The Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice for England - consultation now live

In February 2022 the DEFRA Secretary of State asked Baroness Rock to Chair a newly formed Tenancy Working Group with two clear objectives. The first was to look at how the new government financial schemes should be accessible, open, and flexible to tenant farmers. The second was to look at longer term changes that would ensure a robust, vibrant, and thriving agricultural tenanted sector for the future. With roughly a third of farmed land in England being tenanted, tenant farmers are vital to the nation’s food production alongside the delivery of environmental outcomes.

Agricultural tenancies are a core area of work and fee income for many RICS Rural Practice members and firms. RICS members can and do act on behalf of landowners and tenants during agricultural tenancy negotiations. The nature of farming means that this can be, at times, a difficult and emotive area of practice, where appropriate conduct and behaviour is just as important as technical expertise.

One of the recommendations resulting from the Rock Review was the production of a Code of Practice on socially responsible behaviour for landlords, occupiers, and agents with the intention that the Code set out standards of expected behaviour for all in the sector and help encourage more collaborative tenant-landlord relationships.

The Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice for England has now been drafted by an industry group consisting of representatives of all key stakeholders in the sector, including RICS, which is now consulting on this draft code. The views of Rural Chartered Surveyors and all sector stakeholders are encouraged in this key piece of work that will support the agricultural tenanted sector and its stakeholders far into the future.

We welcome your feedback, please click here to engage with this consultation and have your say.