30% of tenant farmers have felt bullied or harassed by their landlords, according to the results of a new survey carried out by the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA).
This figure rose to 37% in dealing with landlords’ agent and representatives.
The TFA said the survey results paint a “bleak picture” of the relationships between landlords and tenants within the agricultural sector.
The survey of 425 tenant farmers also revealed that 70% did not meet with their landlords on a regular basis and 40% felt ignored by them.
16% of those surveyed agreed that their landlords understood their businesses, with 60% of tenants disagreeing.
TFA chief executive, George Dunn, said: “It was particularly shocking to find that 30% of respondents to the survey felt ‘bullied or harassed’ by their landlords and that this statistic rose to 37% in dealing with landlords’ agents and representatives.
“Tenant farmers are entitled to the quiet enjoyment of their holdings, and it is completely unacceptable in this day and age for anybody to feel either bullied or harassed by their landlords or their agents.
“It is bad enough that 40% of respondents felt ignored by their landlords and that 70% of tenants responding didn’t even meet with their landlords on a regular basis. These metrics need to change without delay.”
‘Hugely disappointing’
The survey was conducted by the TFA as part of the call for evidence issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on the potential role of a new tenant farming commissioner by the report of the Rock Review.
Dunn said that, because he was a member of Baroness Kate Rock’s agricultural tenancy working group, he is “not surprised” by the results, but they are “hugely disappointing”.
“There is clearly a huge distance to travel before tenant farmers feel that they are being treated fairly, reasonably and with respect,” he said.
“There is no doubt of the need for both a robust Code of Practice for the landlord tenant sector and a new tenant farming commissioner, as recommended by the Rock Review.
“There was almost a unanimous view from respondents that both initiatives would be massively helpful in improving landlord tenant relationships.
“I very much hope that Defra will listen to these heartfelt views and doesn’t delay any further in taking the actions that are necessary to set relationships within the sector on a better trajectory.”
90% of survey respondents said it would be a good idea for the government to appoint a tenant farming commissioner.
Dunn said that although the results stem from a survey of a few hundred tenant farmers, they indicate that there is “a lot to do” to reach the the aspiration set out within the report of the Rock Review, which was to see a greater degree of collaboration within the landlord tenant sector of agriculture.
“Landlords and landlords’ representatives need to be more openhanded, available to meet and reasonable in their approach. Fairness and mutual respect must be the hallmarks of these relationships going forward.”
