Early talks key to problem solving

 GUIDANCE FOR tenants and landlords on how to make the most of the CAP reform opportunities has been published by the Tenancy Reform Industry Group.

The guidance advises tenants and landlords on how to agree about the handling of the single payment within existing tenancy agreements and particularly on what should happen to entitlement to the single payment at the end of a tenancy.

Both landlords and tenants are strongly advised to read the guidance. It covers a wide range of issues that the parties need to consider in order to make informed decisions for the years ahead.

Lord Whitty has written to all major landowners in the country to ensure they take heed of the new guidance from TRIG when discussing arrangements for tenant agreements.

“I want to ensure that there is no distortion of the balance of power between landlords and tenants under the new single payment,” said food and farming minister Lord Whitty.

“It‘s important that landlords and tenants talk to each other and are fair to each other.

“The single payment should not be used by either to gain an unfair advantage over the other,” Lord Whitty said.

TRIG chairman Julian Sayers said there are no simple solutions to the problems which may arise, since each case is different depending in part upon the historic and current relationship between the parties.

“The key to unlocking the problems as they arise is for landlords and tenants to talk to each other at the earliest opportunity and where appropriate to seek professional advice,” Mr Sayers said.

She added that by adopting such an approach tenants and landlords can avoid disputes and reach agreements about fair solutions before claims are lodged for the single payment next year.

DEFRA will monitor the situation when the single payment comes in next year, to see whether any further measures are necessary to preserve a fair balance between landlords and tenants.

Tenants and landlords are being urged to consider the issues discussed in the guidance sooner rather than later, since in some cases decisions for the years ahead will have to be made already in the coming months.