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Tenant Farming Commissioner issues Sporting Rights Code of Practice

Scotland’s Tenant Farming Commissioner, Bob McIntosh, has issued a Code of Practice to be followed by agricultural tenants, landlords, agents acting on their behalf and the holder of sporting rights.

The Code of Practice for The Management of Relationships Between Agricultural Tenants and the Holder of Sporting Rights is the third to be published by the Commissioner under the authority of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016.

The Tenant Farming Commissioner (TFC) is responsible for issuing a suite of codes to guide and shape the behaviours and processes which accompany the interactions and negotiations between landlords and tenants, including agents and intermediaries acting for either party.

Bob McIntosh said: ‘’ It is normal for landowners who let agricultural land to retain the game sporting rights, and to exercise those rights either themselves or to lease them to a third party.

The aim of this code of practice is to minimise conflict between landlords, tenants and the holder of the sporting rights on tenanted land “The code explains that good communication and cooperation between the landlord, tenant and holder of sporting rights is key and provides a series of actions and behaviours which if followed should minimise conflict.

“I have worked closely with the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association, NFU Scotland, Scottish Land & Estates and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in developing this code so that, wherever possible, agreed positions are reasonable and fair to both landlords and tenant farmers.

“As with all codes issued by the Tenant Farming Commissioner, if a landlord or tenant feels that the other party, or an agent of that party, has acted in a way that breaches the code of practice they are able to make a complaint to the Commissioner. “

The Code of Practice for The Management of Relationships Between Agricultural Tenants and the Holder of Sporting Rights can be found on the Land Commission’s website landcommission.gov.scot.