Agricultural Tenancies and Land Use

How can we help you?

Where matters of  agricultural tenancies arise, it is important to first identify the type of agricultural tenancy, as the two statutory regimes give the landlord and tenant different rights and responsibilities. An agricultural tenancy granted before the 1 September 1995 will be an agricultural holding. Many are still in existence.

The Agricultural Holding Act 1986 is full of technicalities and there are tight time limits with no opportunity of extension. At Thompson Smith and Puxon our agricultural team is skilled in this area of law.

Our areas of expertise

• Advising on security of tenure, succession rights (and planning) and notices under the AHA
• Statutory succession and tribunal applications
• Farm business tenancies
• Tenancies tied to employment or agricultural workers occupying residential dwellings
• Contract farming and share farming arrangements
• Protected business tenancies under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 arising from other non-agricultural business on the land, for example, where land is let for grazing horses and the grazing is incidental to a livery business or riding school,  the conversion of redundant farm building to commercial use or land demised to the operators of renewable energy projects
• Agricultural supply contracts
• Seasonal and specialist cropping arrangements (including grazing, water abstraction and other licences).

Our Fees

Once we have a full understanding of the work which needs to be carried out, we will provide an estimate of costs. Where this is not possible at the outset, we will provide an estimate for initial work and liaise with you to agree further costs when the extent of eventual work required has been identified taking account of your practical requirements and objectives. Our aim is to support you by offering advice at a cost effective price.