Considering Land Sales? How You Can Make a Difference

As a landowner, you may have been approached by developers interested in acquiring your land for housing developments. Deciding whether or not to sell can be challenging, with many factors to consider. For some, the pressure to sell can feel overwhelming, but it’s important to know that you have options when entering negotiations.

In recent years, Addington Fund as a registered charity, has been fortunate to benefit from the generosity of landowners who have incorporated charitable giving into their land sale agreements. These benefactors have helped us secure homes for those in the farming and rural community who are in need.

One recent example comes from landowners who resisted developer offers for over 15 years. They were committed to their land, but when it became clear that their children had no interest in farming, they decided to enter negotiations with housing developers through a promoter.

To ease their decision, they initially insisted that any developers meet environmental standards that went beyond the current planning requirements. They then narrowed down potential partners based on how well the developers met these criteria, even conducting personal interviews in their farmhouse kitchen!

After this thorough vetting process, the landowners took the extra step of requesting that the developer build two homes of the 250 planned, specifically for Addington Fund as part of the deal. Although they were concerned that this might be a deal-breaker, they were pleasantly surprised when the developer quickly agreed. The demand for their land was clearly high!

While this arrangement reduced the total payment to the landowners, it turned out that the financial impact was far smaller than expected. Since VAT, taxes, and promoter fees were based on the overall sale price, the reduction had a limited effect on the final net proceeds.

Other generous landowners have supported us by donating land for affordable housing. In some cases, they’ve designated plots to Addington Fund, while we cover the build costs directly with the house builder. Thanks to this kind of support, we’ve been able to create comfortable, affordable homes for people with agricultural connections, helping them stay in the rural areas where they work and might otherwise be priced out.

Addington Fund - Making a Difference for Farming Families

By contributing to Addington Fund in this way, many of our supporters have found a sense of satisfaction in knowing that their land sale benefits both their community and the future of farming. Their generosity provides critical housing solutions for families and individuals who have dedicated their lives to agriculture and rural living.

Addington Fund exists to support farming families across England and Wales when they need it most. A registered charity, we provide housing and disaster relief to those in the farming and rural sectors. We are unique in how we support the sector.

When natural disasters strike, we deliver emergency assistance, whether on a national or regional scale. We also address housing challenges by purchasing properties specifically for farmers and offering them at affordable rents. This allows retired farmers or those leaving farm tenancies to remain in the countryside they love, rather than being forced into urban living.

We also help people in rural employment by providing affordable housing, recognising how difficult it can be to find a home in the countryside.

Our work is sustainable too - most of our operational costs are covered by rental income, allowing the vast majority of donations and fundraising to go directly towards our core mission.

Since we are not a Social Landlord or Housing Association, our tenants are not eligible to purchase their homes through the Right to Acquire scheme. This ensures that our affordable properties stay under the charity's ownership, as intended by our donors.

Your Legacy, Our Future

If you’re considering selling your land, incorporating a charitable element like the landowners did in these examples could allow you to make a meaningful difference. By including Addington Fund, you can meet your needs while ensuring that your land continues to benefit the rural community.

For more information about how you can help, or to discuss potential arrangements, please reach out to us. Together, we can create lasting legacies that support the future of farming. If you are interested in supporting us by donating housing or land, or in any way please speak to Jo Webb, Business Development Manager on 01926 620135 (option 1).

For more information, visit www.addingtonfund.org.uk.