The whole area of agricultural tenancies is a highly specialised one that requires an in-depth knowledge -- our firm is one of the few in the country to offer such expertise.

Our nationally renowned team has extensive knowledge that covers both modern farm business tenancies (FBTs), as well as those protected tenancies governed by the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986.

Even though the legislation governing FBTs has been in place for some time, there is still a great deal of misunderstanding about the differences between FBTs and 1986 Act tenancies.

Farm Business Tenancies

Our services in this area include:

• Drafting and consideration of FBTs - both short term and long term agreements
• Advising clients on the implications of the Mid Term Review of the Common Agricultural Policy
• Establishing the parties' rights under an existing agreement
• Dealing with Milk Quota issues
• Advising clients on the pending Tenancy Reform Industry Group reforms to agricultural tenancies
• Assisting fellow professionals with tenancy negotiations.

Protected Tenancies under the 1986 Act

We advise clients on a range of issues, including:

• The relation to existing written agreements
• Preparing and negotiating written agreements to replace existing oral tenancies, including the service of relevant notices
• Advice on succession issues
• The implications of the Mid Term Review of the Common Agricultural Policy and the introduction of the Single Farm Payment Scheme
• Dealing with Milk Quota issues
• Issues surrounding termination of tenancies
• Arbitration matters.

As well as handling commercial matters, the Agriculture Team also advises clients on disputes relating to agricultural tenancies.

Single Farm Payment Scheme

With the imminent introduction of the Single Farm Payment Scheme, the team has been at the forefront of preparing appropriate clauses for tenancy agreements and advising clients and other professionals on the ramifications of the new scheme.

Consequently, we are able to deal with the full spectrum of agricultural tenancy matters from drafting relatively straightforward agreements, through to long-term FBTs, incorporating sophisticated subsidy clauses and providing highly specialised advisory work.