Consent to be absent

A crofter has a duty to be ordinarily resident on, or within, 32km of their croft, to cultivate it, and not to misuse or neglect it.

If you cannot comply, you can apply for 'consent to be absent' for a set period. This is a short-term measure for crofters who have a good reason and a firm plan to return.

Who can apply?

Tenant and owner-occupier crofters.

Examples of good reasons for absence include:

• Medical reasons.
• Undertaking training or an educational course.
• Working away for a contracted period.
• Recently acquiring the croft and being unable to take up immediate residency.

How to apply

To apply for consent to be absent, complete the ‘consent to be absent’ form. You'll be asked for:

• Your details and those of your croft.
• The reason and duration for your absence.
• The date you will take up residency.
• The current use of your croft.

If you are a tenant, you must send a copy of the form to your landlord before submitting it to us.

First search for your croft and then find the correct form.

Apply now

What happens after a decision?

We will consider your application and aim to decide within 28 days. We may grant it with conditions or refuse it. We will notify you and your landlord of our decision. You have 42 days to appeal our decision to the Scottish Land Court. You can find more information about this on our appeals page.