How much to offer on renting 0.75 acre paddock?

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PercyMum

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Bit of a complicated one. Our next door neighbours, who are very good friends with across-road neighbours, have said that the across-road neighbours would like to offer us the use of their small paddock (exact words). We have just under 2 acres of our own land on which we keep our TB, IDx and a mini shetland. The grazing isnt brilliant (years of neglect before we bought it) but the horses come in every night to lots of haylage and get turned out with haylage so its fine. Sadly, the wet winter followed by scalding summer is not helping our already fragile grass so this offer would be fabulous, but...

We could only use the paddocks at the weekend as we would have to cross a mjor road to get to it, as the traffic gets too heavy form about 0530 during the week but we could cross it at 0700 at the weekend. The paddock is small (but then so are our own ones) but it would allow one of our paddocks a few days rest so we could totally rest one of the other paddocks. Fencing is good, and there is a water trough. Its small, so you couldnt keep horses on there but for a few hours each weekend, its perfect.

Anyway, the point of this very long-winded post is what to offer the neighbours? If its free, then great (they dont like the grass being along and messy!!) but I feel I should make an offer of sorts. We are totally broke so if its too much, we can't accept but I feel it would really help the situation with our existing land. Equally, I don't want to offend, as they are very lovely people!

Any thoughts? We are in the New Forest, Hants if that helps.
 
If they have offered then I would feel like you wouldn't need to offer any more than a token thank you gift. After all, it's not like you have enquired about actually renting this paddock, it seems from your post that you will be doing them the favour of keeping their grass tidy. I doubt they would accept money or anything if they have approached you with the offer?
 
We have a neighbour who makes a similar offer from time to time, for the same reason. We usually buy a really nice box of chocolates or something to show our appreciation. You really need to talk to the land-owner, so that you understand the offer properly.
 
*sprinkles* said:
If they have offered then I would feel like you wouldn't need to offer any more than a token thank you gift. After all, it's not like you have enquired about actually renting this paddock, it seems from your post that you will be doing them the favour of keeping their grass tidy. I doubt they would accept money or anything if they have approached you with the offer?
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That was my first thought buut I didnt want to be unprepared if that was not the case?
 
Pearlsasinger said:
We have a neighbour who makes a similar offer from time to time, for the same reason. We usually buy a really nice box of chocolates or something to show our appreciation. You really need to talk to the land-owner, so that you understand the offer properly.
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Of course! But I want to have a rough figure in my head so that if they would like payment, I can be prepared with what is a reasonable amount, if that makes sense? I just don't want to make them, or I , feel uncomfortable if the issue of payment does come up.
 
Its only really going to work out as a few hours a week isnt it so I wouldnt have thought more than five pounds a week. Is it an option to turn out in there 24/7 for a couple of weeks instead to give your paddocks a rest and get that eaten off? You could always still feed haylage if need be
 
PercyMum said:
Of course! But I want to have a rough figure in my head so that if they would like payment, I can be prepared with what is a reasonable amount, if that makes sense? I just don't want to make them, or I , feel uncomfortable if the issue of payment does come up.
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I would have thought that if they wanted payment, they would already have a figure in mind.
 
I would think no more than 20 quid a month. I would ask what payment they want and if they say none then no need to push it! You are skint, they need their paddock eaten down, no need to push yourself into paying for something that is a mutually beneficial neighbourly agreement!

Crossing the road sounds fine, like you say you can go really early.
 
I rented a 2/3 acre paddock next door to us and they wanted 5 per week / 20 per month. Didnt have the traffic issue though.
 
I would just ask them and let them make a suggestion, they might not be thinking as much as £20 a month. I would just say thanks for the offer and how much rent were they thinking, hopefully they will say they weren't expecting anything.
 
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