Farmers union calls for test case
23 Dec 08
Secure tenancy rents should not reflect limited duration tenancies - NFU
NFU Scotland has announced that it is prepared to go the Land Court to test the correct levels of farm rents following this year's round of rent reviews.
The union is unhappy at a claim by land agent CKD Galbraith last week that it had secured an average rent increase of 43% on 45 of its 50 Martinmas rent reviews.
The firm pointed out that most of these rents had not been reviewed for more than 10 years, but tenants' representatives have condemned the confrontational tactics used by landlords' agents, claiming that large increases could render farming units no longer viable.
A principal point of contention is whether limited duration tenancies can be used as comparables in setting the rents of secure tenancies. The union's advice is that they should not, but it believes that one estate is preparing to test the point before the Land Court.