Sell derelict land in Northern Ireland, exactly as it stands
A collapsing shed, an overgrown site, a letter from the council about the state of the place, none of it needs sorting before you talk to us. We buy derelict and neglected land across Northern Ireland as it is, no clearance, no repairs, no demolition on your part, for cash.
- No clearance, demolition or repairs required before we make an offer
- Sites with council notices, safety concerns or unclear history still considered
- We pay your legal fees, you pay nothing
- Complete in as little as four weeks, or on your timeline
Get Your Free, No-Obligation Offer
What we mean by derelict land
“Derelict” covers a wide range of sites, and we look at more than one kind.
- Collapsing or unsafe structures
Old buildings that have started to fall in, or are unsafe to go near, don’t need making safe first.
- Overgrown or neglected sites
Land that’s grown over, been used for dumping, or just left untouched for years.
- Sites with a council notice
If a council has raised concerns about the state of a site, that’s something we factor in, not something that stops us looking at it.
- Vacant sites affected by vandalism or unauthorised access
Damage, fly-tipping or trespass on an unused site is common, and doesn’t put us off.
- Derelict land with agricultural or rural buildings
Old farm buildings or outbuildings that have fallen out of use, distinct from a working farmyard.
- Sites that haven't sold through the usual routes
Land that’s sat listed for months without an offer, or been withdrawn from the market, is still one we’ll look at directly.
What we actually weigh up when pricing a derelict site
How bad the condition actually is
Whether it’s a genuinely dangerous structure or just an eyesore changes the picture considerably.
What it would cost to clear or make safe
Demolition, clearance and any remediation work are costs we account for in the offer, so you’re not left covering them yourself first.
Where it is, and how you reach it
Location and access still matter, derelict or not.
Planning and any enforcement history
Existing planning permission, a council notice, or nothing on record at all each change how we approach a site.
How it works, start to finish
Tell us what's there
Location, roughly what condition it’s in, and anything you know about council involvement or past use.
We take a proper look
Condition, access, planning history and any known issues, looked at together.
You get a number
No-obligation, and it accounts for the condition of the site, not despite it.
We take it from there
Solicitors instructed and paid for by us, completing whenever suits you.
Selling to us vs. trying to sell on the open market
| Feature | We Buy Land NI |
Open market / estate agent |
|---|---|---|
| Clearance or repairs needed first |
None
|
Usually expected
|
| Time to an offer |
Within 24 hours
|
Weeks, if a buyer is found at all
|
| Agent commission |
None
|
1 to 3% + VAT
|
| Legal fees |
We pay them
|
You pay them
|
| Sites with a council notice |
Considered
|
Often difficult to market
|
| Typical completion |
4 to 6 weeks
|
Uncertain, often stalls
|
What's derelict land actually worth in Northern Ireland?
Less than the same site in good condition, generally, and there’s no fixed figure that covers every case because the condition varies so much from one site to the next. What we offer accounts for clearance and remediation costs upfront, so the number you get is one you can act on without spending anything first to get there.
We look at the site itself: condition, access, planning history, any council involvement, and location. Around Armagh and Tyrone that often means weighing up old outbuildings against the surrounding land; the same factors apply everywhere else in Northern Ireland, just with different local weighting depending on the area.
If a council's raised concerns, or the site's genuinely unsafe
Some councils in Northern Ireland do have powers to raise concerns about land that’s become unsightly, unsafe or a risk to the surrounding area, and a notice like that can feel like pressure to act fast. It doesn’t rule out a sale, in fact selling can be one straightforward way to deal with it. We’re not able to give legal, safety or planning advice ourselves, if a notice or a safety concern is genuinely serious, your solicitor or the council itself is the right place to get specific guidance, but it’s not a reason to hold off getting in touch with us.
Selling a derelict site you've inherited or share ownership of
Neglected sites often end up in someone’s hands through probate rather than a decision to buy one, and dealing with a derelict property on top of a bereavement is a lot. We work with executors and multiple beneficiaries regularly, and we’ll wait for a grant of probate rather than push things along. Unclear boundaries, missing paperwork, or a site nobody’s quite sure who’s responsible for, we’ve worked through all of it before; anything genuinely legal is still best left to your solicitor.
Where we're buying: Armagh, Tyrone and the rest of Northern Ireland
County Armagh
Armagh, Portadown, Lurgan, Craigavon, Keady and the surrounding rural areas.
County Tyrone
Omagh, Dungannon, Cookstown, Strabane and the surrounding rural areas.
County Antrim
Belfast, Ballymena, Antrim, Larne, Lisburn.
County Down
Newry, Bangor, Downpatrick, Newtownards, Banbridge.
County Fermanagh
Enniskillen, Lisnaskea, Irvinestown.
County Derry
Derry, Coleraine, Limavady, Magherafelt.
Landowners We've Helped
Two acres of rough ground I’d inherited and couldn’t shift. Offer on the Tuesday, money in the bank six weeks later.
Margaret K.
No agent boards, no viewings, no fees. They handled the solicitors and kept me updated the whole way.
Declan M.
Two acres of rough ground I’d inherited and couldn’t shift. Offer on the Tuesday, money in the bank six weeks later.
Sam R.
Derelict land questions people actually ask us
Can I sell land with a derelict or unsafe building on it?
Yes. We buy sites with collapsing, unsafe or long-abandoned structures as they stand, no repairs or demolition required first.
Do I need to clear the site before selling it?
No. Clearance and demolition costs are something we factor into the offer, not something you need to arrange yourself.
A council has been in touch about the state of my land, does that stop me selling?
council notice or concern doesn’t rule out a sale, and dealing with it through a sale can be more straightforward than sorting the issue yourself first.
What's derelict land actually worth?
Less than the equivalent site in good condition, generally, but there’s no fixed figure. We assess the condition, access, planning history and location, and the offer accounts for what it would cost to clear or make safe.
Can I sell land that's overgrown or been used for dumping?
Yes. Overgrown sites and ones affected by fly-tipping or unauthorised use are ones we regularly look at.
Does it matter if the site has no planning permission or a complicated planning history?
No. We take planning history into account either way, and we’re not able to give planning advice ourselves.
I've inherited a derelict site, where do I start?
Get in touch with what you know. We work with executors and multiple beneficiaries regularly, and we’ll wait on a grant of probate rather than push things along.
How fast could this actually move?
Offer within 24 hours of hearing from you, typically. Once solicitors are in, most sales complete in four to eight weeks.
What do you need from me to work out a value?
No legal fees, we cover those. Clearance costs are reflected in the offer itself rather than charged to you separately.
Do I have to pay estate agent fees?
No. There’s no agent commission on a sale to us, and we cover reasonable legal costs on a standard sale.
What do you need from me to work out a value?
Location, a description of the site’s current condition, and anything you know about planning or council involvement. Photos help but aren’t essential.
Get a free valuation on your derelict land
Free valuation, cash offer within 24 hours, and absolutely no obligation to accept.