Crofting Commission Annual Notice
With over 20,000 crofts in existence covering an area from Shetland to Ayrshire, it is essential that an accurate record is kept of this land. As the body responsible for overseeing and regulating the crofting system in Scotland and ensuring that crofters are fulfilling their legal obligations, this is one of the Crofting Commission’s main tasks.
Every January, the Crofting Commission sends out an annual notice to all crofters. This is a legal requirement under the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2010. It is a legal obligation for both tenant and each named owner occupier crofter to complete and return the form for each croft they occupy. Non-compliance or giving false information is a criminal offence, can lead to prosecution and/or the loss of their croft and rights as a crofter.
Key Questions in the Annual Return
The questions in the return will vary from year to year but will typically include questions on the following:
- Status – has there been a change in the status of the croft through subletting, inheritance etc.
- Land use - what is the croft being used for e.g. grazing, cropping, forestry and how the land is being maintained.
- Crofting duties – has the crofter fulfilled their duties, mainly that they must live within 32km of the croft and that they must ‘make purposeful use of the land’.
Importance of the Annual Return
Although there has been an increase in the return rate (up from 68.7% in 2022/23 to 75% in 2023/24) the Crofting Commission’s ultimate goal is to achieve a 100% return rate. To reach this target they have recently written out to all 3,500 crofters who failed to submit their annual notice for the 2024 reporting year. This lack of data means that approximately 4,900 entries in the Register of Crofts remain undeclared, hindering the ability to accurately assess the status of crofts, ensure that occupiers are meeting their statutory duties and to provide valuable information to help shape future policy and support mechanisms.
While previously, the Crofting Commission took a more lenient stance on non-returns, there has now been a significant shift in their approach. Gary Campbell, Chief Executive of the Crofting Commission, stated: "The Annual Notice is fundamental to the regulation of crofting and the proper stewardship of our unique crofting system. While we always aim to support crofters, it is imperative that everyone understands and fulfils their legal obligations. Failure to return the Annual Notice is a serious matter, and we are now taking direct action to address this." With more demand for crofts and crofting communities facing challenges from depopulation and absentee crofters, this shift reflects a broader trend towards accountability from all those involved in land management in Scotland.
The Submission Process
The 2025 notice, to be issued in early January 2026, will include clear instructions on how to complete the form. Although paper forms are no longer sent out, the Crofting Commission has indicated that if you do not have access to a computer or are unable to fill out the form online for any other reason, you can phone their office and they will assist in submitting your information, alternatively you can contact your local SAC Consulting office for assistance.
To ensure that letters are sent out to the correct addresses preventing delays, and issues with compliance, the Crofting Commission are asking crofters to check the Register of Crofts now to ensure details are accurate. You can do so by visiting this website. Any inaccuracies can be updated by completing the form ‘Notification of Change of Contact Details’. The form can be found online here.
Remember, the submission of accurate and timely returns are essential to ensure a healthy future for crofting in Scotland!
Five Top Tips
- Crofters have a legal duty to submit their Annual Notice.
- Not doing so Is a criminal offence – if you are found guilty, it could result in you having a criminal conviction.
- Ensure your contact details are up to date now on the Register of Crofts.
- The Annual Return is essential to ensure a healthy future for crofting in Scotland.
- Your local SAC Consulting office can help you complete and submit your return.
Mairi Murray, Agricultural Technician, Mairi.Murray@sac.co.uk
Unearthed is the exclusive SAC Consulting members' monthly newsletter. Unearthed offers insights and tips from our experts on what we think is in store for farming and crofting in the coming months in order to protect and enhance your business.
Posted by Unearthed News on 12/11/2025
