June 2020 deadline for tenant farmer amnesty

Tenant farmers need to act now to record and agree improvements as part of the tenant amnesty Scotland’s Tenant Farming Commissioner (TFC) has warned.

Speaking after a round of meetings which focused on the technicalities of carrying out the amnesty for tenants’ improvements, TFC Dr Bob Mcintosh said that tenant farmers had until June 2020 to complete the task.

The meetings took place on farms across the country and provided practical examples of tenant’s improvements and fixtures alongside practical discussion about the nature of the improvement and if they were eligible for the amnesty.

“The meetings have been a good opportunity to encourage tenant farmers to begin the amnesty process and to prepare a definitive list of improvements that may be eligible for compensation at waygo. Tenants may be able to claim for the improvements even if some procedures weren’t followed when they were initially made,” said Mcintosh.

“It is really important to emphasise that this amnesty is only taking place for three years – and we’re half way through already. If tenant farmers have not started, they need to get started now.”

Christopher Nicholson, chairman of the Scottish Tenant Farmer’s Association, which organised the meetings, 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 a tenant’s improvements and fixtures will be essential for the new rent test due to be rolled out in the next year or so.”

Nicholson said the amnesty had the full support of the industry and said it was surprising that such a small number of tenants seemed to be taking advantage of the opportunity – and urged all tenants to get involved before it was too late.

He said that experience indicated that the average amnesty took at least nine months to complete and those leaving it until later would find busy work spells getting in the way – and as the end of the amnesty approached, agents able to advise on issues were likely to be snowed under.

“It really is the opportunity of a lifetime and will prove to be one of the most important tasks any tenant will undertake,” said Nicholson.

“Fellow tenants in England are looking over the border with envy and cannot understand why uptake in Scotland has been so slow – don’t delay, start today!”