Tenant Farming Commissioner issues new Code and Guidance at Advisory Forum meeting

Scotland’s Tenant Farming Commissioner has issued a new Code of Practice on the Late Payment of Rent and a Guide on the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution today Tuesday 17 April, 2018.

The code is the fifth to be published by the Commissioner under the authority of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016. The code sets out the processes and behaviours that should be adopted in all cases of late payment of rent for agricultural tenancies.  It also outlines the steps to take by a Landlord, if rent payment is not made on time, to understand what has gone wrong and to ensure that the tenant is given every opportunity to rectify the matter.

The Guide on the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the Scottish agricultural holdings sector outlines the ways in which ADR can we be used in order to resolve disputes between tenant farmers and landlords without going to court. If parties involved in a dispute take greater responsibility and ownership of it they are more likely to be satisfied with the outcome.

The code and guidance were published at the second meeting of the Tenant Farming Advisory Forum, chaired by the Scottish Land Commission’s Tenant Farming Commissioner, Bob McIntosh.

Bob McIntosh said:

“I am pleased to publish the latest code and guidance at the second meeting of the Tenant Farming Advisory Forum.

“It is important to have a forum where all of the industry bodies can come together keeping important issues at the forefront and working to secure the future of the tenant farming sector and the vital contribution it makes to Scotland’s rural economy.

“Strong and constructive relationships are a vital component in creating a thriving and prosperous tenant farming sector.   The code and guide published today both work to ensure that relationships are strengthened and do not collapse when under duress or in difficult circumstances.”