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Renting out stables- Please advise!

12 replies

liftthatup · 31/07/2011 18:24

We are fortunate enough to live on an arable farm which we acquired including about 12+ stables, floodlit sand school,a private hacking track around the boundaries of the land and plenty of parking space. Several years ago a lot of effort was put in to improving the stables and business was brisk at the time. Since then the farm was sold and then sold again to us and the problem is that neither DH nor I have any knowledge of horses or real idea of what to do with the buildings. All we do know is that it is a sin to allow them to deteriorate. I put an ad on Gumtree and a man has come round to view them and seems interested in renting about 8 of the stables. We would not have any active role in attending to the animals- "landlords" only I guess. Can anyone suggest how much we should be charging on a weekly/monthly basis? Is there a group discount? We are truly clueless. Any advice extremely welcomeSmile We are in Northern Ireland if that makes any difference.

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Butkin · 31/07/2011 20:24

I don't really know how you should cope with your own situation/location but some notes on our experience.

We rent 4 stables with room behind for storing hay, shavings, show jumps etc. We pay our landlord (who is not horsey either!) 400 pounds a quarter.

In addition we pay a farmer - separate contract - 450 pounds a quarter to rent 7 1/2 acres of neighboring paddocks.

With both arrangements we have signed contracts with landowner and farmer for 3 years (cancellable by mutuel agreement).

In the stabling agreement the landowner provides electricity and water as part of the agreement. In the field agreement the farmer provides running water to the Summer paddock and does hedge trimming, fertilising etc.

In your contract you need to work out things like insurance liability (we have to have 2 million cover in case our animals cause any accidents etc) and who pays for electricity, water, repairs etc (I guess floodlit menage costs a lot to upkeep). Are you offering him unrestricted access to the floodlit menage and who will upkeep it (harrowing etc?).

If you are doing just stabling that may be enough but are you offering land as well? If not what does he plan to do with his horses when he wants to turn them out? If offering land there are lots more things to think about so come back to us on that.

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liftthatup · 31/07/2011 21:59

Thank you so much for replying. DH thinks 8 stables and 8 acres of land with him undertaking upkeep of menage, hedges etc. Water is not a problem and we hadn't got as far as electricity! Only came up with this plan on Friday... That's why your input is invaluableSmile. I reckon on unrestricted access to menage and there are any number of byres etc for storage. The man who called was talking £300 a month for all this but DH felt that was low- however we don't have a clue so please keep us right!

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Mousesmummy · 31/07/2011 22:42

Hi there I don't really know anything at all but just doing the maths and it seems VERY cheap to me! That works out at just over £9.30 per week per horse - we live in a relatively cheap area compared with others I have seen on here but we pay £22 for complete DIY livery.

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Pixel · 31/07/2011 23:04

I don't know what prices are like in Ireland but £300 per month seems like a joke when you consider there is a plot of land near us similar to what you are describing, about 6 stables, storage barn, I think it was about 10 acres, plus a manege that was really only big enough for lunging. It was advertised for £1000 per month and it was snapped up.

Place I'm at is about £25 per week which includes stable, grazing, water, electricity and use of manege/jumping paddock/cross-country course, plus a small space for storage of feed etc.

We are in south of England.

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liftthatup · 01/08/2011 04:39

I'm liking the feedback! Of course, he may not come back to us a all but there is a big gap between £1000 and £300. We really need to do more research but thanks so much for replies. Any more input/ suggestions out there? BTW, what is lunging??!! Told you- clueless..

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Disasterpiece · 01/08/2011 15:35

Dont let someone come and rip you off by having all the stables off you and wanting massive discounts.

You could very easily get upwards of £20 a week per stable so you want to be looking at the very least £960 a month (4xweekly)

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kayb123 · 01/08/2011 17:12

i pay £80 p/m for around 2 acres, with stable (barn stable style) light and water, access to school (with jumps if needed) area with lights any time i like and any lengh of time (only 5 at yard), and free straw for bedding, and mile of private riding.

the school is harrowed often, and the fields are sprayed with weed killer.

the cost really depends on what you have to offer/location etc..i.e. will he be doing the upkeep of land/building? who will be paying the insurances? water bill? eletric bill?...

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liftthatup · 01/08/2011 17:19

Disaster (you stole my identity)- he went on about bulk discount idea etc but DH would leave them empty rather than accept less than he thinks they are worth . I have now put an ad in local Farm Week paper where they seemed to think timing was good as horsey events are approaching... Hoping for other interest. Keep opinions coming and thanks again everyone.

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Butkin · 01/08/2011 17:56

I'd be thinking that 500 pounds would be the minimum per month ie 15.62 per horse per acre.

You should also consider that somebody else may not want to come and share with somebody who has such a large proportion of the stabling. Do you think you'd find any people to take the other 4 boxes?

Also I wouldn't think 8 acres would be enough for 8 stables if he fills them. We've 1 horse and 3 ponies on 7 1/2 acres and only through good management and electric fencing do we manage to keep them out all year round (stabled at night in the Winter).

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Butkin · 01/08/2011 17:56

P.S. Lunging is when you exercise a horse by getting them to go round you in a circle at the end of a very long lead rope.

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Mirage · 01/08/2011 18:24

We pay £15 a week [mates rates] for a stable,paddock,yard and unlimited use of a floodlit menage.All jumps, cones,barrows and poo pickers are included,as is electricity and maintenance.We are lucky enough not to need off road hacking as my parents have 250 acres nearby.The guy offering you £300 is having a laugh.Have you checked out websites like Horse and Hound to see what other people are charging?

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Mousesmummy · 01/08/2011 18:49

Yep I would agree re: bulk buying - a girl at our yard has 3 but she pays x3 £22 per week - no discount. Put adverts up in local feed/equipment stores too as most people will pass through one of these at some point before the winter in prep.

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