LARGE numbers of tenant farmers across the North-East are responding to a pilot rent survey being trialled in the region.

The NFU survey was launched just before Christmas and has already attracted more than 100 responses from tenants across Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland.

Staff at the NFU’s regional office in York say they are delighted with the response so far but urge as many tenants as possible to take part.

The aim is to build a picture of rent levels being achieved for different farm types across the region.

The survey asks eight questions related to tenancy type, farm type, buildings, grade of land, diversification and tenancy term. Information received will be used completely anonymously.

Lucinda Douglas, regional NFU tenants specialist, said: “The flood of completed questionnaires shows that our local tenant farmers are willing to share basic information in return for a real insight into local rent levels when they face a forthcoming rent review.

“The survey is voluntary, but obviously the more people take part, the more useful the initiative will be. There is still time to get involved so I would urge any tenants to take a few minutes to respond.”

The survey form can be downloaded from the regional homepage of NFUOnline.com.

The aim is to collect the information by the end of January and made available to NFU members from the beginning of March.