Dismay at level of take-up for amnesty on improvements

TENANTS: Period already past the halfway point

Tenant farming campaigners have expressed their dismay that so few tenants have come forward to take advantage of the one-off amnesty period for improvements.

With the amnesty period already past the half-way point, the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association (STFA) and the Scottish Land Commission are stepping up pressure on tenants to act after completing a national round of farm walks where they explained to farmers how to carry out the amnesty for tenants’ improvements. These improvements can range from buildings, fencing and housing improvements to less obvious land improvements such as drainage and stone clearance.

STFA chairman Christopher Nicholson said the average amnesty would take at least nine months to complete, and warned tenants who are not getting the process under way over the next few months that they will struggle to get it finished by June 2020.

He said: “Completing the tenants’ amnesty is one of the most important tasks most tenants will ever undertake.

“Not only will this regularise and record improvements, but identifying tenants’ improvements and fixtures will be essential for the new rent test due to be rolled out in the next year or so.

“The amnesty has the full support of the whole industry, it has been widely publicised and is being actively encouraged by the Scottish Government so it is surprising that such a small number of tenants are taking advantage of it and we would urge all tenants to get involved before it is too late.”

Tenant Farming Commissioner Bob McIntosh said: “It is really important to emphasise that this amnesty is only taking place for three years – and we’re half-way through already.”

The amnesty includes fencing, buildings and housing as well as drainage and stone clearance.