THINGS between farm landlords and farm tenants aren’t all doom and gloom – that was the message from tenant farming commissioner Bob McIntosh this week as he addressed the Scottish Agricultural Arbiters and Valuers Association's AGM.

Levels of dissatisfaction between the two groups are actually very low, according to the findings of Mr McIntoshs' recent survey, which recorded that only 6% of tenants and 1% of landlords were experiencing what they would describe as poor or very poor, tenant/landlord relations.

Mr McIntosh suggested that this positive result was down to a number of contributing factors: “Things tenants and landlords said helped them maintain a better relationship included keeping in regular contact, more time spent dealing with each other face to face, and less use of land agents.

“However, the survey also showed up that tenants on larger units, with longer tenancy agreements in place, were marginally more dissatisfied than those in smaller farms.”

The review of the conduct of land agents also revealed comparatively low levels of dissatisfaction with their conduct, but Mr McIntosh admitted there was still perhaps some work to be done in this area: “Yes the levels of dissatisfaction with agent conduct are quite low, but I think there are still things we could be doing to improve even that level.

“That’s something for us to look at and work on in down the line as things progress. We found that tenants like to deal solely with their own agent, but that sometimes they considered this information they are given to not always be ideally suited to what they need.

“On the whole we have considered our findings to be mostly positive so far – the results certainly do not justify some of the results coming from Scottish Government publications, things are not all doom and gloom," he insisted.

Mr McIntosh continued: “Our findings show that if agents could speed up negotiations, perhaps listen more, and communicate better, then they would fair more favourably. It would seem that tenants would appreciate some emotional intelligence as well as help with technical issues.”

The survey of landlords and tenants is complete, as is the follow up survey, and Mr McIntosh’s full findings are set to be published imminently, and after a period of consultation into the issue, the conclusions will be presented to ministers at the end of April this year.

The areas that most of those surveyed had issue with were found to be when they were coming to the end of their tenancies, issues relating to repairs and maintenance, poor communication levels, and what they deem to be issues relating to 'a lack of respect'.

Looking to the future, Mr McIntosh explained that there were other codes to be considered, and other guidelines that he may look at developing, in relation to a fair rent system, a further review of agents, guidance on the beginning of end of tenancy discussions, Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) implications, and issues surrounding the relinquishment of secure tenancies.

“Since I took on my role we have made a lot of progress as far as getting out and talking to people is concerned, and that has given us massive insight into how tenants and landlords are feeling, and how they think things could be improved,” explained Mr McIntosh.

“There is still work to be done, however, there is no doubt about that. The primary purpose of the tenant farming commissioner is to promote good relations between landlords and tenants in the agricultural holdings sector, and that is something I will be continuing to work towards.”