Grazing Agreements

At the end of a long hot summer, you may be tired of keeping your grass under control and tempted to allow your neighbour’s animals to graze upon it. Whilst you may be reluctant to enter into formal relationships with friends and neighbours, proceed with caution as failure to do so could lead to a host of legal problems.

You should make sure that any grazing arrangements are recorded in writing. If it is a temporary arrangement, then make this clear from the outset and grant a licence for no more than a year. If it is for more than a year and your neighbour has exclusive occupation, then your neighbour may become your tenant. If it becomes an Agricultural Tenancy, then this may lead to protracted court proceedings in order to obtain possession in the event that your tenant refuses to leave or, stops paying any money for the right to occupy.

If you abandon land or forget about it for a period of years, an occupier may then claim adverse possession of the land and try to register it in their name at the Land Registry.

If you are in any doubt or have queries in relation to this sort of problem, do not hesitate to contact us on (01267) 237441.