piece of land as a little retreat for myself n my daughter, and place a static caravan Also I'm an artist /upcycle nut & I would love the land for extra space for this also. I've no idea where to start. I do have some savings but not an extreme amount. So would you suggest that I contact local farmers to see if they'd sell me a small piece & if its being used for reasons stated & not to be perminantly lived on, do you think I'd have any issues? Is it possible to do for under £10,000. Thank you x
I sorry I don't think you would be able to purchase land for under that amount , but you could try and rent some ...?
@@thesmallfarmerlife thank you
@@joliejolie1430 One of my subs has just found 4 acres to rent at £300 per year for 4 acres, not a bad patch of land to get started on and it would have cost around 50 thousand for that amount. Saving £300 per year would take a long, long time to save to buy it and that's around the price of agricultural land rent around £100 per acre per year
@@thesmallfarmerlife fantastic 😊 thanks for the info 👍
@@joliejolie1430 No problem a pleasure now go out and find to some land to rent and get yourself started.
Hi ya IV been watching your vids I'm an animal beauticians and my partner works near were we are looking for land. Do you think it's possible to get a small piece of land and put a static to live and a work converted small caravan for grooming
Hi depends on your council really they are all different and which part of the country you are in etc. ..?
@@thesmallfarmerlife how do I find out do I ask council were they stand with tiny house building . Or is it better to get land Brighton and start grooming business how did your mate do it? You said about in you vidio?
@@janeychain6138 He purchased land moved on and done exactly what I'm talking about in tonight's video. If you ask the council then you will have no chance and if you go ahead and do it anyway then they will look down on your application if they told you no when you first asked them. The Uk council take no different view of a tiny house or a huge house its the land you are changing the use of not what size house you are building. Also, your question sounds that you demand me to answer it. No thank you for answering your first question or anything and I have my own things to do than just sit here and water for questions to come in...!
@@janeychain6138 He purchased land moved on and done exactly what I'm talking about in tonight's video. If you ask the council then you will have no chance and if you go ahead and do it anyway then they will look down on your application if they told you no when you first asked them. The Uk council take no different view of a tiny house or a huge house its the land you are changing the use of not what size house you are building. Also your
@@thesmallfarmerlife you are a star thanks loads for answering. how do i find out there views ?
Just spent 11k with a planning consultant trying to get permission for a mobile home on 1/3rd of an acre... 2 years later... need I tell you the result = Gutted 😞
Shocking it will surprise you what you can do on that land and its still possible to live on that land
26, 000 £ is quite big for my agricultural activities. 😅😅😅
Yeah don't really have to make that much that's just what they say, just make enough to sustain you and your family really and a little leftover which is possible if you grow your own food or some of it and make some wooden products like bird tables etc and sell free-range eggs you be surprised how much you can make, especially if you have roadside entrance. My pal makes a good few quid a week from passing trade and honesty box.
@@thesmallfarmerlife Thank you so much for your advice. 🙏
@@thesmallfarmerlife I have a a 1200 m² plot I house ducks and chickens thinking of getting goats I know it’s only a small piece of land but I’m just getting into farming I’ve put a store up for the hay feed and tools a planning Enforcement officer says I need planning permission how else am I meant to store food and hay for the animals
@@jamiebutler9145 Yeah you will still need planning for any size building and are you sure its green belt..?
Will we have Health and Safety in 2021 After Brexit?.
Yeah its always going to be health and safety yeah cant get away from it lol
@@thesmallfarmerlife Thank you I hoped that was the case.👍
have to start a farm with profit man wtf the uk is so bad pathetic how people cant just buy land and build whatever they want , pathetic country all jammed in little urban estates with no freedom or privacy