TFA National Road Show on Farm Rents gets Underway

 
The Tenant Farmers Association will next week kick off its nationwide road show of meetings for farm tenants focusing on rent reviews.
 
TFA Chief Executive George Dunn said “We want farm tenants to be well prepared for this year’s rent review negotiations. Few rent reviews have taken place in recent years and so we want to ensure that tenants are ready for when the landlord’s agent calls.”
 
One popular landlord’s agent’s ploy is the attempt to use rents in the private rented sector for residential tenancies to argue for farm rent increases due to the value of farmhouses.
 
“This is one of those tactics that will have to be countered. I am well aware that the rents on residential tenancies are strong and in rural areas tend to be supported by commuters or those with second homes earning urban incomes. This is very different to the situation experienced by farm tenants. The houses which they live in are part of a complete farm unit let under a different legislative code and often with very different repairing obligations. It’s like comparing chalk and cheese and we consider it bad practice when landlords agents attempt to split out the value of the farmhouse in rental negotiations,” said Mr Dunn.
 
At each meeting, up to date information will be provided about rent settlements and likely rent levels in current reviews.
 
The meetings, which all start at 7:30pm will be take place as follows:
 
25th February:    White Hart Hotel, Broad Street, Launceston, Cornwall, PL15 8AL
26th February:    Gables Hotel, Bristol Road, Falfield, South Gloucestershire, GL12 8DL. 
27th February:    Alton Grange Hotel, London Road, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 4EG
28th February:    George Hotel, Station Street, Swaffham, Norfolk, PE37 7LJ. 
3rd March:           Station Hotel, Station Road, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 1AA. 
4th March:           George Hotel, Devonshire Street, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 7SU.
5th March:           Rendezvous Hotel, Keighley Road, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 2TA.
6th March:           Olde Barn Hotel, Toll Bar Road, Marston, Lincolnshire, NG32 2HT
 
The events are free of charge to farm tenants but any tenant wanting to attend must register their interest with the TFA on 0118 930 6130 or by email on events@tfa.org.uk.
 
“No organisation other than TFA can provide the comprehensive advice and information required by tenant farmers at this time. With the rent discussion groups, specific guidance notes, advice from its Head Office, an on-line rent databank, a recommended list of rural chartered surveyors and a market leading insurance product which will cover the costs of going to arbitration to defend a landlord’s unreasonable demand for extra rent, the TFA provides all the farm tenant needs” said Mr Dunn.
 - end -
 

Ref:  MR05
Date: 18 February 2008

 
Notes for Editors:
For further information contact George Dunn on 0118 930 6130 or 07721 998961 or Jenna Stroud, TFA Communications and Events Co-ordinator on 0118 930 6130 or 07887 777157.
 
The Tenant Farmers Association is the only organisation dedicated to the agricultural tenanted sector and is the authentic voice of tenant farmers. The TFA lobbies at all levels of Government and gives expert advice to members.