England’s tenant farming sector now has its first ever commissioner, following Alan Laidlaw’s appointment to the newly created role today (September 26).
Alan Laidlaw, who is an experienced CEO with more than 25 years’ experience in agriculture and land management, will act as a mediator for tenants, landlords and advisers.
He aims to fulfil other responsibilities such as investigating complaints, tracking trends in the sector, offering guidance, and reporting regularly on tenant-landlord relations.
Commissioner Laidlaw will work closely with the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), and the Farm Tenancy Forum to promote the standards set out in the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice.
Defra
The appointment delivers on the government’s commitment from November 6, 2024, to create and elect the role of a commissioner for the tenanted sector, which is a sector that manages a third of farmland in England.
The Secretary of State for Defra, Emma Reynolds commented: “Tenant farmers are the backbone of food production and play a vital role in caring for our countryside.
“This appointment will provide an impartial voice between tenants and landowners to promote best practice, and foster fair, collaborative relationships as we deliver on our Plan for Change to back farmers and build a sustainable future.”
Commissioner Laidlaw said: “I am honoured to be appointed as England’s first commissioner for the tenant farming sector, supporting this vital sector with the fair framework it needs to thrive.
“Having worked across farming, land management and the rural economy, I know how strong tenant-landlord relationships can drive innovation, resilience and shared success.
“I look forward to working with farmers, landlords and advisers to promote best practice, address challenges, and help build a fair, profitable, and sustainable future for tenant farming in England”, he added.
TFA
The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has hailed the appointment as a “major success for its lobbying and as hugely significant for the landlord tenant sector in agriculture”.
The chief executive for the TFA, George Dunn believes this appointment marks a crucial step forward in cementing the industry-approved Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice in England, which aims to promote a positive and mutually beneficial relationships between tenants and landlords.
Dunn added: “We have already seen some institutional landlords including the code of practice as a standard term in their tenancy agreements and it would be an easy win for the commissioner to see that practice expanded to other institutional landlords and into the private sector.”
A survey carried out by the TFA last year found that 30% of tenant farmers felt that they were being bullied or harassed by their landlords, and this rose to 37% by reference to landlord’s agents.
Dunn said: “Bullying and harassment at any level in our sector is unacceptable but sadly the TFA sees this almost as a daily occurrence in the job that we do with and for our members.
“However, there are also many examples of good practice, and it will be important for the commissioner to shine a light on those situations to draw the contrast with those landlords and landlord’s agents who must improve their conduct.”
