Allotment Policies & Rules

This page is where you can find out about the allotment site rules. These are the same that you signed when you became a tenant. 

Allotment rental

1. The annual rental per plot shall be determined or reviewed at the Annual General Meeting of the Association on the recommendation of the Management Committee and agreement of its members.

2. The annual allotment rental includes an amount to cover costs for things such as, but not limited to land rent, public liability insurance, affiliations to other organisations, general maintenance (e.g. skips and fence repairs), admin and promotional costs etc.

3. When the management committee agrees to a plot being let the new plot holder will be sent an electronic  copy of the Societies’ Model Rules, the Allotment Rules and a formal Tenancy Agreement. A signed copy of the Allotment Rules and Tenancy Agreement must be returned to the Secretary or nominated Management Committee Officer.

Payment of rent

1. The rent for each allotment is paid yearly in advance on the 1st October. If the rent is not paid within 40 days of the due date (unless the Management Committee agrees in writing to the contrary) the tenancy terminates automatically.

2. Members joining part way through a financial year will pay one twelfth for each month in the current financial year.

3. The rent payment is to be made by bank transfer only.  Cheques and cash are not accepted. The plot number should be used as reference for the bank transfer. 

Joint tenancy

If two or more people wish to jointly work an allotment plot each person must sign a Joint Allotment Agreement (JAA) as follows:

1. An application for JAA must be made by the existing tenant with someone who is not otherwise the sole or joint tenant of any other allotment in the City of Leeds boundaries.

2. A joint tenant may have their name on any allotment site waiting list but if they accept the tenancy at another allotment site they must relinquish their joint tenancy at Alwoodley.

3. The existing plotholder shall always be nominated as the “Principal Tenant” (responsible for all payments and correspondence).

4. If the “Principal Tenant” wishes to terminate their interest in the allotment the Joint Tenant can apply in writing to the Management Committee to become the “Principal Tenant” only if they have jointly held the plot for a period of at least two years or if they had been on the waiting list together. If not, the joint tenancy is ended and the plot must be vacated.

5. Every joint tenant is responsible for observing and complying with the allotment rules.

Termination of a tenancy of an allotment

The tenancy of an allotment, unless subject to a joint tenancy or otherwise agreed in writing by the Management Committee, automatically terminates upon the death of the tenant – members of the family will be given time to remove growing crops. 

The tenancy may be terminated by the Management Committee:-

1. If the rent is in arrears for more than 40 days; or

2. If any tenant (including a joint tenant) is in breach of the allotment site or council rules.

A tenant may terminate the tenancy giving the Management Committee notice in writing. (see Tenancy Agreement).

Service of notice

Any notice from the Management Committee will be served on a tenant personally, by email (It is the plot holder ‘s responsibility to ensure that the committee has a correct and current email address), or by leaving it at his last known postal address or by fixing it conspicuously at the allotment. Any notice from a tenant to the Management Committee is served by delivering or posting it to the secretary at the following address:-Alwoodley Allotment Society Ltd, c/o Alwoodley Parish Council, Alwoodley Community Centre, 60 The Avenue, Leeds LS17 7NZ. 

General Conditions Under which Allotments are to be Cultivated

In addition to the council rules the society has agreed to adopt a number of local rules, intended to ensure that the site is cultivated for the benefit of all plot holders.

Every tenant of an allotment must comply with the following conditions:-

1) To keep the allotment clean, free from weeds and cultivated with compost or recognised soil improver and maintain it in a good state of cultivation and fertility.

2) All internal and external borders are to be kept in good order and not overgrown or fouling communal pathways. This includes but is not limited to fence lines, posts, boards, shrubs of any foliage type.

3) Not to keep on the allotment any carpet or other covering (other than recognised weed suppressant membranes) or any dangerous, harmful, polluting or contaminating substances.

4) At least 60% of the plot is to be used for the production of edible crops; 40% may be used for other horticultural leisure purposes (lawn, flower beds, compost bins, paths etc.). Children’s swings, paddling pools, or similar are not permitted.

5) A tenant can only take out a Tenancy Agreement on either a 125 square metre plot or a 62.5 square metre plot. The Tenant must cultivate the whole of the allotment personally and cannot sub-let, assign or exchange any part of it. However, family and friends can help subject to providing suitable insurance is in place.

6) Alwoodley Allotment Society will not be responsible for any personal tools left on the allotment site.

7) To abide by all the rules and leases under which the Alwoodley Allotment Society Ltd and Alwoodley Parish Council holds the land.

8) Any vehicles brought onto the site are at the owners own risk and must be parked in the designated parking area and not by the individual’s plot. Members must lock the site gates on entering and exiting the site. The combination must not be disclosed to anyone else. A member will be given the combination lock numbers after signing the tenancy agreement. This must not be passed onto anyone else.

9) The following will constitute a serious breach of this agreement on the part of the tenant and will result in one months’ notice to terminate the tenancy: -

• • Causing an on-going nuisance to other plot holders or any neighbours or to cause a permanent  obstruction or encroaching upon any path set out for the use of the occupiers of the allotments.

  •  Carrying on any trade or business from the plot / site.

  • Growing on the allotment any trees which don’t produce fruit or produce non-edible fruit.

  • Selling or carrying away any turf, mineral, gravel or clay, without written consent of the Management Committee.

  • A speed limit of 10mph max is applicable in the car park. Be aware of children exiting the social cabin.

10) Dogs are permitted to accompany plot holders on the allotment but owners must act responsibly. Dogs must not be kept in cars for the duration of the visit. Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times and owners must ensure they stay within their own plot. The dogs must be under control at all times. Any fouling must be cleared up immediately and taken off site.

      11) Sheds and other permanent structures (e.g. polytunnels) are not allowed on site, as laid down in the Lease Agreement with Alwoodley Parish Council and conditions specified in the Leeds City Council Planning Approval Document. However, rainwater collectors, and compost bins are allowed with a maximum height of 2metres. Glass or any other potentially dangerous material is not allowed on site. 

      12) Fencing and Boundaries: Before building a fence around the plot can begin the management committee will measure out the plot to confirm the boundary. It will then be the plot holder’s responsibility to maintain the boundary by strimming off the grass which can no longer be reached by the mower both internally or / and externally. It is the responsibility of the adjacent plot holders to maintain a path width of 1.5metres between plots.  The use of barbed wire or any other fencing material that may cause injury is prohibited. Fence posts and similar supports must not be concreted into the ground and fence heights should be no greater that 1.2 metres.

    13) A tenant cannot plant any fruit trees or shrubs so as to overhang or interfere with any other allotment or any path or roadway on the allotment land. 

    14) The keeping of any livestock on the site is not permitted.

    15) No horticultural chemicals are to be stored on-site.

    16) Fires are not permitted on a site, all unrecyclable waste materials must be disposed offsite. Barbeques are not allowed on individual plots but the working party social barbeques are permitted in a specifically designated area.

    17) The Tenant is responsible for displaying a permanent plot number sign at the bottom right- hand corner on the plot (plots on left side of the main path) and on the bottom left-hand side of the plot (plots on the right hand side of the main path). This must be clearly visible and maintained.

    18) Not to construct a pond, bury a tub, tank or bath below ground level and not to construct or keep a container, tub or tank containing water above ground level which may be a hazard to any person.

    19) Not to deposit or permit to remain on the allotment any refuse or decaying matter (except manure and compost as may be reasonably required for use in cultivation) or place any such matter in hedges, ditches or dykes on or adjoining the allotment. Grass and weeds once collected should either be composted on the plot or taken away from the site. Old turf should remain on the plot and composted and not be dumped around the site. No animal remains, or crematoria ashes are to buried, or contained on allotment plots

    20) Children must be supervised at all times and remain on the plot, except when accompanied by an adult.  and not allowed to stray onto other tenants plots. They must not be allowed to play on the paths or to approach the pond or ditch. They must not be allowed to circulate on the general site , pathways, car park without adult supervision.

   21) Guests are allowed on site and are subject to the same rules as members. 

   22) Bait traps are not allowed anywhere on site. Mechanical spring traps are only allowed on the individual’s plot and must be of the type approved by the committee (to not cause unnecessary suffering to rodents or birds etc). “Humane traps” are not allowed. Metaldehyde slug pellets should not be used.

   23) Hardware, pallets, plants, or tools must not be removed from vacant plots without the written consent of the committee.

   24) Decoration, wind chimes, and any unnecessary adornment is not allowed.

   25) All new plot holders and regular helpers must have the NAS Allotmenteers Liability Insurance.

    26) All plot holders should have water catchment and containment within the plot boundary appropriate for the plot size and cultivation thus giving personal access to water under general weather conditions.

Expected Cultivation Standards throughout the Year

Plot inspections

Tenants are expected to keep their plots cultivated as per the above standards. The management committee will routinely inspect all plots. If a plot is found not to be cultivated to the AASL's rules a written warning will be sent to the tenant. If a follow-up inspection shows that the tenant is still not cultivating the plot the committee will presume that the plot is available to let to someone else. An Eviction Letter will be issued by the committee, the tenants lease will be terminated and the tenant will be given 30 days to remove their belongings from the site. If rubbish is left on the plot the committee will charge any removal cost to the tenant.

Authorised Officers of the Leeds City Council or Alwoodley Parish Council shall be entitled at any time to enter and inspect the allotment.

Appendix

RULES FOR ON-SITE STRUCTURES

In the interest of amenity and preserving the Green Belt nature of the site Tenants are NOT allowed to have any structures including greenhouses, sheds or tool stores on their plots.

(a) Planning permission has been granted for a communal rest unit, communal tool lock-up unit, and an environmental toilet with disabled access.

(b) The Parish Council and Alwoodley Allotment Society Ltd shall not be liable for any damage occasioned to the structure nor for the loss of or damage to any tools or other property placed in the same by the Tenant or any other person.

(c) Fruit cages and cloches are allowed for the purpose of growing soft fruit and veg only. This structure shall be kept by the Tenant at all times in a clean, safe and tidy condition.

(d) The Tenant shall not use the Communal Tool Storage Unit for any other purpose than that of storing tools and equipment.

The Social Cabin may only be used to provide shelter from adverse weather, as a rest area where members and guests can have a drink and a snack, as a lecture room and site office. The Rest Area is not to be used to store plants, equipment, materials or produce.

(e) The Tenant shall pay and discharge all charges or fees and other outgoings which may become payable in respect of removing any structure which is not permitted as per the Lease agreement with APC and LCC.

(f) Tenants are responsible for removing their own rubbish.

(g) The communal buildings and the communal area are strictly non-smoking areas.

(h) Any wood or other materials of good quality no longer required can be left in the materials store near the toilet. Poor quality materials must be taken away by the plot holder and the committee notified of its deposit and by which plot.