Written question asked by Anna Gelderd (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 May 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 22 May 2025. It was answered by Daniel Zeichner (Labour) on Thursday, 12 June 2025 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Farms: Tenants

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage landowners to offer longer-term leases to tenant farmers.

Answer: The Department recognises the benefits that longer-term tenancy agreements can provide for both tenants and landlords. The joint Defra-Industry Farm Tenancy Forum is working on guidance and best practice to encourage more landlords and tenants to enter into longer-term agreements. Alongside this we continually look at how fiscal and policy interventions across the Department may impact on landlord decisions to offer longer-term agreements. In addition, we are in the process of appointing a Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector to help embed fair practice across the sector.

Secondary information