TFA urges tenants to take advice (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

TFA urges tenants to take advice

1:27pm Wednesday 5th September 2012 in Farming By Mike Bridgen

FARM tenants have again been advised to take advice before signing new tenancy agreements.

The Tenant Farmers’ Association (TFA) said some agents and solicitors acting for landlords were trying to impose draconian clauses to cover all possible decisions in the next CAP reform.

George Dunn, TFA chief executive, said the plan was to have the new policy in place for the beginning of 2014, but it was more likely to be 2015.

Given the uncertainty of the new CAP package, he said some landlords’ representatives were trying to cover all possibilities.

“Part of the problem is that in trying to second-guess what the new CAP regime will look like, the agreements being produced are highly complex, impregnable and extremely difficult to understand,”

he said.

“However, they often end in the same place, with the landlord having ultimate control of the potential CAP benefits.”

He stressed that the landlord’s return for letting land to the tenant was the rent.

“There is no justification for the landlord to be taking control of the arrangements forming part of the CAP for supporting farmers,” said Mr Dunn.

“Tenancy agreements need not be so complicated if this simple rule of thumb is followed.

“Sadly, we fear we will see more agreements containing inappropriate clauses in the coming months and, therefore, we will be arguing for sufficient powers within the CAP implementing regulations to unpick unfair agreements