Encouraging take-up of amnesty agreements

Farm tenants and landlords are taking advantage of the temporary opportunity to establish amnesty agreements for existing improvements.

According to Rob Forrest, the president of Scotland’s agricultural valuers, the number of people coming forward to establish agreements since June has been encouraging.

“What has been extremely encouraging is the number of landlords and tenants starting discussions, and being motivated to establish an amnesty agreement,” he said.

“One aspect that has emerged is that some significant modern improvements do not feature on the Schedule 5 list, and so it is for the tenant, landlord and their advisors to address those items separately.

“However, the fact that negotiations are already under way, allows for time for discussion and agreement on a suitable outcome.”

Mr Forrest said he “strongly advised” others to start talks.

The importance of the waygo valuations were the focus of a training event for agricultural valuers in Dunfermline.

Other topics discussed at the event included legal updates from agricultural solicitors.

Growing crop valuations, livestock, deadstock and machinery identification and valuations, planning and construction costs were also on the agenda.