Confidence has to be retained

Sir, – The article “Buccleuch’s handling of tenant case criticised” (Courier, October 18) did not reflect that this issue has already been the subject of a report by the Scottish Land Commission’s Tenant Farming Commissioner (TFC), published in July.

Buccleuch itself instigated investigation by referring the matter to the TFC.

He found Buccleuch acted within the law in all cases and, in the particular case of farm mentioned, had offered the tenants more than we were required to by law.

While the TFC did find that we had not necessarily followed more recently published landlord-tenant guidelines, this related to the dissolution of Limited Partnership agreements and was not applicable in the case of Cleuchfoot Farm.

Angus McCall, from the Scottish Tenant Farmers’ Association, commented that landowners should wait until a tenancy comes to an end then plant trees.

This is exactly what Buccleuch did.

The tenants at Cleuchfoot rented the farm on a five-year long lease, known as a Short Limited Duration Tenancy and that came to an end in February.

An agreement, which we believe to be fair and reasonable, was made that would enable the tenants to remain on the farm for a further 21 months until November 2019.

The article creates a worrying narrative for the tenant farming sector.

Much progress has been made in improving relationships and guidance for the industry from the TFC is to be applauded.

However, the fundamentals of any lease or agreement is that it is for a fixed period of time and knowing that the asset – whether a farm, house or any building – will be returned on a set date gives landlords the confidence to let.

If this confidence is lost then it will be to the detriment of the sector. John Glen.

Chief Executive, Buccleuch, Henderson Place Lane, Edinburgh.