Suspected failure by the owner of a vacant croft to cultivate or reside near the croft

Owners of vacant crofts are tenants who purchased their crofts (or are their successors) but do not meet the conditions to be considered an owner-occupier crofter. However, they must fulfil their duties as a crofter.

If we receive a notification that an owner of a vacant croft is not meeting these requirements, we will investigate and potentially serve a notice requiring them to submit proposals to let the croft.

Who can use this notification?

• A grazings committee or a grazings constable
• A member of the crofting community who occupies a croft or holds shares in a common grazings in the same township.

Things to consider

• A copy of the notification form may be sent to the owner of the vacant croft which is the subject of the report.
• The notification form will be returned if it contains information which is thought to be frivolous or vexatious.
• We will not accept anonymous notifications.

How to notify us

Complete the ‘Notification of suspected failure by the owner of a vacant croft to cultivate and be resident’ form.

Download the form and notify us

You will be asked for your details and details of the croft, including what you consider the owner of the vacant croft is failing to do.

What happens after notification?

• We will investigate and give the owner an opportunity to respond.
• If we are satisfied, they are complying, no further action will be taken.
• If we consider the owner is not complying, we will allow them an opportunity to remedy the failure or apply to let the croft (normally within 6 months).

If the owner fails to act within 6 months, we will consider issuing a notice requiring them to submit proposals to let the croft.