TENANT farmers, landowners and land agents must comply with a new code of practice issued yesterday.
The rules, drawn up by Scotland’s Tenant Farming Commissioner (TFC) Bob McIntosh, cover the amnesty on improvements, which begins today.
The amnesty gives those who have carried out work without giving the statutory notice needed for compensation the chance to have its value recognised at waygo.
McIntosh said: “The code is intended to help landlords and tenants work together in a fair and transparent manner to agree on a definitive list of tenants’ improvements which may be eligible for compensation at waygo.
“Disagreements should be resolved by dialogue, mediation or arbitration. Failure to reach agreement or engage in mediation will not in itself necessarily constitute a breach of the code but the TFC may decide that an obstructive or unreasonable attitude by either party may constitute a breach.”
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: “A vibrant, robust tenant farming sector is a key component of a strong, sustainable rural economy, now and in the future.
“I welcome the publication of this Code of Practice, which has been developed through the Tenant Farming Commissioner working closely with stakeholder organisations, I hope that it will prove useful to both tenants and landlords.”
Meanwhile, one of the country’s biggest landowners is in talks with several of its tenant farmers over potential buy-outs or long-term deals.
Buccleuch Estates announced the move in the wake of concerns from the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association over claims some estates aim to end limited partnership tenancies and use the ground for tree planting instead.
Ten farms in the company’s Bowhill, Eskdale and Liddlesdale and Queensberry estates are involved in sales talks.
Meanwhile, other limited partnership tenants are considering longer-term deals.
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