The process of filling in and submitting entitlement transfer forms to the Rural Payments Agency has been improved following feedback from farmers and agents.

Entitlement transfer (RLE 1) forms are used to tell RPA about entitlement transfers and changes to the Rural Land Register.

Blank RLE 1 forms are now available from RPA’s customer service centre, and a check-list has been drawn up which farmers can use to prevent making common mistakes when filling in the form. This can be found at www.rpa.gov.uk/rle1

Farmers who wish to transfer their entitlements in time for the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) 2011 year are reminded the deadline for RLE 1 forms to be received by RPA is 3 April 2011 and are urged to send them in as early as possible.

Guy Robertson, Entitlements Manager at RPA said:

“We have listened to feedback from farmers and agents and made improvements to the service to make it more user-friendly. Where possible, RPA will work more closely with farmers to resolve discrepancies on the RLE 1 rather than reject it outright. We are continually striving to offer a better service to farmers and their agents.”

Alice De Soer from the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) said:

“We’re pleased that RPA has introduced improvements to the entitlements transfer process for 2011 and we would certainly advise farmers to get on with transfers well in advance of 3 April deadline. This is an ideal time to sort out any transfers and submit the RLE1 form to RPA”.

Other improvements made to the service this year include:

• Applicants will need to make sure that the person signing the RLE 1 form is correctly empowered to do so. However, an RLE 1 will not now be automatically rejected if an unempowered person has signed it. RPA will give the business four weeks to empower the signatory.

• A request to amend or withdraw an RLE 1 will not now be automatically rejected if we discover an unempowered person has given it. RPA will give the business four weeks to empower the signatory.

• RPA will now accept requests to amend or withdraw an RLE 1 by telephone and e-mail, as well as in writing, provided we can authenticate the request has originated from an empowered person.

• An automated telephone request service has been set up for customers wanting single forms with the RLE 1 guidance on 0845 603 7777. Callers will need their SBI (Single Business Identifier) to hand.

Further information on entitlement transfers can be found on the RPA website or in the Single Payment Scheme RLE1 Guidance booklet.

RLE1 forms received after the 3 April 2011 deadline will be effective for the SPS 2012 scheme year.