Proposals made to ‘revitalise’ tenant farming

Measures including the creation of a tenant farming commissioner, opportunities for apprentices and new types of tenancy are among 49 recommendations for the Scottish government following a review of agricultural holdings legislation.

In a statement to the Scottish parliament, Mr Lochhead – who led the review – said the final report contained seven recommendations to strengthen tenant farmers’ right to buy, including proposals intended to provide tenant farmers with a solution to “escape the clutches of bad landlords”.

Recommendations for the Scottish government include:

• enabling 1991 Act tenants to apply to the Scottish Land Court to force the sale of the holding where a landlord does not meet their obligations

• measures to widen succession rights for 1991 Act tenants

• creating a Tenant Farming Commissioner

• improving how rents are set

• creating the potential for apprenticeship opportunities for new entrants

• providing long term and flexible letting vehicles to encourage the release of more land into tenancy.

Mr Lochhead said: “Tenant farming is vital to the agricultural economy and sustaining our rural communities. Having a farm tenancy is often the gateway to career in farming.

“But despite previous efforts to improve the industry, the amount of tenanted agricultural land in Scotland continues to fall - almost halving in the past 30 years - and we are in danger of closing the door on future generations of farmers unless we act.

“Some of these proposals relate to right to buy and are intended to provide tenants with a solution to escape the clutches of bad landlords – but for the vast majority of landlords, who have positive relationships with their tenants, these recommendations will pose no threat.”