Sourcing the right smallholding can be a nightmare. Anyone who has ever been house hunting will know that what looks ideal on paper rarely proves so in reality. When you are looking for more than a house, in the form of a smallholding that might be needed to start a business, keep animals, and maybe grow crops, the problems intensify, and the search can sometimes seem impossible.

Firstly, you need to know where to look. Estate agents predominantly deal in selling houses, although it is possible to find one or two houses with land. However, the best way to find what you are looking for is to contact an agent who specialises in farms and smallholdings, as they will understand the market much better and be in a position to offer advice.

When looking for land, you need to think carefully about what you intend to do with it. For example, if you are considering grazing sheep, the land you will require could be very different from that needed to keep cattle. Some sheep breeds are happy on mountainous slopes or moorland, whilst cows are more likely to need lush grass to graze on and relatively flat land with easy access to barns if you intend to milk them. The amount of land you can afford will invariably be affected by how much money you have to spend. Poor-quality land will obviously be cheaper to buy than good grazing or arable land, and the number of acres you can afford will depend on the type of land required. You might like the idea of owning 50 acres of land, but if 45 of them are totally useless for what you plan to do, you would be better off buying just 5 good acres of quality land that is fit for purpose.

Of course, there are some factors you have to take into account, such as available funds and a suitable location, but what else is often overlooked?

Aside from location and land type, there are other considerations that should not be ignored, such as:

Neighbours – how close will your ideal smallholding be to neighbours? Having neighbours might not seem like a major issue for many people, but you need to consider how you will use your smallholding. If, for example, you intend to keep pigs, being close to other houses may lead to complaints about noise and smell. Likewise, not all neighbours like to be woken at the crack of dawn every day by a noisy cockerel or a braying donkey!

Footpaths – never underestimate how destructive members of the public can be when they are allowed access to your land. Whilst the vast majority of walkers are very respectful, it only takes one or two to leave gates open, drop litter, or even fire up a BBQ, all of which can wreak havoc on the smallholding and pose a danger to livestock.

Fencing and shelters – if the plot you are considering lacks adequate fencing and barns, you will need to budget for them in your costings. Fencing acres of land does not come cheap, nor do animal shelters, and you would be advised to get quotes before proceeding, as secure fencing and shelter are essential when keeping animals.

Fencing can be expensive

Adequate fencing and shelters are essential

Before you start looking for a smallholding, I would advise you to draw up a list of everything you must have, everything you would like to have, and anything you can compromise on. As with house hunting, it is likely to be impossible to find everything you want, and, to be honest, I doubt the perfect smallholding even exists. If you could start from scratch and money were no object, I can guarantee that, once you had finished, there would be something you would change if you had the time over again. So don’t look for perfection. Look for a smallholding with potential, one you know you can make work for you, and go from there.



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