Know How / Tenancies and rents

Case studies

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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 and tips on common issues for tenant farmers

Tenants, like all farmers, have many issues to contend with. Common issues that frequently arise include rent rises, changes in tenancy terms and succession. We look at how to deal…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

What renter reform means for rural residential landlords

Regulation in England’s private rented sector could be at its tightest ever within just 18 months if government proposals become law. The Renters (Reform) Bill, introduced to parliament by the…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

6 of the most common challenges for tenant farmers

The shifting nature of farm policy and tenancy legislation means tenants often benefit from support when negotiating with landlords. Farmers Weekly asks George Dunn, chief executive of the Tenant Farmers…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

Changes to farm tenancy succession - what you need to know

Currently, a person wanting to succeed to an Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 (AHA ‘86) tenancy must be both eligible and suitable, for which there are several tests. Eligibility first requires…

BUSINESS

Business Clinic: Worried about horse trek across our fields

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s experts can help. Hannah Burton of Carter Jonas Rural sets out how to tackle notification form a landlord…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

Switching from an AHA to FBT: What tenants should consider

It is unusual for a tenant to give up an Agricultural Holdings Act (AHA) agreement for a farm business tenancy (FBT) but not unknown. The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) adviser…

Insights

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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…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

Find out average farm rents where you live 2021

The average rent for full agricultural tenancy (FAT) agreements rose by 4% in the same year that the average rent for farm business tenancy (FBT) agreements fell by 4%, according…