Baroness Rock expects response to tenant review ‘in a month’
© Tim Scrivener Baroness Kate Rock has said she expects the government to publish its response to her review of the tenanted sector “within a month”.
The creation of a tenant farmer commissioner is one of the report’s key recommendations that she wants ministers to take up.
This commissioner would ensure government policy is tenant-proof, safeguard fairness within the sector, and have the remit to examine and strengthen dispute resolution processes.
See also: Analysis: Rock report recommendations on farm tenancies
The government response to the review comes shortly after Defra figures were published, which showed the area of tenanted land fell by 140,000 acres in 2021-22.
Baroness Rock said: “I am concerned about this. A lot of landlords are looking at the way farming schemes, both public and private, are developing.
“They are unsure as to where those are going, and, therefore, they are taking land back in hand to be cautious.
“I am also concerned they are looking at other land use areas such as solar or rewilding.”
She went on to say longer term agreements will be vital to protect tenants, with demand for land on the rise from many different quarters.
“We need landlords and tenants to work together to ensure we produce the right amount of food and environmental outcomes.
“It is going to be longer term agreements that are really going to drive the agenda.”