Who is called crofter?

A croft is a traditional Scottish term for a fenced or enclosed area of land, usually small and arable, and usually, but not always, with a crofter's dwelling thereon. A crofter is one who has tenure and use of the land, typically as a tenant farmer, especially in rural areas.

What are crofters in Scotland?

A croft is a small agricultural unit. The person who lives on the croft is called a crofter. A croft is the land, not the house the crofter lives in. Crofts are usually rented. They are often part of large estates where the landowner is the crofter's landlord.

What is the difference between a farmer and a crofter?

“farm", as a noun, can refer to anything agricultural land up to a huge corporate agribusiness enterprise. “croft" implies a small single-family farm; connotes that animal husbandry occurs in the acreage.

What is a crofter in England?

crofter in British English

(ˈkrɒftə ) noun. British. an owner or tenant of a small farm, esp in Scotland or northern England.

What makes a croft a croft?

A croft is a relatively small agricultural land holding, which is normally held in tenancy, and which may or may not have buildings or a house associated with it. Crofts range in size from less than 1/2 hectare to more than 50 hectares, but an average croft is nearer 5 hectares.

Meeting a Crofter on the Isle of Skye

Is a crofter a farmer?

A croft is a traditional Scottish term for a fenced or enclosed area of land, usually small and arable, and usually, but not always, with a crofter's dwelling thereon. A crofter is one who has tenure and use of the land, typically as a tenant farmer, especially in rural areas.

How much do crofters earn?

While the number of crofters receiving an income of £10,000 or less from crofting-based activities has remained the same as 2018 (53%), the number earning more than £10,000 has decreased. The average income was £4,538. Over the last 12 months, 43% of crofters received an income from grants or support schemes.

What are the rules for owning a croft?

A crofter has a duty to be resident on or within 32km of their croft, to cultivate and maintain the croft, put the croft to another purposeful use and not to misuse or neglect the croft.

What does registering a croft mean?

The Crofting Register is a public list of crofts, common grazings and land held runrig. Runrig is land that's divided into strips, with each strip belonging to a different person. The register shows each area of land on a map and gives information on the tenant and owner of the land.

How do crofters make a living?

Agricultural production is generally limited by both climate and land type, and most crofters earn much of their livelihood off the croft. Most crofting activity revolves around livestock production in low-intensity systems.

Do crofters pay rent?

That tenant has the right to buy the croft for 15 times the annual rent. While croft rent is typically a token amount per annum (often not much more than £50) it's worth noting that even after paying a large sum for a crofting tenancy, you are still required to pay the annual rent to the landlord.

What occupation is a crofter?

A crofter is someone who works a croft—a small agricultural landholding. Crofts are usually found in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, including charming places like the Isle of Tiree. These lands are not just plots of soil; they're a way of life, deeply intertwined with the local community and environment.

What is the difference between a smallholding and a croft?

Historically crofts have been rented by crofters from landlords whose estates may contain many crofts. Whilst the majority of smallholdings are owner-occupied, the majority of crofts are still tenanted.

Can you get a mortgage on a croft?

And depending on the location, these grants can be up to a maximum of £38,000. Most mortgage lenders will not typically offer mortgages for properties which are in crofting tenure.

Can you build a house on croft land?

Occasionally, croft land is identified as the desired site for a substantial housing development, and in these cases the proposers must apply for the Commission's consent to decroft the land, as well as the necessary planning permission.

Where do crofters live?

A crofter must live on the croft or within 32km of their croft. A crofter who does not reside on the croft or within 32km is considered to be in breach of their residency duty.

Can I register my land as a croft?

The Crofting Register is also open to voluntary registrations from individuals and communities. You should submit your application for the registration of a croft to the Crofting Commission in the first instance.

Can you put a caravan on a croft?

For example, crofters do not require a site license for use of land as a caravan site provided such use falls within the period 1 April to 30 September in any year and in that period there are not more than 3 caravans on the land at any one time (Crofters Commission, 2007).

How do I find out who owns a croft?

The Crofting Register is a public list of crofts, common grazings and land held runrig. The register shows each area of land on a map and gives information on the tenant and owner of the land. Visit The Registers of Scotland to search the Crofting Register.

Can I plant trees on my croft?

According to the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 1993 "cultivate" includes the use of a croft for horticulture or for any purpose of husbandry, including the keeping or breeding of livestock, poultry or bees, the growing of fruit, vegetables and the like and the planting of trees and use of the land as woodlands.

Can I keep horses on a croft?

That may have been the case at some point in history, strictly speaking (given that horses are not agricultural), but no longer, and the short answer currently is that you can keep horses on a croft. In fact, there is a common grazing in Shetland grazed entirely by Shetland ponies rather than sheep or cattle.

What animals can you keep on a croft?

What grants can I get for my croft?

There are two types of assistance available; a new house grant, and a rebuilding and improvement grant. Depending on location, these grants can be up to a maximum of £38,000. Please note that most mortgages lenders will not typically offer mortgages for properties which are in crofting tenure.

What is the croft right to buy?

Crofting community right to buy is a right that can be exercised at any time. This distinguishes it from community right to buy, as land can be acquired without the consent of the owner.

Who was the landlord of a vacant croft?

Because a crofter was defined as the tenant of a croft, those who purchased their crofts were no longer crofters but became the landlord of a vacant croft, which they could have been required to relet, although this was not done so long as they continued to reside on the croft.