Reform Of Agricultural Tenancies

EDM number 900 in 2003-04, proposed by Simon Thomas on 24/03/2004.

That this House notes with concern the loopholes in the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1986 which renders it open to abuse; notes in particular the growing tendency of landlords to designate land as being for equestrian use, thus justifying removing the land from the tenants' control; believes that this has deprived many longstanding tenants from using land for agricultural use; is alarmed at the increasing anecdotal evidence that such land is never properly utilised for equestrian use but is soon sold on at a greatly inflated price, adding value to country properties and distorting the local housing market; and calls on the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to bring forward legislation based on the long-awaited review of agricultural tenancies.

This motion has been signed by a total of 20 MPs.