The Tenant Farmers Association has launched a scheme to assist responsible landlords to reach fair agreements with their farm tenants.

The TFA’s responsible landlord scheme is a response to numerous requests from landlords received by the TFA over time who are looking for help in setting up a tenancy agreement which is fair both to them and their new farm tenants.

TFA Chief Executive George Dunn said “We are not seeking to advise landlords but we are responding to the apparent desire from some within the landlord community for us to provide a little guidance on how to draw up a fair tenancy agreement between landlords and tenants. As we are constantly arguing for better landlord tenant relationships we felt we had a responsibility to assist those landlords who approach us for help.”

The TFA scheme will not provide landlords with any advice but will provide them with a template of a draft Farm Business Tenancy (FBT) agreement, a Guidance Note looking at considerations for drawing up a tenancy agreement and a special voucher for them to pass to their new tenant who can redeem it for full membership of the Association.

“We believe that this service will help to cement a good landlord and tenant relationship from the beginning and that it will create the right platform for a sustainable future,” said Mr Dunn.

The FBT template is not designed to replace professional advice, but to provide a starting point for landlords and tenants to agree terms for a new letting before instructing professionals.

The responsible landlord scheme is a genuine attempt to help landlords and tenants to get off on the right foot at the beginning of their commercial relationship. We have received a number of unsolicited calls from landlords looking for this type of assistance and we are pleased to be in a position to offer something significant for those who want the help,” said Mr Dunn