LAND JOURNAL

Have your say in the tenant farm survey

Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector Alan Laidlaw has set up a survey for those working in the agricultural tenancy sector. Don't miss your chance to contribute by 6 March

Author:

  • Sian Morgan

19 February 2026

Pigs on small farm, UK landscape

If you work in the tenanted farming sector in the UK as a tenant farmer, landlord, agent or adviser, Alan Laidlaw wants to hear from you.

The role of commissioner for the tenant farming sector was created as a result of the recommendations from the 2022 Rock review to support tenant farmers and ensure best practice and collaboration between landlords, tenants and professionals.

Alan Laidlaw was appointed as the first commissioner last September. He is asking tenant farmers to fill in a short, confidential survey that will help his team create a picture of farming in England.

Support for tenant farmers

If you work in the tenanted sector, make sure that your voice is heard and fill in the survey by Friday 6 March.

Other measures to ensure fairness in tenanted farming include the voluntary Agricultural landlord and tenant code of practice and the Farm Tenancy Forum, who advocate on your behalf.

RICS continues to support tenant farmers. Mark Sanders, RICS' representative on the Farm Tenancy Forum, encourages RICS members to fill in the survey: 'Around a third of agricultural land in England is tenanted and the sector is therefore of vital importance within the context of agriculture as a whole. 

'I would encourage RICS members who have an interest in the sector to respond to the survey to ensure that the data it captures provides an accurate picture of the current state of affairs that will inform future actions.'

Related article

RICS supports implementation of Rock review 

Read more

Sian Morgan is journals and content editor, RICS

Contact Sian: Email | LinkedIn

Mark Sanders MRICS is chair of the RICS agricultural tenancies monitoring group, RICS representative on the Farm Tenancy Forum and a chartered surveyor at Acorn Rural Property Consultancy

Contact Mark: Email

Related competencies include: Agriculture, Conflict avoidance, management and dispute resolution procedures, Landlord and tenant