It’s now been just over six months since Alan Laidlaw was announced as the first Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector in England. Since that time, the TFA has worked very positively with the Commissioner on individual cases and on wider matters of interest to the tenanted sector of agriculture. TFA members who have engaged with Alan and his team have been very complimentary of the experience and report that the Commissioner has brought a great deal of helpful influence in some very difficult circumstances. The Commissioner has also been willing to think outside the box in building new alliances and seeking solutions to wider issues.

The TFA has been particularly grateful for his engagement with several major landlords, complementing the work of the TFA in promoting the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice. We have seen that code become incorporated in the template tenancy agreements of organisations such as The Crown Estate and Church Commissioners. Areas of work that still need to be developed, and which the TFA is discussing with Alan, include looking at whether arbitration awards can be made public to improve accountability and precedent-setting, and also how the process could be made more cost-effective and efficient in settling disputes.

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