Crofting Inquiry - Rannsachadh Croitearchd

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Respondents felt that the issues of neglect of crofts and absenteeism were complex, and recommended sensitive and compassionate handling of such cases, which could be dealt with locally. Most respondents felt that existing regulations needed to be better enforced, and a few that regulations needed to be reviewed.

Suggested solutions were subletting and the provision of additional housing to allow people to move off crofts but remain in the area.

neglect and absentee crofters is a major problem here. The crofter's Commission just dont give a damn. We have absentees living in Australia, France, England and other areas of Scotland. Most croft are in a neglected state not having been worked for over 20 years or more. There is demand for crofts yet this land is allowed to just go to waste. If you tenant or own a croft then there must be set minimum useage levels or lose it.

Of course the problem is how do you evict anyone from their house!! But at least it is possible to remove crofts from those who dont live here and who dont ensure the crofts are worked.

g

This may seem extreme but I am on the Isle of Lewis and work the family croft. I have been looking to buy my own but there are none for sale in the area I would like. There are, however, several that havent been worked for years, a couple that the owners dont even live on the island and havent done for years. One owner, who lives in wales and hasnt been here for five years, has let his croft house become a ruin. It is a 8 acre croft with now only a house site on it, it runs over a large rocky hill with no access to most of the croft, no good fencing and overgrown, reedy grazing.. He wants £135000.000 !!!!!! Nothing is being done to stop this...

Join the clan dear cloggy.
Crofts going to wrack and ruin, ag holdings being deliberately destroyed, tenants evicted for financial gain, absentee owners, and aboslutely extortionate prices being asked for the same!
Inner or outer, the hebrides are well sought after for those "townies" with too much dough and nowhere to hide it.
Create a company? why not three or more?
It is happening all over, the tenant suffers, so what it new?

meJane youve mentioned eviction a number of times. How are crofters being evicted for financial gain?

I posted a while ago and since then have had the opportunity to buy the tenancy of a croft for sensible money in the area I wanted. Two weeks last sunday and its MINE!!!! I am soooo excited..fencing and drainage first then pigs for the reeds...yummy..Got a couple of goats lined up for the milk...great for the orphan lambs..and a big area great for free range chickens..not to mention the sea loch at the bottom of croft for fresh mussels....Opening a bottle of bubbly at 12.01am Sunday the 17th !!!!!!!!!!!!

Well done you.
It only took a year and a half.

I am dreading the wait... I have just bought a house on a Lewis croft . . . The tennant doesn't stay or work on the land.
I would love some of the croft to work.

I think the tennant wants a heap of cash for small parts . . which ... I'm not willing to pay.

Here we go