lease contract

kerrycow

Hi folks, i'm new to the forum, maybe you can help me with this..

I'm currently renting a field from a neighbour on an annual basis, no contract, just a receipt every year for accounts.

I want to include this field in an application for the GLAS next year and I understand that I can only include it if I have a 5 year lease.

from a legal position, what the difference? My neighbour thinks that a lease has to be drawn up by a solicitor or at least witnessed by a notary, is he right?

TUBBY

He is. If leasing, you must have some kind of contract in place for the full 5 years of the GLAS scheme.
What you are currently doing is "11 months" rent which means you clear cattle off it every year and cant guarantee that you will have it for the whole term. In the old REPS, even if you had it over the duration of the whole term, you could not claim; you had to have a lease for 6 years in effect.

There is a decent template for a land lease on the IFA website. Lease contract needs to be fairly watertight.

jimmy G M

Teagasc also have a version which I used. Standard version, you just fill in your own details, acreage, price pa, rent dates, etc, etc. Attach a map showing field outlined in red. Both parties sign. Witnessed by the Teagasc advisor. Simple job, no need to go to a solicitor, will cost you money and might cause the guy you are renting off to get second thoughts.

Also go for a little longer than 5 years - Maybe 6 yrs, as it takes time for paperwork to be processed with these schemes and if your lease is too short,through no fault of your own, it mightn't qualify.

kerrycow

Thanks for your help