Issue date 2025
To amend 2027

Index

• Application for a plot
• Terms and interpretation
• Tenancy agreement
• Cultivation and use
• Storage of materials
• Tree and hedges
• Speed limits
• Rent
• Outgoing tenants
• Bonfires and water
• Duty of care and site safety
• Livestock, pets and bees
• Paths
• Structures
• Plot numbers
• Change of address
• Inspection
• Termination/ relinquishment of tenancy

 

  1.            Application for a plot
These requirements are made according to Allotment Acts 1908 to 1950 and apply to all rented allotments.

 
  2            Terms and Interpretation:

In these rules, the words used are to have the following meaning:

Allotment – a plot of land for the cultivation of herb, flower, fruit and vegetable crops.

Tenant – a person who holds an agreement for tenancy of an allotment.

Site – an area of allotments grouped together at one location.

Rent – the annual rent payable for the tenancy of an allotment.

Review notice – any notice of reviewed rental charges

Tenancy agreement – a legally binding written document which records terms and conditions of letting a particular allotment to an individual.

Paths – dividing paths between plots

Other authorised persons – tenants or visited guest

Cultivation – keeping the plot in good productive order by the maintenance and improvement of the soil, the control and prevention of weeds.

3         Tenancy Agreement:

The tenancy agreement of an allotment is personal to the tenant named in the Agreement. The tenant may not assign, sub – let or part with possession or control of all or any part of their allotment.

4.        Cultivation and use

• Tenants must use their allotment any structures on it for their own personal use. They Must not carry out any business or profit-making schemes or sell produce from their allotment (unless for the benefit of as approved by the committee.
• Tenants must not use their allotment as storage for cars, trailers, caravans or boats. Overnight erection of tents, yurts and other temporary structures as well as overnight camping are not allowed on allotment land.
• Tenants must not be seen to interfere with crops, trees etc on adjoining plots or other Allotment plots. Any disputes therefrom must be direct to the Committee.
• The allotment is rented to the tenant for the purpose of recreational gardening including the keeping of hens.
• The whole plot, including paths uncultivated/ leisure areas must be kept tidy safe and
• Free from weeds. It is the tenant’s responsibility to keep his/her plot free from weeds, thereby not causing a nuisance to adjoining tenants/member. Any dispute arising from should be directed to the Committee.

5.      Storage of materials within the plot

• Only materials for use on the plot may be stored there. Any materials, for example paving and timber for infrastructure work, must be used within six months of appearing on site/plot. Tenants will be requested to remove any surplus/unused material insitu for more than six months.
• Business waste should not be brought onto the plot.
• No tyres or household items should be brought onto the plot.
• Tenants will be ordered to remove them.
• Asbestos is prohibited on site. If you discover it, please report to the committee.

6.         Trees and hedges

Tenants must not plant any trees which will grow higher than two metres – No conifers or invasive screening plants, such as bamboo, may be planted as hedging.

7          Speed limits

There is a speed limit of 10 kph/ 5 mph on site

8.           Rent

• The tenant must pay the invoiced rent within 28 days of the due date The rent year will run from 1st April to 31stMarch.
• Tenants taking up an allotment within the year will be invoiced for the remainder of the year On a pro – rate basis.
• Rental changes must be notified in writing to tenants six months prior to commencement.

9.           Outgoing tenants

• A tenant may relinquish their plot st any time. They may also have their tenancy agreement terminated for breach of agreements.
• Outgoing tenants must remove any items or structures from their plots before the end of their tenancy or offer them to the committee for onward recycling. The committee will dispose of any materials not removed by the tenant and the full cost of collection and disposal may be charged to the outgoing tenant. The allotment keys must be returned to the committee within 14 days of the termination date of the tenancy.
• The full cost of replacement will be charged to the outgoing tenant if the keys are not returned.

10          Bonfires and Water

• You should be aware that it is an offence under the Highways Act 1986 to allow smoke from a bonfire to drift across the road.
• Please first consider whether your bonfire is necessary and whether it is likely to cause a nuisance to the occupants of nearby houses or to other plot holders.
• Bonfires are permitted for the burning of untreated or unpainted woody waste only.
• The burning of any materials, such as plastics, tyres, carpet, MDF, laminated wood is strictly prohibited. Fires must be attended at all times until all materials has burnt and all the fire extinguished.
• The committee reserves the right to prohibit bonfires on the site, and a ban can be imposed at any time e.g.brought conditions, or during June to September. A ban should be displayed on the notice boards.
• No sprinklers or hose pipes to be used for direct watering of plots.
• An annual water charge will be paid by each member to cover the water used.
• This charge will be reviewed annually.
• Hoses must be disconnected from the taps after use. No water fittings shall be replaced without the committee approval.
• The water supply is subject to season restrictions and hosepipe bans at the discretion of the committee.
• Water tanks should be kept clean and nothing should be placed in them.
• Chemicals of any description must be kept well away from the water supplies.

11          Duty of care and site safety

• Tenants have a duty of care to everyone, including visitors to the site, trespassers and themselves. Particular care should be taken when using strimmers, rotavators and other mechanical powered equipment. The use of barbed or razor wire is prohibited.
• Tenants must not discriminate against, harass, bully or victimise any other person on the grounds of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, social origin, language, religion, political or other opinion, belief, gender, marital status, age, sexual orientation, sexuality, medical condition or disability.
• No tenant must cause another tenant harassment, alarm or distress. No use of violence or threats of violence or damage to another’s property will be tolerated.
• The allotments, site or structures thereon may not be used for any illegal, immoral or anti-social purpose.
• A tenant is responsible for the behaviour of children, vulnerable adults and other adults visiting his/her plot.
• All tenants must lock gates on entry and departure to prevent access by unauthorised persons or animals.
• This applies even if the gate is found to be already unlocked on arrival or departure tenants
• Tenants are advised not to store any items of value on the allotment and to mark any items kept. Incidents of theft and vandalism should be reported to the committee.

 12.          Livestock, pets and bees

• Dogs must be kept under control and all excrement removed.
• Burial of any pets or animals is strictly forbidden.
• Tenants should not keep livestock except chickens
• Tenants who keep chickens should have registered with DEFRA and produce evidence of registration.
• Tenants who keep bees should belong to the Northamptonshire Beekeepers Association:
  • Must produce a certificate of competency in beekeeping
  • Bees must be within a netted area to minimise nuisance to other plot holders
  • Neighbouring plot holders must be given notice of your intentions

   13.         Paths

• Paths within the allotments should be kept free from weeds, and clear of obstructions
• Boundary markers must not be removed by tenants, and plot seizures will be checked periodically tenants must not remove part of any path. If any path has been altered/removed the tenant will be required to reinstate it.
• Tenant may not encroach onto neighbouring plots via any paths

   14.          Structures

• Tenants may put up sheds and a greenhouse on their plot, provided they do not exceed the permitted size limitations (sheds 8’ by 6’, greenhouse 8’ by 12’)
• Tenants keeping chickens may erect such builders necessary for that purpose. Any structures erected on the allotment must not be made from any hazardous materials and must be adequately secured. All structures must be kept within the boundary of the allotment plot, not impinging onto any path. Structures should have guttering/ down pipes and a suitable container for water conservation where possible. They must not be constructed over underground utilities e.g. water supply pipes. Plots should try to preserve an open aspect ie: no solid fencing around plots.

  15.          Plot numbers

Tenants must mark their plot number on the outside of a shed, greenhouse or on a post and keep the number clean and legible, ensuring that it is visible.

  16         Changes of address

Tenants must inform the committee in writing of any of address immediately.

  17.         Inspection

Any allotment and any structure may be inspected by the committee at any time.

  18.         Termination/ Relinquishment on tenancy

The committee may terminate an allotment tenancy’s agreement by written notice if:

1. The rent is in arrears for 28 days or more
2. The tenant is in breach of any of these requirements or of their tenancy agreement
3. On the demise of a tenant, when there would normally be no objection to a family member taking on the tenancy.