Dealing with vacant crofts

A croft is vacant if it's not occupied by a tenant, owner-occupier, or an approved subtenant. As a landlord, you are responsible for making sure a vacant croft is re-let.

Reporting a vacant croft: If you find out a croft is vacant from any source other than the Crofting Commission, you must notify us within one month.

Your role in re-letting a croft

When the commission declares a croft vacant, you should apply to us to re-let it. Your application should include:

• Your plan: State whether you want to re-let the croft as a single unit or as an enlargement to another croft.
• Proposed tenant: Name your proposed new tenant and show that they can fulfil a crofter's duties.

You cannot let a croft without our approval.

What happens if you don’t act?

If you do not submit a re-letting application:

1. Notice: After one month, we may send you a notice, giving you two months to submit proposals for re-letting the croft.
2. We take over: If you don't submit proposals or if they are all rejected, we will take over the process. We will then decide who to let the croft to, after consulting with you.

The Scottish Land Matching Service holds a database of people looking for a croft. You can also register and offer crofts available for let.