Legal Loopholes: How to Find Land and Live Off Grid in the UK | Land & Planning for Off Grid Living
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
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Planning law in the UK makes it notoriously difficult to buy land and live on it, however, there are ways to do it and this video aims to highlight these.
We unravel the intricate world of UK planning law, shedding light on how to buy land and embark on the journey to be able to build and live on that land. Discover the myriad of avenues available to individuals seeking to break free from a conventional lifestyle.
Delve deep into the complexities of UK planning law, learning the curial steps required to obtain the permissions necessary for your off grid endeavour.
#offgrid #UKplanninglaw #buyinglanduk #offgriduk #howtoliveoffgrid #cabin #logcabin #offgridlife #offgridliving #smallfarm #homestead #ukhomestead #homesteading #homesteadinguk
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00:00 Intro
00:45 Big Question - Can you buy land and live on it in the UK?
01:43 Resources
02:15 Common Misconceptions
03:06 Terminology
03:18 Illegal VS Unlawful
04:09 Land Designations - different types of land
04:40 The Off Grid Book - How to navigate planning in the UK
05:14 Green Belt Land
05:35 Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
06:04 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
06:27 Conservation Areas
06:49 Agricultural Land
07:15 Brownfield Land or Sites
07:49 Permitted Development Rights
09:15 The 4 Year Rule
20:58 Building Parameters - 4 Year Rule
22:12 The 10 Year Rule
24:49 The 28 Day Rule
27:38 Land Split Theory - is it possible?
30:10 The 56 Day Rule
31:00 The 60 Day Rule
33:44 One Planet Development
35:56 Conditions - One Planet Development
39:09 Field to Farm
44:34 Field to Farm Requirements
47:32 Class Q Act
49:00 Important Notes
50:57 How to Find Land
54:16 What to Look For When Buying Land in the UK
55:41 Conclusion
Isn't it funny how us mere mortals really struggle to get planning permission for a single dwelling on green belt land yet large companies find it easier to get planning for countless houses totally obliterating the country side. My father's farm of 40 years with soon be surrounded by over a thousand houses , he's currently fighting for a new lease. One rule for us another for those with connections
It's a great shame. I struggle with the same thought. If you have the money then you can do what you want. It's a great shame for people wanting to live a simple existence closer to nature.
Do something about it then
It’s easier if you are a pigeon, a fox, a badger or a rat… even a worm can build a home without asking for ‘permission’…………
It's a case of who you know not what you know and of course there's the back handers, from what I've heard here I wouldn't bother in this country, its finished anyway it's not great Britain any more and had I been 40years younger I'd be out of here in a shot
It's called corruption, follow the money many mps have there hands in these companies, Balfour of the BALFOUR treaty for example. The whole system is corrupt made and set up for a few people to protect them against us and to legalise what they want to do and make illegal what we want to do.
I think a Petition should be ran to gain basic human rights to provide your own accommodation on your own land at your own cost, with no interference from councils or authorities.
Yes yes yes !
Get one set up I'll be on board
The tories are now being at trying to strip away our human rights. So don’t count on that. They want us on the streets.
That's a brilliant idea !!!!! what I cant work out is if you supply your own Water get rid of your own rubbish clear your own land have a composting toilet supply your own power etc why you would have to pay council tax because you are doing it all yourself?? Pay your bit to the police you may need them and obviously national insurance as that's for medical care mainly and separate but why do you pay council tax if not useing the facilities they offer??
The government are keen to exit from the European Convention of Human Rights, so I doubt they'll consider any kind of petition for basic human rights.
Incredible the lengths we UKers have to go to to live a quiet life in the woods.
Sadly you're right
Control
Can't even go camping these days
They want you stuck in the rat race
The town and country Planning act was designed to control humanity.
In Talley valley Wales a group of people purchased land between them and moved from one plot to another, in the end they gave up and left them alone. The people living at Talley have now been there for at least 36 years.
That sounds awesome - is that the idea i was talking about with the 28 day rule? thanks for the info it's greatly appreciated
My friends family lived there! Well cool 😊
Had friends in Bristol who had something to do with Talley/Teepee back along in the 80s and 90s, always wondered how and where there are now ?
Flower farm? 🙂
@@TheBigfatmatta lot moved to Portugal gave up on all the road rules ,rave rules land etc etc ,
Lived in my woodland for 8 years. Now I have a cottage that me & my dogs love.
I wouldn't ask where you live but could you share your experience?
Councils and enyone who’s participating in this should be in prison . That includes governing authority’s. This is legalised slavery .... absolutely disgusting. Thank You for great content .
No worries, I'm glad you enjoyed it! It's a shame that it is so difficult to do but it's doubtful it's going to get any easier in the future that's for sure
Yes but you say that but what would you say if a group of gypsies moved on the land OR a group of noisy bikers used it for a meet every weekend for a good old heavy rock and boozing secession.
😮😊oh this comment is so spooky....
u can get around all these laws, u can knock down grade 1,2,3 listed dwellings do anything u want to do ,and its very simple read on ,,,, build a back hander network from mps in london to birmingham and call it hs2
I know someone who managed to knock down a listed building and rebuild it in the name of "repairing" it. He held the roof up with jacks, knocked the walls down, re-dug the foundations and re-used the bricks to build new walls, then took the jacks away and rebuilt the roof. In the end the building was about a foot larger in every dimension and not a single part of it was original except the reclaimed bricks. As for how he managed it? He lived next to a pub and every time the buildings inspector came round he bought him a pub lunch and a couple of drinks before taking him to see the latest developments. I wouldn't recommend that as a strategy but somehow it worked for him.
@@misterthegeoff9767 if a listed building is structurally unsound you can get permission to do that openly as long as you build it to look like the original. you do need lots and lots of paperwork for each listed feature. so sounds like the inspector was letting them off without the costly paperwork but it is a job they do allow in certain conditions
I would mention that Scotland does have a Hutting policy (see 1,000 huts campaign).
A hut is:
* A simple building used intermittently as recreational accommodation (i.e. not a principal residence)
* having an internal floor area of no more than 30m2
* constructed from low impact materials; generally not connected to mains water, electricity or sewerage
* and built in such a way that it is removable with little or no trace at the end of its life.
It may be of interest to some.
Thanks a lot for that! I've actually included it in my book - it's such a great policy and scotland seems ahead of the game (as well as wales too)
Or a boffy 👍
Hey there, do you know best place to live over there with family please?
@@My_Secret_ArtSketchbook nowhere it's wellover full and stupidly expensive honestly find a nicer place you'd regret moving here
A very informative video. My Wife and I moved to Scotland to live with our Son at his Farm in 2021. Due to age and health issues we decided to apply for a certificate of lawfulness for a mobile home in the style of a lodge.,under the caravan act. Local planning told us that we had to apply for full planning to use it as a granny annexe.It would be in the curtilage of the garden. It took 9 months for a decision and we finally got permission.However the sting in the tail is that they have put a stipulation on the permission that after ten years it must be removed and the site returned to its former condition. Apparently they decided that the mobile lodge would be rotten ! We could reapply to them after 10 years as it is considered a temporary building to them. This is unacceptable and we are appealing this decision. Too many grey areas and their interpretation of the rules. The uk sucks.
That’s disgraceful
@@user-fb3pu3qx3t live in ex-communist countries, they don't give a dam, they value common sense!
Sorry Sir u went through this. What health issues do you have? I may be of help and give you a list of info in my comment.
@@My_Secret_ArtSketchbook Thanks for your help offer. The matter has now been resolved to our satisfaction after a year. Common sense prevailed.
I have just bought 60 acres.
I put a 28 day notice into the council planners.
They came back to us requiring full plans of the proposed barn, which we are having done as I post this comment. I assume they cannot deny the application due to permitted developement rules.
We have a motorhome on site which we are finishing off to live in, albeit until we can site a static caravan, however we have just recieved a letter from the planning council after someone has complained, accusing us of living in the motorhome which we are not.
Our planning consultant sugested when we have planning permission for the barn that we make an application to the council planners for a temporary dwelling.
When permission is obtained for the barn, it would appear we can just move a static caravan on site and live in it for 3 years whilst building the barn and running our agricultural business.
We are already farming breeding pigs and a herd of some 200 sheep, which have started lambing.
As we the people have no say or control over what new laws are created, I find it very sad that people who have a respect and kinship with the land and nature and who provide life sustaining food for themselves and other people, have to jump through all these hoops and stress, when the biggest blots on the landscape, wind turbines and solar farms get the go ahead without any hassle.
How sad does someone have to be to complain about someone living in a motorhome on their own land. I fucking hate the UK.
Sounds like you may want to either have a talk with that neighbour or start recording their antics for an anti harassment order in future incase they turn out to be a nutter.
Remember you will own nothing and be happy
You had me up until the wind farms and solar panels. The world will burn...
Never understood people complaining about what others do on their own property,
Its amazing how the big corporztions and the Politicians they own can build and develop , demolish anything anywhere they want and ignore the many planning rights/barriers us plebbs have to abide by
A very well made video and I recommend your book, may i offer some additional info speaking as an environmental planning consultant 1) there are strict rules about the use of water from a borehole, be aware of this, it can be pricy to have a risk assessmnlent and sampling done to be compliant 2) when you eventually go for retrospective planning, how water , foul water and sewage are managed will be a factor to get permission, in many areas your soakaway may be disallowed, ( also check with the Environment Agency on nitrate vulnurable zones) if yiu are thinking of a composting toilet 3) local authorty areas will have precedence, has someone sucessfully used the 10 year rule in that area?, this is a massive boost for getting permission your consultant when you apply will want this they love precedence. In summary if you are in any way risking polluting the land or adjacent land you will likely be turned down, they may insist you burn smokeless fuel in some areas, the more environmetaly friendly you are the better when it comes to planning permission and precedence is king. A last word you did touch on the best was to quickly gain an off grid dwelling when you talked about Agricultural/Forrestry permitted development, yea building a barn but also if you make charcoal you NEED to live on the land to watch the burner 😉
Thanks so much for your comment and kind words. This is really valuable knowledge and a greatly appreciate it. I hope that people watching this video can read this comment for some extra info. Also loving the charcoal burner tip!!! Really appreciate your support and watching the video!
10 year rule ? Surely you mean 4 year rule ? 10 year is for commercial certificate
28 day rule for unrelated use ! Split your land apply for multiple agricultural holding numbers each one gets 28 days
I know literally hundreds of people who’d give their right arm to live off grid, me included. Seems like the 12.5 acre option would be the best and cause the least headaches. After a quick google however, it looks like we would need a cool million so that’s that idea out of the window! Typical irony isn’t it…those that actually need to live off grid to survive have no money so have no hope of ever doing it. Trapped!
You have a very good point! It really comes down to compromise because there is certainly land in england over 12.5 acres that you can pick up for less than £50k. But you still need the money, there's no getting around that. We're in the same position, we couldn't afford land and have luckily found a farm that we could live on and we pay rent. Thanks for your comment it's greatly appreciated!
That's the price of living in the UK. I and many others moved to Ireland to off grid because plenty of land low value but they're catching on a putting new clauses and grants for updos on old hovels with a bit of land which pushes up wholesale price by 70k. And vacant dwellings now being charged property tax, there's plenty of sellers but they ask way too much on the "grant access" proviso which which will house very liveable but unoff-griddable. Don't go there.
That is the whole point of The System. Freedom is not an Option.
@@janebaker966 EXACTLY
@auroradyz391
Agricultural land averages £10,000 per acre, so £120,000 would do……
The only way we can sideline the system is if the majority of homeowners can find legal ways to be as close to self-sufficient in terms of solar power, log-burning, water harvesting, growing vegetables and eggs, as possible.
Very true. I don't know why anyone wouldn't want to do that but everyone is different i guess
If there was a war on I'm sure it would take off
In WWII every front lawn was turned into an allotment, let's bring victory gardens back!
Definitely agree and council tenants inwhich I am I actually started homesteading and finding ways to disregard grid power. I am furious at System and doing whatever I can to avoid participating
@@phoenixkali
Very good point; maybe a silver lining for the WW3 they seem to want…….
They are now introducing new bureaucracy to prevent people from keeping chickens at home under the guise of bird flu.
Someone I know bought land and was refused planning permission, so he opened it as a small campsite and built himself into the community.
When he went for planning permission again 4 or 5 years later he said it was to enable him to carry on running the campsite and his planning permission was approved.
It is still a registered company/campsite but he is just really bad at getting customers.
Didn’t they need planning permission to open the campsite?
@stargazer1010 No, just a license, I think, maybe planning permission for the toilet block (but I'm not sure).
@@thomasholroyd2634 oh that’s very interesting, a license - thank you very much that’s most interesting I’d love to have a small campsite - what sort of land would be the best to consider this sort of project, any idea?
I’d like to get a small piece of land so I can live on it With a caravan or low impact dwelling and have a specialised theme maybe to attract like-minded souls who are wishing to connect with the land and have a retreat.
thanks for your reply 😊
I’d love to visit and go camping, whereabouts in the country is it and do they have a website? It be great if they want to get more campers
And I’d love to chat about how to do it.
Thanks for this great video Ben. A lot of hard work and knowledge has gone into this and it just goes to show how greedy landowners down throughout history have sought to make topics like this which are fundamental to living are made so difficult to navigate. I live in Southampton, close to the New Forest and often say to people that the land surely belongs to the people especially if it is a national park. Theres so many areas you can't even walk through it just seems that massive control is at play. Thanks for this, it's something I'd love to do but I'm certain I'll never experience. I love to hear about people following all these loopholes and making it to the other side of permitted development. Thanks for your time and information I believe this is a subject that will become much more important in the future as our economy collapses as its sure to. I've just randomly been fed this by the platform and will certainly look at your other stuff. Maybe try to reach out to the great Richard Vobes for more public awareness of this really important subject; i believe he's trying to do the same with his partner Julia. Lovely people and a great advert for your channel. Good luck with your project from Southampton
Thanks a lot for your kind words, that's greatly appreciated. I definitely agree with you, I think the future is very uncertain and almost definitely going to be turbulent both economically and from an environmental point of view. It's a sad state of affairs and for me it's about living a self reliant lifestyle as possible. I'm really glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for the comment and thanks for the support!
I'm part of an org that buys up parcels of farmland, we crowdfund & receive donations then bid at auction for the land. Once successful we then turn that land back into wild land so nobody can use it for animal ag ever again. The potential to execute the 4 year rule on this land is obviously there so that those who care for this land can eventually end up with a legit dwelling on a tiny section of it. Currently the people who help with the land either just sleep in a tent or a camper/transit overnight a couple times a month.
This sounds really really interesting - what is the organisation called? I'd love to look into it. Thanks so much for the comment and thanks for watching
thats terrible !! no food being grown on agri land ??!! people have zero chance of using the 4 year rule on this kind of land,if you are selling it using that claim you are ripping people off,any agri land in the Uk can only be stayed on 28 days a year even if you are sleeping in a cardboard box without change of use to residential and that will never be allowed as you could not show you need to live on the land without a farming business,wild land looks after its self,Agricultural land is agricultural land for a very good reason leave it alone!!!!!!
@@joygallavan6790farming isn’t a good practice, not with how industrialised it is now. it’s been one of the main causes in so many problems ecologically. i doubt this person buying small sections of land are going to tear down farming, so calm down. i actually think what they’re doing is a good idea.
@@sloppytoppy3000 "farming isnt good practice" lololol I suppose you think eating isn't good practice either and we should just stop to "save the planet" ? the UK has 60% food security now, meaning only 60% of the country has a chance of not starving to death if the supply lines collapse,once those farms have gone where do you think your food is going to come from?? from abroad,! how good for the environment do you think importing food thousands of miles is going to be? you really haven't thought this through have you,No Farmers No Food !!! what you going to be eating, earth worms and blackberries? ,good luck with that lol
30:58 “no bigger than 3 m high” actually tha act says 3.3 m internal height to ceiling… there is no ruling on external height .. also. 5 years is still possibly Also the “financial test” rule of thumb is c £18k or what is considered the minimum wage You don’t have to own all the land. You could buy 1 acre and rent the 11.5 acres nearby. Also I’ve found the council supportive once you have demonstrated that you are genuinely are trying to develop an agricultural smallholding or farm
Awesome! Thank you so much for clearing that up and it sounds like you have done it our going through that process. Really appreciate the info and thanks for watching!
Pls what is the financial test? Thanks
I have land and was contacted by a tiny homes company and they want to put homes on there and they said don’t tell council. My kind of company 😊
legal is a system you have to consent to. We all must choose to not participate. More of us that do it the better.
You can't just avoid obeying laws by not consenting to them. this is a stupid sovereign citizen idea. like it or not, we are subject to the laws of the land and ultimately they'll be enforced with violence.
If anyone who works in planning ever found out and for whatever reason decided to look at the planning permission on your land (very unlikely I know), you'd be ordered to demolish it all and that sounds like a horrible thing to go through.
try telling them you don't consent when they forcefully evict you with twenty goons and the police helping them.....or try telling the judge that and have them laugh at you. unfortunatly , no matter if that argument is good or not, they won't hear it
@@RandomInternet for that you would need to first not communicate with them. They can’t communicate if they don’t know who you are. Take it from an ex bailiff, i do everything I can to expose the fraud the Uk GOV commit ever since walking away from that job after finding out the fraud. You can even go as far as to say you don’t want to deal with criminals. They won’t challenge that.
I won't be dealing with any authorities like Council Tax, or having a postcode. I'll also be totally hidden away from any neighbours.
I can't really mention that or encourage it on a video but yes - good on you, loads of people doing it and staying under the radar
@@offgridpath Thanks. I understand. I've had 40 years of stressful life, mostly caused by illness, poverty, and being forced to deal with companies who refuse to do things any other way than their own way, forcing me to comply. I'm about to cut ties with friends and family alike, and live out my senior years in peace, nature, and away from people.
Thank you for your informative videos.
Nowhere in England (can't say for Wales +Scotland,is that remote,even if it looks so superficially. Good luck to you.
@@janebaker966You're wrong. I'm already living proof of how remote it is, because I'm living out in Nature. Perhaps you'd like to call me a liar, since you're such an expert on my life, and you've been to every part of the UK, including every mountain, cave, field and forest ?
@@NomadicNight good on you.
Thank you! Just thanks! Amazing watch!!!
Very concise and well delivered video, very informative.
This is so good. Thank you.
A great insight into the ins and outs.. thank you
This is really helpful, thank you. Also lots of info in the comments. Splendid
Great up to date advice.
Great help, many thanks.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I have a six acre redundant nursery that closed years ago because the land was of poor quality and could not grow sufficient produce. The remnants of buildings are still there but i have been denied planning of any sort on a number of different occasions, even when the local authority were unable to demonstrate sufficient building as per the NPPF. The owner of the land adjacent to mine applied and was given permission to convert stables to a dwelling. The stables were not easily accessible so a further application was submitted to demolish the stables, combine the the footprint with another building, also to be demolished, and erect a new building next to the road, and got this approved. No doubt in my mind a brown envelope passed between applicant and LPA. They have been proven to be bent in the past.
Thanks for that i found that very interesting.
Excellent Information. Very concise and easy to follow. Thank you.
Thank you very much for this very informative.Video.It was much appreciated
This is a great video. Thank you.
You see developments poping up in the most unlikely places, and you think to yourself the only explanation is bribery and corruption.
Yeah, unfortunately that's my first thought as well. And then to try and build something in keeping with the land is seen as something completely alien. But a high rise block of flats is no problem
I got fed up with Grand Designs on seeing how filthy rich people can ignore ALL the planning rules and erect a huge bloody great ugly mansion smack in the middle of an Area of Outstanding Beauty and Huge Historical Significance and ruin the view and the landscape for everyone but themselves because they are in the bloody thing so the only ones who cant see it. They use a loophole in the Planning Laws. You can erect a house in Protected Landscape if it is of significant artistic and cultural merit. So you hire a big name architect,or an up and coming architect,or an architect who is famed for his or her radical designs and they design you a monstrosity that no one in their right mind would ever think of living in as a dwelling but is certainly a radical and unique design. It looks like a Snail Shell,or the Jedi Death Star,or the Monkey House at the Zoo but it works. Your architect explains to the Planning Committee how this radical design exemplifies the future of life in the 21st century and is packed with Zero saving features. So where no one could build a modest little house,or group of cottages,these rich as shit people can erect a monstrosity.
That’s because those flats will offer a percentage out as affordable homes, and developers usually have a clause where a % of the build cost has to be donated to the city its building in. This is why you see random benches everywhere, a 10k. Contribution on a self built and self invoiced bench and your done but the affordable homes clause is why it gets passed essentially, it matches in with councils need to build council houses where as your self dwelling does not.
this is such a great video thanks for sharing it. I'm starting my journey to go off grid full time but its not easy
Near to me there is a small plant nursery that mainly sells commercially to other retailers but he also is opened to the public a few days a week, on these grounds he
was able to get planning permission for a dwelling on horticultural land which may only just be 5 hectares possible less. He had a limit on the hight he could build but got around that issue by lowering the level of the foundations so the land at the back of his house is quite a bit higher than the front which is level with the adjoining road and having a dormer bungalow. He can not sell the house or business separately and if the business finishes trading from the site the dwelling has to be demolished which is different to some other properties in our rural area that are no longer directly involved with agricultural business but can only be occupied by someone who is or has worked in the agriculture, horticultural or forestry industry.
Thanks for the comment. That's really interesting. I haven't heard of that before but really love that it has worked for them. I love that ingenuity you mentioned about lowering the level of the foundations to maximise the internal space. I'm sure there is a chance to change the use of it in the future. I would imaging the planning authorities would be pretty heavy with the conditions to begin with but i'm sure a few tweaks to the business plan etc may allow some changes to those conditions in the future. Thanks for watching and thanks for the support
Really informative video & I've bought your book
This is a fascinating video, and the comments are also very interesting. Im not sure if you have already done something on this but i wonder how it would work on land already permitted for residential use e.g. an old run down house (not listed grade etc) if you built a small sustainable building on the land within the stipulations of shed/summerhouse/cabin which fall under the need of planning permission. Could you then knock down the house and work the land, living in the cabin?
I also want to say I love your positive attitude both in the video and in your replies to comments. You welcome new knowledge and support people getting along and community. Sometimes to 'fight' a point can be standoffish and make a point go unheard - we can learn and educate each other without name calling and accusations. I particularly love your message to get along with local community - people are social creatures and there is no harm in getting on with your neighbours (quite the opposite in fact 😊) and getting along with your postie is a wonderful thing in many ways.
Thank you kindly
So firstly, on the second part of your comment, thank you so so much. That's a really lovely thing to say and especially go out of your way to comment on it. I really do appreciate that!
On your first point, i completely see where you are coming from. I can't see it being an issue but it would involve going down the planning route but I can't see there being a problem. Essentially what you are doing is replacing the property that is already there (perhaps in a different location). I guess some would argue that it's not the most financially wise move because generally people value traditional houses over cabins. I would want to live in a cabin over a house any day. I think essentially if you're buying land that is already classed for residential use then there is very little you couldn't do. Unfortunately this issue with that land is it is always the most expensive.
Thank you for taking the time to comment and thanks for your support!
Land.
Grow your own food.
Save in Gold & Silver.
Love Jesus & live.
According to the 1961 caravan act it's 4 years for caravans if your living in them the same as houses. But do believe there both 10 years now, but it was 4 years for caravans.
Truly superb video, many thanks
You're very welcome! Thanks for watching!
Really helpful and informative! Thanks so much 😁
You're very welcome and glad you found it helpful!
The planning system is straight forward no dwellings outside defined settlements unless required for a genuine essential agricultural need is the basic. Essentially people want to live off grid but only if the land around them is protected from someone else turning up and doing the same
This is true but there are certainly ways to do it without the agricultural need but with huge risk
Batheinchampagne. So you wanted a house in the countryside or connected to agriculture. What makes your desire more important than Jo blogs who might want the same but is a plumber? It’s pretty straightforward, dwellings in the countryside are restricted to an essential horticultural agricultural or forestry need.
I've often wondered and with some amusement how it would go down if another family put a shed/cabin/house in a plot adjacent to an off grid dweller with intentions to do similar. Would the Planning Laws suddenly become much more relevant. Maybe the two families would become best pals in a Little House On The Prairies cutesy way. Maybe they'd swap veggies and kill each others fatted pig. Or would they get on each other's nerves. Would one family be tidy and well organized and the other have old engine bits and rusty corrugated iron sheets all over the place? And then maybe a third family would be attracted,in that way people always sit by your table in a previously empty cafe,suddenly youve got a village,a good place to raise kids they say. Now if all you three settler families are white British ...........what if you three families have brown skin and are not from a british isles ethnicity. That has never happened yet and it seems unlikely but,does that feel different. How can you be a SETTLER and create a SETTLEMENT in an already settled and populated land. Maybe there's someone we can ask? I'm just saying asking questions,extrapolating. Anyway you have to get the money together first and buy some land,and land is expensive. How annoying is it to work and save hard for 40 years,finally buy that plot in the country then get a new housing estate or a link road driven past your boundary,suburbanising your rustic dream. People think it is Hunting, Trapping and even commercial Farming that eliminates WildLife. It's not. It is Suburbanisation that the Faeries fler from. Dull,prosaic tedious and Banal.
@@janebaker966 Where is this you are talking about now? Is it the northwestern European isles?
This takes stealth camping to another level :D
Class! 😂
Great site guys. We are soon to build and document our straw bales house build on CZcams. 😊
Good video.. Knowledge is power. Thanks.
Thanks so much and glad you enjoyed it!
This is really insightful, thanks for taking the time to make it
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching
As an ex deal sourcer / land agent I love how much information you provide in your videos. Kudos !
YOU ARE A LEGEND BUDDY!
Well that's just bloody lovely! Thanks!!!
So precious. Congratulations and welcome home Santi.
Thank you! 🤗
Thank you for making this very complicated subject much more easy to understand, lots of really interesting bits of information here.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching
Thanks for sharing
atb
Amazing job you must be really proud of yourselves
Thanks so much! I really appreciate that, we're definitely happy with the result and loving life. Very lucky indeed
Thank you 🙏🏻
Brilliant video. Years ago a friends family in a very affluent area sold his house but kept the 30 acres between it other houses Stuck sheep and barns an a luxury static. Few yrs later he built a house I was young never really understood but know I do.
Great vid....subbed.
Excellent video
Thanks and thanks for watching!
I own a house in an estate, that was once on the edge of the town I live in. I had views over rolling hills. Eventually a building company bought the farmland next to me, to put up an estate. Some of my neighbours kicked up a stink. They thought they had a right to views over land they did not own! I sat quietly in the local planning meeting witnessing their most unedifying sense of entitlement. The council did shake the company down for a lot of money that was supposed to have been spent on local infrastructure and services before giving them permission. That money ended up being spent elsewhere in the county to deal with "deprivation". Perhaps there would be less deprivation if government, on all levels, wasn't seeking to thwart any kind of development.
I've seen neighbours complaining to the council over the most ridiculous of issues. On one occasion, I was unable to leave the house for over a month because I was ill. Some rat bag complained to the council that my grass was too long. The council sent me a letter threatening to cut it for me, and send me a bill!
We're surrounded by would be Fuhrers. I long to live in a passive house out in the woods somewhere, away from these people. Alas, I lack the funds to do it. Though it sounds as if they would want to 'hunt me' even there. We live in an increasingly authoritarian age.
I work for my local council and get sent to look at all kinds. You wouldn't believe the sh!t people complain about. Had to go to the local graveyard not long ago to clean up a tiny bit of fur (looked like something bagged a rabbit there) from the edge of a path. Literally a handful of fur.
I do wish management would grow a pair and tell people to eff off.
Thanks for interesting video❤
You're very welcome, thanks for watching!
Yes, is called field to farm as I have the book.
What if you have 12 separate acres scattered around the UK? How lovely would that be , different scenery every month
Sounds like a glorious idea and can't see any issues with that!
yes what constitutes as a farm? 12.5 acres but what if a potion of the land is across the border of another country inside the UK?
Nice idea.
quick note about nieboures taking pictures and reporting the 28 day rule breaches, if they take pictures more than once or twice this comes under stalking laws, provided you report it the council can not use these images as evidence.
That's not true. Taking the pictures are for a lawful reason therefore doesn't constitute harassment and defo not stalking
@@happygilmorides7353wrong check the case law...
I subscribed after watching thank you for info
You're most welcome and thanks for your support!
That was brilliant. Thankyou. Very informative . I've just brought your book.
It's so wrong that it's so hard to live off grid
Really appreciate that! Thank you!! I really hope you enjoy the book and thanks for your support!
it’s because they want to enslave you
New sub here Just bought your book looking foward to learn about off grid living and rules and regs
Thanks a lot and really appreciate your support! I hope you enjoy the book and let me know if you have any questions
Fantastic video mate, I've read the book also just need to get the ball rolling. I've put a link to your video on a couple different forums I follow as it's a question that comes up often. So if you get a spike in views you know why! Lol.
Ahh that's amazing and greatly appreciated! Thanks for watching the video and for your kind comments. I hope the book came in helpful. Thanks so much for your support!
great summary, thanks. I am curious about the rules on abandoned or ruined properties. My understanding is that if the ruin is not designated a dwelling at the land registry, it is not much different from a green field ?
There was an episode of grand designs that dealt with the 65% self sufficiency rule.
Obviously the house building was the main focus of the episode.
Hmmm, i'm not familiar with that but it very much sounds like the One Planet Development where the house and land needs to provide 65% of your needs. Without seeing the episode I can't be totally sure but i'd bet that the house is in Wales and it comes under the One Planet Development. Thanks for watching and thanks for your comment
I paused the video at that timestamp to read the comments and see if anyone else had mentioned this. It was featured by Ben Fogle in his New Lives in the Wild series and a revisit.
Yes, it's Wales and One Planet Development applied. On the first programme they had been living there for a couple of years and were under extreme pressure with the monitoring and reporting. It is critical because (and my reason for commenting) they absolutely would have been kicked off the land if ALL parameters were not met by the set date.
That includes completely clearing the land of ALL signs of occupation.
Thankfully, on Ben's return visit, they were able to report success.
They are both fascinating episodes and the creativity, ingenuity and resourcefulness of this couple are outstanding. They were both previously veterinarians.
The episodes are:
Season 13, Ep 1 and Season 14, Ep 2
Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild. Wales Mountainside: The Watkinson Family.
They are online:
matthewwatkinson.wixsite.com/beeviewfarm
As I understand it the 60 day rule is a maximum of 42 consecutive days. I can't believe that £25k profit is required for a small holding seeing as many farms probably don't make that. £25k income maybe.
Take a shot every time he says “essentially” 😂 great video though - thanks for the brilliant information
hahaha! Yeah, that's a very good point. I think you'd be pretty smashed in the first 60 seconds! Unfortunately i don't script anything because I just don't have the time and want to get the content out so end up repeating myself a lot! Glad you enjoyed it though and thanks for watching!
Live Off Grid in the UK? (Legal Loopholes) you're free to do what you want. That truly living off the grid.
The way that we did it was to 1/ Buy the land legally, 2/ write to the land registry telling them that we are no longer interested or obligated to use their services 3/ personally detach from the state in all matters legal. ie. No NI number, driving license, passport, bank account. 4/ live on the land as if you are the sole owner . 5/ Been doing this for 13 years.
Because there is now no paperwork trail to the land or an 'persons' living on it. There is no 'address' for the council/state to communicate and so no joinder. .
People need to understand that there is no such thing as a compulsory agreement in Britain. So ALL matters legal are optional if you have not consented to legal arbitration.
Great to hear and we are also on the same page, we’re halfway, it’s slow but bit by bit we will achieve the detachment from the contracts they have hoodwinked us into. Asking for permission or begging dis-empowers men and women and something I’ve actually never really understood until I delved into the background of it and realised where it all began and how they’ve pulled it off. The final hurdle for us is not having a bank account and using their currency although Im guessing that fairly soon our Monopoly money is going to become even more dystopian with the proposed electronic tokens. How do you manage not having a bank account and how will you manage if “cash” becomes more of a scarcity than it already is, if you don’t mind me asking?
@@catherine2902 Good question. Because we pay no taxes and have no utitlty bills and we grow most of our food because we have the land and time to do that, we don't need much cash. . I still use cash , and only cash. but if for instance i want something off ebay, I get my Mum to get it and then i help fix her shed/whatever. It is amazing how good you get at doing /fixing/ making stuff that it is hard to be poor. . We also have a tiny campsite for nearly wild camping which is cash only and we sell eggs and produce at the gate for cash. If they introduce a CBDC, then i have faith that a currency ( Gold backed) will find its way into existence.
Loving this chat! I have always wondered about this and how it works and great to hear from someone who has done something similar. I would love to talk further to you about it if you wouldn't mind? Do have an email address that i could contact you on? I also love nearly wild camping and have used it a lot, great stuff!
Wow, this is fascinating. I heard of someone else mentioning this, but did not know it could be done. Is there a way I could find out more please. 🙏
you "travel" in a car? or must have a friend or spouse who has a licence to drive for stuff?
Very informative got rid of those silly myths we Know great vlog and well presented i know a lot of work went in to this vlog well done ! Little john from chichester
Glad you enjoyed it Little John. Really appreciate your support and comment as always. Thanks!
Anyone considering living off-grid (esp in woodland) should read Tom Barron's book "The New Woodsman"; also Gill Barron's book on Yurts both published by Eggerslack Press. These are people who've lived off-grid for many years and therefore have some invaluable insights.
Thanks so much for the recommendation and thanks for watching!
Thank you for sharing this insight. We started looking for a spot to live 4 years ago. At that time, there few helpful utube channels. Those you mention are very sound. If I may add that ‘The Off Grid Family’ and ‘Kris Harbour’ are also very well respected. David Ackerman’s book is very good. Sadly the forum he discusses is now defunct. Still a very informative read. Best Wishes🙏👏👍
I believe the field to farm book is now no longer available…..
Thanks for watching and for your kind comment. I'll check out those channels, I appreciate the recommendation. I hope you managed to find some land and get settled on it.
Ahh that's such a shame - maybe he'll release it again at some point hopefully.
@@offgridpath I’ve tried contacting the author a few times so not sure what’s happened…
Hey 👋 Thanks for the insight, this is a great help and we will be purchasing your recent book. We started our off grid sustainability journey a few years ago and built an off grid expedition truck to go travelling, we sold our bricks and mortar to fund the travels and to enable us to get away from the system. After travelling for 14 months we are back in Blighty and are now embarking on the next stage of our eco journey and that's to buy land and build an eco container dwelling. It's unbelievable what you need to do to enable you to live life off the system & off grid and in an environmental friendly way! We are shocked at the lengths that you need to go to to be legit. If you've got plenty of money then the world is your oyster, it's such a shame we have so much crazy bureaucracy and red tape. Anyway thanks again for the hard work that you've put into this, it'll benefit many who wish to embark on their journey and also thanks to some of the commenters below that have also given some really helpful information. All the best C&K
Thanks a lot and glad you enjoyed the video. You're right it is a shame about the financial situation. Money definitely makes things easier if you have lots of it! Thanks for the comment and thanks for the support!
you have almost zero chance of buying agricultural land (most rural land in the UK) and getting change of use to residential which you will need of you want to stay on the land for more that 28 days a year,You will need a planning agent who specialises in change of use planning,but almost all planning departments will refuse container builds,you really are better off buying a dwelling with land Going off grid in the Uk is about being more "in the system" you will need alot of contact with authorities,Im off grid and in constant contact with the local council, Im also not at all "eco" I run a petrol genny as I cant afford much solar or the massive kit needed for storage plus Im in woodland under a TPO so all the trees give us almost total shade,there is a big difference between the off grid dream and reality,I think especially in the UK
Gotta love a gransfors ;)
Good eye!!! Absolutely! Best of the best!
Housing has beome such a major issue in this country and there is so much against someone housing himself, that some are better off leaving this country to start an off grid somewhere it is more easy.
Great video.
Also think that "overages" need a mention too; where there's a clause in the contract when the land is sold that dictates the vendor should be paid a large % of the lands new value, if / when it becomes residential.
That is a very very good point! You're quite right. I look at land regularly and see these coming up more and more these days
I’ve been looking at land and I see this in the small print on the particulars a lot.
Seems that any parcel of land that has any kind of access direct from a road, electricity and / or water nearby, is subject to these overage clauses. I don't know why vendors can't just sell and move on. Think it purely down to greed
Yikes!
@@LOTEN1977I think it's heavily pushed by the estate agent. I'd be interested to know if many would drop the overage for the sake of a successful sale.
i heard that with the 4 and 10 year rule that council tax does not need to be back paid because council tax only applies when its recognized as lawful
That's a good point, as far as i can tell this really comes down to where you live which is crazy! I know of people on both sides who have had to pay back dated council tax and those who haven't. I think it's best to go on the side of caution and then if you don't have to then it's a massive bonus and you've got some savings!
This video has helped me understand a few things as I'm looking into a simpler lifestyle.
One thing i would say, for anyone looking at getting a mortgage, atleast from what i found out, the deposits dont work like houses and you'll need somewhere between 25%-75% deposit.
I looked at some land near the peak district and was told i would need atleast 100k in cash. Maybe i wasnt asking the right questions at the time but thats what i found from my lines anyway, hope it helps someone.
Thanks for the comment and i'm glad you enjoyed the video. That's interesting because as far as I was aware, you couldn't get a mortgage on land except from a few very specific providers. But it would be great if you could! Yes, there's no way around the money side though unfortunately - whichever way you look at it, it's going to be an expensive endeavour.
please dont even think of buying land to live on anywhere near a national park an AONB or even agricultural land if you dont want to run an agricultural business
Thank you 🤍🙏
You're most welcome, thanks for the comment!
Absolutely fantastic content. Could you do one on Northern Ireland. I would be very interested to learn of the differences in legislation, especially the field to farm concept.
Thanks so much!!! Funnily enough, I have just finished my second book which covers the whole of the UK including Northern Ireland - it will be coming out on the 3rd December!
Excellent, I shall be purchasing that.
It's great to hear about the different ways you can do it. Sorry if I missed it but did you say the one planet development will be coming to England? Thanks
Thanks for the comment! It's not currently available in England and Wales but I'm hoping it will come soon. But ultimately it's up to the government so who knows!
Maybe a stupid question but; what are the rules if you DONT by land that is 12.5 acres and over in size? What are the planning permissions/laws for living on the smaller sized land?
Become the local authority on the AP1 form
Bro how have I not seen you in years and then you pop up on my CZcams 😅😅😅😅 we used to live together in Newquay 😂😂
If you know anyone who works for local government enforcing these rules, make sure you make them well aware of the shame in their job
my planning agent was lovely,he said he really wished my luck and personally couldnt see anything I was doing was wrong,really helped me with the council tax department,being nice and kind goes along way ,its the only way of doing anything slightly "off the norm" smile,smile,smile !
@@joygallavan6790Council people are the worst type of people
@@desendean6488 some of them are, but some aren't but being nice is always best policy,even if its just making their job to be horrible to you much harder because you make them feel guilty with your friendliness,its worked for me
What a great video. Thank you. My understanding of the 28 (60?) day rule was that was the amount of permitted days you could sleep on the land, not just be on / or visit the land. Maybe I have gotten myself confused with the car boot example. If I owned a woodland, for example, I could have a little shed in it to use for overnighting 28 / 60 times a year only. I could, however, physically visit and maintain that land 365 days a year. Is that correct?
yes visiting isn't a change of use. residential (sleeping) is a change of use . be careful as some councils will count a single nights stay as two days though as you where sleeping before and after midnight.......
Brilliant video, very informative.
Have you researched how to set up and use a private members club to work outside of the usual rules?
Thank you for your kind comment. I haven't actually looked into that unless you're referring to a community trust? But i'll check that out. Thanks for the comment!
a private members club requires specific sui generis planning consent for change of use outlining all the use's of the site to my knowledge. what had you got in mind?
YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU LIKE IF YOU ARE BORN INTO THE RIGHT FAMILY'S, Got lots of money for large back handers..
I unfortunately agree with you but I also believe if you really want it and are determined enough it's open for everyone
@@offgridpath not really, when you care for a loved one would love to do it . though
Please do another video on field to farm, thanks ☺
I'm working on it and i'm also hoping to do a podcast with someone who is actually doing it to give you a real life example! Thanks for watching!
@@offgridpath Great, thanks! Hope you post your podcast on YT - it's the only social media I do 😊
My off grid land is very rural in woodland just outside a beautiful tiny village but it is brown field due to it being a historical brick and pot works then used as a re enactment cowboy village, with past planning for recreational use, with all planning conditions breached over 30 years,provable by statutory declarations, with 2 sets of people living in the past on the land paying "rates" You would never be able to tell all this by looking at the land, you have to really do your research using parish records and talk to locals especially the elderly.
Excellent! I wonder if theres an equivalent information Video on doing it in IRELAND? 🇮🇪
Thanks! I'm not sure if there is but i'm sure it will be incredibly helpful because no doubt there would be some incredible plots in the Ireland!
You spoke about the 28 day rule, did it get exstended to 50+ days and it still is or did it revert back to 28 days?
Thanks and a very good video
There may be as many as 300,000 holiday homes on holiday parks in England most of those holiday parks are eight month licence agreement from the council to the park owner or ten month licence agreement I have a holiday home myself on one of those parks many people live on these holiday parks for eight or 10 months and then they go and live in bed and breakfast or they may go abroad often they are retired people or younger couples that may go back and stay with their parents for a few weeks until the holiday park reopens again only if the council made these holiday 50 weeks a year they could ask for half of the council tax money which would give the councils that are in desperate need more money... The law needs to be changed.. Most holiday homes now are built to residential standard.. I hope this information has been helpful to people
That is a very very good point - it would also solve a lot of housing problems as well. I think people need to realise that living in a static caravan or similar is plenty enough space for all your needs. Great comment and thanks for the info!
Yes, people do that. Pleasant way to live for retired folk.
Do you think it would be a problem registering with a Doctor or Inland revenue etc whilst you were waiting out the 4 year rule?
It really shows what a controlled life we have to lead . Frustrating I. Just an out to turn 60 , so on my final run to official retirement I really don’t want to be that poor old man struggling to pay bills so looking for a cheaper life . I have to say you mentioned don’t do a caravan but as it’s on wheels there is no council tax to pay , I know for sure as I won this battle some years ago
My Uncle's farm was on green belt land and he had a neighbour who was on the council planning committee and Vetoed everything including legitimate farming stuff like putting up a stable for horses or taking an existing loose gravel parking area and covering it in tarmac. It almost became a game to see how many things we could sneak in under the various loopholes,. My uncle converted an existing barn into a dwelling and lived in it after his divorce, my Dad built an entire factory unit hiding behind a set of greenhouses and got it in under the 10 year rule or some other loophole. It took a very expensive lawyer and a court battle to make it legit but by this point it was worth it to stick two fingers up to the arsehole neighbour. The best part was when my Dad got a visit from Envitronmental Health and the inspector said "I should report this but they refused planning permission for my extension so fork 'em". The neighbouring farm who had to take his stable down started keeping pigs instead so instead of a field full of horses to look at out his window, the council jobsworth had a pig farm with all the associated smells.
I’ll meditate in my bell tent for 4 years
That's one option i suppose!
I saw a bunch of land just outside edinbroughs green belt that was designated as development.
I started looking at the cost of starting a campsite and how that would come under planning laws.
then I completly gave up on that idea