Allotment sites can be run by Councils and Local Authorities, Federations and Private Societies and Associations.
Find your nearest allotment sites for plot applications and more information about renting an allotment, by clicking your county below.
This information is very much 'work in progress'. Please bear with us as there are a lot of allotment sites throughout the UK! It would really help us if you could submit your allotment site name on the form below.
An allotment society is a group, either formed formally or informally, of plot holders who represent the best interests of individual allotment owners or renters. They manage the daily operations of allotment sites, including maintaining the sites (fencing, water supply, creating paths, and bulk buying of seeds, compost, and discounted tools), setting allotment guidelines, and allocating plots.
Anyone looking to rent an allotment can contact their local allotment association or society.
While you rent an allotment from a society, it is actually owned by the local council. The latter retains the ownership and handles legal responsibilities, and the association manages the everyday operations of running an allotment.
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Local Council |
Allotment Association |
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Legal owner of the land |
Upkeep of all the allotment sites |
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Compliance with allotment legislation and health and safety regulations |
Maintaining waiting lists of potential members who want to rent an allotment, allocating plots and collecting rent |
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Maintain key infrastructure |
Resolve member conflicts and organise community engagement activities |
When researching allotment hire near you, you will usually find two kinds of options: private and public.
Landlords or organisations, such as churches, estates, companies or charities, tend to own the private allotments. These allotment sites are not protected under the Allotment Acts (1908-1950), which means they can be sold for commercial purposes.
If you’re searching online for “private allotments to rent near me”, you need to know that you must be associated with the organisation owning it, as access is limited otherwise.
On the contrary, publicly owned allotment sites allow anyone living in the vicinity to apply for a plot. Acceptance is based on vacancy and if there's a waitlist.
At Allotment Online, we maintain a complete directory of allotment sites to be rented. Anyone searching: “allotments to rent near me”, anywhere across the UK, can find them here. To help us help you, please share details of any new allotment that we may have missed.
Whether you’re an amateur grower or someone wanting to expand their growing journey from their home garden to an allotment, finding a public or private allotment to rent is the first step in the process.
If you’ve recently relocated to a new area or want to start spending more time out in nature, tending to your plants and meeting like-minded individuals, you could start by joining the Allotment Online online community where you can learn and share your journey!
A starting point is looking through our detailed directory as we have a growing list of allotment hire options in each county. Other ways of finding your closest allotment include:
Contacting your Local Council: Most allotment sites in the UK are council-owned. Visit your local council website and check available plots for rent. You’ll find details about joining, and if there’s a waitlist, add your name to it.
Exploring National Allotment Society: The NAS is a regional network of allotments helping you find the right society near you.
Asking an Online Community: Many allotment societies have their own website or social media group - a quick search can help you find public or private allotments to rent.
Enquiring through Parish Councils: Rural towns or villages often have local churches assist with allotment allocation. Having a word with the parish clerk allows you to connect with the people who run it.
Joining a Gardening Club: Gardening clubs often double up as allotment societies. Joining your local club can help you meet the association members, as well as understand the rules, regulations and commitment you’ll need for renting an allotment.
Asking Around for Private Allotment Information: If the council waitlist is too long, you could look for private allotments to rent.
This is a generic overview of the application process so you’ll need to talk to your individual allotment society for the exact method.
Plot rent is generally calculated yearly and depends on location (rural or urban), plot size (half or full plot) and ownership (council-owned or private ownership).
Many associations offer discounts on rent to pensioners, students or those on benefits.
Rent usually includes:
Additional costs you need to be aware of include refundable key deposits, water surcharges (some associations offer metered water facilities), buying tools, seeds and manure.
Not every allotment association that comes up when you search for “allotments to rent near me” is right for you. Here are some things to look out for:
Growing is a fulfilling experience, with several benefits. At Allotment Online, our community regularly shares advice, and practical tips to help you make the most of your plot.
From learning how to grow vegetables, to understanding the benefits of upcycling and getting to grips with crop rotation, everything you need is right at your fingertips.
Our regularly updated directory makes it easy to search for allotment plots to rent near you… So, what are you waiting for?
