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Know How / Tenancies and rents

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TENANCIES AND RENTS

Young farmer has steep learning curve in tenancy first year

A year on from securing a farm business tenancy in Yorkshire, young farmer Robert McAneney has tripled ewe numbers and switched from indoor lambing to an outdoor system. Mr McAneney…

CAREERS AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

How a council tenancy got a new entrant onto farming ladder

Greenfields Farm may only be 12ha but it has given Aled Harper a foothold in farming and a hunger to grow his business. In the three years since he was…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

One year on: Britain’s youngest council farm tenant

Britain’s youngest council farm tenant has survived a difficult first year by working hard, utilising his local community, remaining flexible and taking up diversification opportunities. Joe Rabicano was just 18…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

Council tenant tells of flaws in schemes for new entrants

A Welsh county farms tenant has spoken out about his struggles with short-term agreements, a lack of progression opportunities and insurmountable rent values, hoping to raise awareness of the difficulties…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

How small-scale crofters in the Hebrides survive challenges

The importance of taxpayer support in keeping farm businesses afloat is well understood. Latest annual farm income figures for the UK show that, out of total net earnings of £4.6bn,…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

Teamwork helps first-time tenants succeed on council farm

The first year of Brian and Carla-May Roberts’ tenancy has passed in a whirlwind of big decisions, pure nerve and hard labour. Though the couple had their own tractors and…

Practical advice

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TENANCIES AND RENTS

Advice on farm rent issues in cashflow squeeze

Tenants are advised to reassess cashflow requirements and identify potential pinch points over the coming months to avoid issues when rent is due. While the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) is…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

Rent review advice for tenants as activity increases

Demands for higher farm rents have in some cases been driven by evidence of generally better arable results from harvest 2022, higher dairy profits in the milk year ended March…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

Advice for tenant farmers considering diversification

Changes in support payments and tough trading conditions mean many farmers are considering diversifying, but tenant farmers have an extra hurdle to clear before embarking on any project. Agricultural tenancies…

BUSINESS

How legislation affects rural telecoms mast landlords

Rents for telecommunications masts have been under downward pressure for about five years, with this and other aspects making many rural landlords far less willing to renew leases or offer…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

End of farm tenancy – tips on what to watch out for

End of tenancy issues for those with longer-term tenancies under the Agricultural Holdings Act (AHA) 1986 will vary, depending on the terms of the tenancy agreement. However, even with a…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

Top tips on avoiding dilapidations disputes for tenants

Disputes about dilapidations are on the rise as a growing number of tenancies come to an end. Farmers Weekly asked Adriana Vaux, rural surveyor for the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA),…

Insights

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TENANCIES AND RENTS

New landlord-tenant code of practice – what’s changed?

The need for an Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice to put the relationship between all parties on a more positive footing was a key recommendation of the 2022…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

What would a tenant farming commissioner offer the sector?

The government’s promise to issue a call for evidence this summer on the proposal for a tenant farming commissioner (TFC) for England is yet to be fulfilled. That commitment came…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

Flexibility needed for tenanted sector growth, says survey

Increasing the use and flexibility of our land occupation markets is critical for the future commercial success of agriculture as a creator of value, says the Central Association of Agricultural…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

Analysis: What tenancy reform might look like for farmers

Initial reaction to the government’s response to the so-called Rock Review into tenancy reform in England can best be described as “mixed”. The NFU had a few warm words, welcoming…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

Analysis: Rock report recommendations on farm tenancies

Better opportunities for tenant farmers to access Defra’s emerging environmental and productivity schemes, plus a revamp of “outdated” tenancy legislation, are among the key recommendations from the Tenancy Working Group.…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

National Trust rewilding leaves tenants feeling pushed out

Several farming tenants and the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) are concerned by what they see as the over-zealous way in which the National Trust is taking productive agricultural land back…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

Why council farms have dwindled and what needs to be done

The government must increase its investment and limit land sales in order to restore and protect county holdings for the long-term benefit of next-generation farmers and local communities. The call…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

Find out average farm rents where you live 2022

All average rents in England increased during the 12 months to February 2021, according to Defra’s most recent Farm Rents report, which uses data from the latest Farm Business Survey.…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

Tackling climate change: How to improve tenants’ role

The pressure for action to prevent a global climate crisis is building, and UK farmers have an important role to play, but tenants risk getting left behind through no fault…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

How new review method could make rents more sustainable

Switching to a different review method could help individual landlords and tenants agree a more sustainable rent rate and encourage the reduction of values generally across the UK. With the…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

Government approves significant changes to AHA tenancy rules

Farmers with succession tenancies in England will have greater power to challenge landlords’ decisions under new legislation. The government has approved a number of changes to Agricultural Holdings Act (AHA)…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

Long-term decline of Welsh county farms ‘a serious blow’

The long-term decline of Wales’ county farms estate is a serious blow to the aspirations of new entrants to agriculture and progressive farmers, says the Tenant Farmers Association. Although the…