dealing with tenants with over grown plots

[marathon]

can anybody give me an idea of how you word letters to plot holders who have over grown plots. Does you site have a three strike rule or can someone just do a little bit and then wait for another letter and so on.

a few ideas -

We have recently noticed that your plot has become over grown and wonder if you still require your plot.

If you find that the plot size is too much for you and you would like to discuss moving to a smaller plot
or would like to inform us of ill health then please contact....

If you still wish to continue your tenenacy you must ensure that your plot is cultivated within the next
three 3 months. If after 3 months your plot hasn't been cultivated we may have to revoke your tenanacy.

I'm sure you can appricate that demand for allotment plots is high and we have a waiting list to maintain.

[zazen999]

Being devil's advocate.....

What do you mean cultivated?

I am into seed saving and most of the crops on my plot are being kept in order to collect seeds next year....do are you saying I can't save any of my seeds?

[marathon]

Being devil's advocate.....

What do you mean cultivated?

I am into seed saving and most of the crops on my plot are being kept in order to collect seeds next year....do are you saying I can't save any of my seeds?

No, I'm with you I also save seed. We are talking very over grown plots that are actually neglected for months.

The thing is before I took on the this role (sec)no one ever really did anything. Now we have many new tenents and as at least 4 plots are being given up we will have some more. I have to iussue at least two warning letters???? but have no example of text. I also need to put the 3 month notice period in the terms of the lease if we are to go ahead with the letters so that all tenents are made aware of how we are moving forward.

We didn't even have a proper waiting list, just scraps of paper so I've set one up, I'm sure people must have missed out in the past.

[organic]

Marathon - didn't someone at your local council come up trumps on with the letter for the weird situation you dealt with? The one with old folk being locked in. (Or have I had a complete mental burp? That was the issue you dealt with wasn't it?)

It could be worth giving them a shout and seeing if they've got something you could use.

[marathon]

Marathon - didn't someone at your local council come up trumps on with the letter for the weird situation you dealt with? The one with old folk being locked in. (Or have I had a complete mental burp? That was the issue you dealt with wasn't it?)

It could be worth giving them a shout and seeing if they've got something you could use.

They did send me some letters but the notice one wouldn't open and couldn't get any sense from the council. The chap I normally speak to is on holiday.

However someone has just emailed me a copy of theirs so I'm going to use that as a basis and take it to the commitee metting tonight.

So I think I've now put everything in place that should be.

Tenancy agreement and will ask every plot holder to sign when the invoices go out next month
Site T & C (on notice board and will be given to everyplot holder with invoice)
Warning letter
Notice to Quit letter
Formal waiting list

[organic]

Sounds under control...
...though I'd probably be inclined to start off with the friendlier approach. There could be all sorts of reasons a person's plot gets overgrown. Health, family, work and so on.

Maybe they just need a gentle chat, maybe someone could offer to help them. I'm sure you're not just going straight to formal procedures and threats of eviction, but I thought it worth a mention just to be on the safe side.

[marathon]

Sounds under control...
...though I'd probably be inclined to start off with the friendlier approach. There could be all sorts of reasons a person's plot gets overgrown. Health, family, work and so on.

Maybe they just need a gentle chat, maybe someone could offer to help them. I'm sure you're not just going straight to formal procedures and threats of eviction, but I thought it worth a mention just to be on the safe side.

Friendly chat I do nothing but. Normally takes me 1/2 hour to walk up to my plot by the time everyones stopped me for a chat and made the children laugh

I'm sure the warning letters will never be used but at least the council will know we have everything in place. They want us to keep the waiting lists moving.

I think I might have to issue one letter, someone who kept asking about a plot, a chap died leaving a spotless plot, they took over planted a row of parsnips and then nothing since. They back onto the site and have back gate access, allways in their gardening doing stuff. They plot is now over grown. The commitee want the plot to be given up.

[organic]

The words "rightly so" spring to mind.
It's practically criminal to take such a good plot and let it go like that. Shame the old chap's effort has been let to run to nothing too.

Sounds like a nice spot you've got though.

The lot on our site seem really friendly so far too. I'm doing surprisingly well with remembering their names too - I'm usually terrible at that.

[bluemoon]

Perhaps you could add that in cases of illness or other problems their case will be looked at sympathetically? I'm one of the worst moaners when it comes to people getting 'use it or lose it' letters, who then talk their way out of it, claiming illness or whatever, but I think people with genuine problems should be given time. Often they're the ones who've had plots for years, but are now getting on a bit. And it's easy to tell those with a real problem, they've usually kept the plot immaculate and then it suddenly goes down hill fast, as opposed to those who have never really done much with it and are using 'illness' as an excuse.

[marathon]

Perhaps you could add that in cases of illness or other problems their case will be looked at sympathetically? I'm one of the worst moaners when it comes to people getting 'use it or lose it' letters, who then talk their way out of it, claiming illness or whatever, but I think people with genuine problems should be given time. Often they're the ones who've had plots for years, but are now getting on a bit. And it's easy to tell those with a real problem, they've usually kept the plot immaculate and then it suddenly goes down hill fast, as opposed to those who have never really done much with it and are using 'illness' as an excuse.

this is what i included in the letter

'Whilst the committee does not expect all plots to be in pristine condition, totally weed free etc. we expect that tenants visit their plots on a regular basis, and that the majority of the plot is being worked, and vegetables, fruit, flowers etc are being cultivated'

and

' If you are finding your plot too much to manage you might want to consider moving to a smaller plot should one be available. We would be happy to discuss this and any other circumstances which have made it difficult to work your plot as we may be able to help.'

and

[Snadger]

I had a similar query when I was allotment Secretary and ran through the wording of the letter on the vine.
Can't remember the thread title but do remember I got some very useful amendments and grammatical errors ironed out!

[bubblewrap]

I'm thinking of grazing sheep on the plot next to mine.

[Snadger]

I'm thinking of grazing sheep on the plot next to mine.

Better make it cows, as sheep can't handle long grass, aparrently!

[organic]

Why not go the whole nine yards?

"Husbanding homesteaders... will follow their young calves with their older cattle, their cattle with sheep [and] their sheep with horses,"
John Seymour in The Concise Guide to Self Sufficiency.




Snadger - according to Mr Seymour sheep graze close to the ground, biting the grass off with their front teeth whereas cattle can rip up longer grass by wrapping their tongue around it.
I love having books about this stuff to hand!

[Snadger]

.......................Snadger - according to Mr Seymour sheep graze close to the ground, biting the grass off with their front teeth whereas cattle can rip up longer grass by wrapping their tongue around it.
I love having books about this stuff to hand!

Yep..............read Seymour in the 70's methinks...............must have absorbed something from it!