The new guide covering general statutory compliance on agricultural holdings A BRAND new guide has been published for tenant farmers, landlords and their agents, summarising general statutory regulations on agricultural holdings. The Tenant Farming Commissioner has issued the guide to help interested parties understand their responsibilities with regard to statutory obligations and suggests pragmatic ways to fulfil these. The guide provides practical information on who is likely to be responsible for which aspects of statutory compliance on an agricultural property, and what action is required to be compliant with the regulations. The guidance is not about the normal legal obligations of landlords and tenants with regard to the repair and maintenance of fixed equipment – this will be covered in a separate guide later in the year – but covers additional obligations around inspections and certifications.
By Neale McQuistin THE Tenant Farming Commissioner has welcomed the news that legislation for relinquishment and assignation provisions from the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 have now been laid before the Scottish Parliament and will come into force by February 28, 2021. The legislation has a dual purpose in that it will enable retiring tenants to realise the value of a secure tenancy when relinquished and could stimulate more tenanting opportunities for new entrants to farming. The Tenant Farming Commissioner (TFC) has a specific statutory role in that he must appoint an independent valuer to calculate the amount payable by the landlord to the tenant for the relinquishment of the tenancy. To meet this requirement, the TFC is to set up a panel of experienced valuers to draw on to calculate the compensation due to the tenant.