Need some serious input, please-sorry , a bit long!

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tremorfa

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Ok, here goes- my OH was diagnosed with a brain tumour 5 years ago. Thankfully, it was non-malignant, but, to get it out, they had to cut through various nerve endings, etc. He has made a full recovery and has had 2 clear scans since-next one due this October. The thing is- it has left him with chronic vertigo. This is something I would not wish on any one, the room spins, he has to go to bed and ends up vomitting for hours. He has not had a bad episode for ages, but the minute there is lots of work to do on the land(3.5 acres) and the garden (.75acres) vertigo rears its ugly head. So, we decided to bite the bullet and put the house on the market. Clyde's owner really wants him back so she can ride out with her two boys, so MY biggest worry is gone. We have 2 people really interested in the whole package (it's with Rural Scene if you want to be nosey!) and it looks as if it will sell easily. The thing is, we are both as depressed as hell at the thought of leaving our home after 21 years. So, I thought, would it be possible to rent out the equestrian side as a package? We have 3.5 acres divided into 4 fields, all electric fenced.(mains electric fencers) 3 stables, 2 in our back garden, one attached to a field shelter in bottom field. Lockable tack room again in garden, Electric and water to stables and tack room, water to fields. Fantastic rides out through rear of property, lots of horsey people in village. Hay store.We can provide security as we are so close. Lots of parking. What I am looking for is enough to pay a gardener and for me to go to local stables to ride. What do you think? What would be a reasonable rent,Ta!
 
I can't give you any idea as to rent as you're in a much more 'busier and expensive' part of the country to us, but up here you would be looking at the £70 plus a week mark for sole use of your facilities. It sounds ideal as a letting prospect as long as you won't mind people on your patch. How near are the stables from your house, you might want to think about putting some sort of fence to divide them from your garden so they don't encroach on your bit and you obviously will need to vet your 'owners' very carefully to see how responsible they are/will be to being on what is private property, your home. If you can find someone that will take as good care of it all as yourselves, so much the better. It goes without saying that you will need to draw up some form of contract, exactly what you are supplying, (don't forget to take water and electricity into account) your restrictions to what they can and can't do there and if you have any time limits unless it's an emergency or they're competing, so they don't appear at 4am and make a row to wake the dead or don't hang around until after dark except in the winter of course. You and they have to remember it is your home and you are entitled to some privacy, peace and quiet and they must act accordingly; I don't mean be a killjoy but personally, I wouldn't want hordes of children turning up and playing riot at weekends or holidays, things like that.
I hope you can work something out, it would be horrible to have to leave after so long and hope hubby feels better soon.
 
I think it could work as a package, as long as you can cope with having people in and out of your garden every day. Given your responsibility as land owners under the welfare act it gives you the opportunity to be very prescriptive about how people behave and what they do
 
I think it would work. I currently rent a yard and 2 acres from a lady that used to ride but lost her nerve. The stables were converted from a barn that used to be a double garage and are only about 10 strides from her back door and kitchen window.
We sat down and had a long chat, she made it clear she didn't want hords of children about and that all gates must be shut due to her dogs,no hay blowing in yard etc. I knew exactly what I had to do. It has been fantastic and two years on I'm still there.
As long as things are made clear and as mentioned you vet the person well it might be the ideal solution for you.
 
Well said MFH. I rent a small yard (used to be a large yard) in a very expensive part of Kent, would love to have my own place but the cost is unbelieveable. I rent the yard from the owner whose wife used to be horsey but now they aren't at all and just want someone to use the place but look after it to, so a little like your situation. This means the rent is just about reasonable and I can enjoy my horse with a few liveries and cover my costs. We all win as the owner has someone who keeps an eye on things, he gets money which covers his maintenance and I get to have the run of his facilities which are lovely. I drew up a livery agreement which basically says that anyone I rent a stable to has to respect the privacy and interests of the owners and others that use the yard, I also have a few basic yard rules that include everyone having to clear the fields of droppings and report any issues with fencing etc. If you put in a few stipulations like that and that the land is rested properly, you are also in a position to give notice if your property isn't looked after. What it does mean for me is that everybody knows where they stand, everybody gets to enjoy the place and it is a really happy yard where the owners also have a bit of company. Hope that is some positive info for you. Best of luck I hope you get to stay in your home.
 
I have no idea about pricings for renting out your land although I'd think it has to be somewhere in the region of £1,000 per annum minimum.

The only thing that I would say is that knowing the set up of your property, you are going to have cars in your driveway all the time; people are going to be coming and going through your private spaces and I'm not sure whether that would bother you or not?
 
Some great advice, thanks. We have had DIY liveries here before so are used to people coming in at all hours. We quite like it, it means would-be burglars don't know when anyone is about. We had a few issues with dogs messing, chasing our cats etc, but we have resolved these amicably. It would mean we can offer great security for peoples' horses, the stables are 40 feet from the house. It also means I can still be involved with horses.
 
It sounds like a good idea and if you are used to having liveries around and it won't impinge on your privacy then it could work out very well. If you wanted to maintain some contact with horses you could offer to do holiday cover or some livery services for them.

Things that I would want clarifying in a contract:

Who maintains the fields/stables?
Children/dogs ok?
Insurance?
Muckheap disposal?
Any restrictions on turnout to protect fields/rotation of paddocks?
Worming routine?
Parking (cars and/or horseboxes/trailers)?
Areas that are out of bounds? (for instance you wouldn't want them wandering around your garden or using you loo perhaps!)
Are electicity and water rates included? (Need to make sure your rent covers this)
Smoking permitted? (May not be an issue but worth bringing up)

I would be very rigourous in vetting people and try and find someone by word of mouth.
No idea on price, I guess £20 per week per horse would be reasonable.
 
I went to look at a place this weekend, where the owner had just refurbed 3 stables and fencing..... absolutly fab, bar that fact that to hack I had to go passed his front door ( he wasn't keen) and he is looking to put in a menage.... he was asking £25 per horse possibly rising to £30 once the menage was built...... kinda tempeted but still thinking as it is the logistics that may prove interesting!
 
You know my feelings already - I think that renting the fields out is a good idea but you will get hassle! There will always be some sort of drama going on that you'll need to worry yourself about.

You also don't have an outdoor arena and all your hacking is via roadwork.....I honestly think the most you'll get is about £400 a month for the two stables and the land. I was offered a two stable and 5 acres with water/elec in surrey for £250 a month!

I want you guys to be happy but I think you're only having reservations as it's a massive upheaval - you should sell and enjoy the money you've both worked hard for!

It will be an upheaval and it will be sad but there's a much easier life waiting for you.

Whatever you decide your daughter is here to help though x

xxxx
 
"From the mouth of babes"
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. I agree with PR - Tremorfa you WILL get some sort of hassle, you may also get fed up with people coming and going all the time, parked in your driveway, doing things with their horses when you have friends around enjoying your beautiful garden etc etc. Think carefully is what I say - it isn't always the bed of roses you think.

Best of luck whatever you decide.
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"From the mouth of babes"
smile.gif
. I agree with PR - Tremorfa you WILL get some sort of hassle, you may also get fed up with people coming and going all the time, parked in your driveway, doing things with their horses when you have friends around enjoying your beautiful garden etc etc. Think carefully is what I say - it isn't always the bed of roses you think.

Best of luck whatever you decide.
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