Are allotment rents reasonable?

[Laura Hillier]

Hi Everyone,

Growing your own fruit and veg can save a lot of money as well as getting us all outside and active, but how does the cost of the plot fit into this?

Would you say that your rent is reasonable? Would you pay more to secure your site? Does paying for the plot make you feel more committed to it?

Answers may be edited and published in the October issue of Grow Your Own.


Laura

[chris]

It's subjective as rent differs all over the country. For me though, I think it's worth it. This years rent has increased, but it's still well worth it. I pay just over £18 a year now. Less than a takeaway or night out - pretty good value in my opinion!

Of course, with the amount of seeds I end up buying it does work out to be an expensive hobby

Edit: Our site is reasonably secure, I'm not sure how it'd be more secure without patrols.. though if people want to get in and cause havoc then they will.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I know from another thread that B'ham rents are considered to be on the high side - but the £50 per year that I spend on my half plot is well worth it from my point of view. After all, a family can easily spend that much on a week's grocery shopping.

My plot only has to yield a couple of quid of veg per week to make it 'pay' (apart from all the non-monetary benefits), and I get that in spuds alone.

As Chris says, it's all comparative - a lot of girls wouldn't think twice too hard about spending that much on a pair of shoes/dress; or a couple having a meal out; and you wouldn't get just one family day out this Summer holiday for that money, for instance.

I don't spend much on anything else for the plot - seeds are all saves and swaps. The other expense apart from rent is that I maybe spend £15 at Ryton (inc. entrance fee) at the potato day.

[Veggielot]

I think my rent is good particularly when compared with other hobbies, golf club membership, football season ticket, gym club membership for example. When you add on the health benefits and the recently confirmed increased happiness then it has to be pretty good value for money and that is even before you get the added bonus of getting your own vegetables.

I wouldn't want to loose my plot and probably would pay more if it was to prevent the site from closing if that was the only option but would be concerned that it could price out many of those who would benefit most.

[Thelma Sanders]

Our plots are now only half plot size for about £20 pa. including water. I'm lucky as pensioners don't pay at all I think that's very reasonable and I would pay in order to keep mine.

Some allotment rents are silly money though, I've read of some rents going up to £200 - in these depressed economic times, how do councils think people can afford that. It surely means that plots will be left empty - presumably so that councils can sell the land.

[alldigging]

Compared to £26.99 a month for a swimming ticket then our allotments are great value.
I'm not sure what my cutoff would be before I thought it was too expensive though as you have to buy seeds and muck and replace tools etc so it isn't just the cost of the allotment to think about.

[Bigmallly]

At this moment in time, my rent is very reasonable. That's not to say that my view will differ next year or the year after once the councils have sorted out their cost saving exercises. I don't eat my produce, it is purely a hobby that may or may not have to be given up. Time will tell.

[snakeshack]

I think my rent is reasonable at £32 this year for a 5 rod plot,it's cheaper than a months gym membership,good excercise & I get the bonus of good fresh food that would be much more expensive to buy or even impossible to obtain from a supermarket.Oca,yacon,purple carrots etc

[shepp726]

£20 a year for my 4m x 18m plot (dont know rods...lol) am hoping to recoup that at least x 10 when all up and running

[pdblake]

I can only comment on my rent. It costs me a tad over £12 a year for a half plot of 150 square meters, on a reasonably secure site with mains water. I definitely get more than that back in veg, exercise and well being. In what has been a very difficult year for me the plot has been a lifeline, a sanctuary even, of peace and quiet and therapy. I'd happily pay twice or more for what I get out of it.

I won best newcomer this year too, so next year is free

[binley100]

I don't eat my produce,...........

Why not, whats wrong with it and what do you do with it.????????????

I pay £40 for 20 rods and yes I think its very good value........Much mor fun than the gym

[Aberdeenplotter]

I became embroiled in a court action with my council after they increased our rents by 80% followed by a further 72% the following year. I lost the court action and would havebeen evicted had it not been for the "interference" of the elected members of the Council who made it abundantly clear to the Council Officers that they did not want me to be evicted. I am still in possession of my allotments although I have grown nothing there this year apart from soft fruit.

Was I justified in taking issue with the increased rents. I'll let you be the judge. I have 3 no. half plots each at a rent of £38.50 - a total of £115.50. In the meantime I have managed to get the tenancy of a large plot on a private site, the equivalent of a plot and a half within half a mile of my Council plots for the princely annual rent of £24. I think that says all there needs to be said.

[Vince G]

Here's our maths: we have 2 half plots (80' x 20') at £18 each, inclusive of water. We probably spend around £80 on seeds, plants, manure and bits and pices of equipment throughout the year - total £116.

So when you think the plots meet, at a rough guess, about 80% of all our veg and soft fruit needs, £10 a month is surely great value isn't it?

[Bigmallly]

Why not, whats wrong with it and what do you do with it.????????????

There's nowt wrong with it Bins. Being on my Jack Jones it's more of a phaff to prepare & cook for one so it goes to family & friends. Nothing goes to waste.

[Mr Bones]

We pay £47 a year for just over 500 square metres (20 rods). Taking into account the volume and variety of produce, the exercise, social aspect and sense of well being, even with additional costs involved it's well worth it to me.