New guidelines on how to handle late rent payments have been issued to tenant farmers and landowners by Scotland’s tenant farming commissioner, Bob McIntosh.
Tenant farmers can lose their secure agricultural leases if rent is overdue, and the new code of practice advises on alternative dispute resolutions and the behaviours that should be adopted when payments are late.
The code emphasises the importance for tenants of paying rent on time and sets out the risk of losing the tenancy if reminders to pay are ignored. For landlords, it seeks to ensure that they behave in a reasonable manner by discussing the late payment with the tenant and giving him every opportunity to rectify the situation.
It also requires the landlord to invoice the tenant for the rent due.
This is the fifth code issued for the sector by Mr McIntosh who said the publication aimed to ensure relationships are strengthened and do not collapse when under duress or in difficult circumstances.
