The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has said that it is delighted that Defra will proceed with the appointment of a commissioner for the tenant farming sector in England.
TFA Chief Executive, George Dunn, said, “In what has been an extremely dark week for farmers considering the October budget, the announcement of the appointment of the commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector offers a shaft of much welcome light.”
Food Security and Rural Affairs Minister Daniel Zeichner said, “Food security is national security – and tenant farmers are essential to our country’s food production. That is why I am delighted to confirm that this government will appoint a commissioner to advocate for the tenant farming sector. I look forward to working alongside our new commissioner, tenants, landlords and the wider industry to boost Britain’s food security and support nature’s recovery.
The appointment of a commissioner has long been called for by the tenant farming sector and was a key recommendation of the independent Rock Review. The Commissioner’s role will be to improve collaboration between tenant farmers, landowners and their advisors. They will help ensure fairness in the sector, investigating and facilitating solutions to complaints. They will hold an important leadership and advocacy role, providing a trusted and confidential point of contact for tenants, landlords or advisors who have concerns about poor behaviour.
Dunn said, “Following the publication of the recently agreed code of conduct for landlord/tenant relationships within agriculture, it was vital that the government took the extra step of appointing a commissioner to oversee that code. This appointment will give that code additional and much needed teeth.”
The commissioner will promote the standards outlined in the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice and will work alongside Defra and the Farm Tenancy Forum to ensure a fair, balanced and collaborative relationship between tenant and landowner.
The commissioner will work closely with the forum providing regular reports and updates and will track trends and issues providing advice and guidance on how to improve practice in the sector for industry and government to consider. The impact of the commissioner role will be reviewed after two years in consultation with the Farm Tenancy Forum to assess effectiveness and inform future developments.
Dunn said, “As well as reacting to complaints, the TFA believes that there is a role for the new commissioner to provide a sounding board for Defra and wider government to tenant proof it’s policies, statutes and regulations. Additionally, the TFA would want to see the commissioner conduct an overview of the conduct of formal dispute resolution facilities, including arbitration, within the landlord tenant sector to see how they can be streamlined, made more cost-effective and less burdensome.”
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) President Victoria Vyvyan said, “It is crucial for the healthy future of the farm tenancy sector that the commissioner is independent from Defra, and is fair and balanced for landlords, agents and tenants. The commissioner must be a well-respected neutral party with a good understanding of the agricultural world, and have the resources to properly assess any cases that reach them.”
The commissioner will be appointed through an open competition process with the aim of making an appointment by spring next year.