Tenant farmer

I act for a farming family. Father who died in February 2007 entered into a tenancy agreement in August 1961 of an agricultural holding comprising land agricultural buildings and farmhouse. The farmhouse was the family home. Father farmed the holding until his death.

In the mid-1960s the two sons became partners in the farming business and they have continued to farm the holding since the death of their father. The farmhouse continues to be their only residence.

The sons are eligible to succeed to the tenancy and have made within the statutory time limits application to the Agricultural Land Tribunal. The tribunal has not yet given a ruling on the application.

The landlord has now offered a substantial sum to be paid to the two sons should they agree to vacate the holding. The sons who are themselves close to retirement age ...