Agricultural Bill – Proposed Tenancy Changes
The second version of the Agricultural Bill, introduced last month, proposes amendments to tenancies in England that are governed by the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986. These proposals are summarised below:
Restrictive Clauses
Tenants to be able to object if Landlords refuse consent for changes necessary to enter new financial schemes or comply with new regulationsIf a Landlord refuses consent, then there may be the ability for tenants to apply to arbitrators or third party to resolve the dispute
Succession
Retirement succession applications can be made at any age of the tenantCommercial unit test to no longer applySuitability tests to change so they relate to a person’s capacity to farm the holding commercially to high standards of production and environmental management
Rent Reviews
To replace the existing s.12 notice demanding arbitration with a “notice of determination” which can then be followed by arbitration or third party determinationBenefits to the Tenants from Landlords improvements are to be disregarded in rent reviews where the tenant is making financial contributions towards those improvements.
More Arbitrator Choice
To improve the choice and quality of arbitration services by widening the source of arbitrators to include the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers and the Agricultural Law Association. This is in addition to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, who are the current source.
It must be noted that these are all proposals at this stage, and it is likely that further reform will be sought by the NFU and the TFA in due course.
Advice on all aspects of traditional agricultural tenancies, farm business tenancies, grazing agreements and contract farming arrangements is available from our Rural Team. Call Richard Greasby or Michael Canby on 01285 883740 ,without any obligation, to see if we can help you.
Snowdrops in the Cotswolds: A Winter Highlight at Painswick
As winter begins to loosen its grip on the Cotswolds, one of the most uplifting signs of the changing seasons quietly emerges, snowdrops. These delicate white flowers, often pushing through frost-hardened ground, bring a sense of hope and renewal, and nowhere is this more beautifully displayed than the snowdrops at Painswick Rococo Garden.
Snowdrops in the Cotswolds: A Winter Highlight at Painswick
Inheritance Tax and Agricultural Property Relief
This has been a hot topic since the surprise announcements in the Autumn budget of 2024 and has threatened to turn upside down tax planning for farmers and the affordability of succession. The short article below captures the key facts and implications which have been debated from farmhouse kitchen tables up to the Government in Westminster and at every level in between…
Inheritance Tax and Agricultural Property Relief
A Very Happy New Year
Happy New Year! We are all back and fully underway into 2026. It is early days, but properties are already going under offer across all our offices and exchanges are securing homes for excited new owners.
A Very Happy New Year
The New Year Reset: The Cotswolds’ Most Luxurious Spas
If the start of the year calls for rest, renewal and a little indulgence, the Cotswolds delivers in spades. Coupled with rural tranquillity, these havens of relaxation and award-winning spas, are the region’s most restorative places to switch off and reset.
The New Year Reset: The Cotswolds’ Most Luxurious Spas
