Food Security and Rural Affairs Minister Daniel Zeichner has shared plans for a commissioner for English tenant farmers.

This first of its kind role aims to improve relationships and collaboration between tenant farmers, landowners and advisers.

Many tenant landlord and adviser relationships work positively and balance their interests for mutual benefit. However, this is not always the case. The Rock Review identified examples of both good and bad practice in the sector and highlighted that poor conduct on either side can lead to a breakdown in communication and stress, limiting the ability of the farm to thrive.

The appointment of a commissioner will provide a neutral point of contact for all parties who have concerns about poor conduct; helping to facilitate collaboration and solutions.

The new role

The commissioner for the tenant farming sector will hold an influential role as an advocate and a mediator for tenant farmers, landlords and advisers.

The commissioner’s responsibilities will include:

• Outreach and leadership: support good relations between agricultural landlords and tenants by promoting the voluntary Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice for England across the sector.
• Casework and investigating complaints: be a confidential and neutral point of contact for tenants, landlords and advisors who have concerns about unfair or poor practice in the sector and complaints that the Code of Practice is not being followed. The commissioner will investigate concerns and complaints with the aim of resolving issues in a confidential and collaborative way before they escalate further. Where concerns or complaints cannot be resolved, the commissioner will signpost sources of further professional advice as appropriate.
• Signposting: sharing sources of professional advice and raising awareness of the full range of formal and alternative dispute resolution options available. This may also include working with the Farm Tenancy Forum and arbitration appointing bodies to explore ways to develop more coordinated oversight and awareness of general trends in agricultural arbitrations and alternative dispute resolution.
• Guidance and other codes of practice: in collaboration with the Farm Tenancy Forum, developing any further specific guidance and codes of practice for the sector which add value or fill a gap.

Supporting rural communities

The aim is to make an appointment by spring next year.

This initiative, along with the commissioner’s advocacy, renews the focus on recognising and addressing the unique challenges that the tenanted farming sector faces and prioritises optimising schemes to benefit farmers, especially those managing tenanted land.

For more details on the Farm Tenancy Forum’s membership and terms of reference, please visit Farm Tenancy Forum: terms of reference from 2024.