THE IMPACT OF CHANGING LEGISLATION AND AGRICULTURAL POLICIES ON THE LETTING ARRANGEMENTS OF SCOTTISH LANDOWNERS

The decision by landowners to let agricultural land is influenced by a number of personal and common factors. Common factors include: the le gislation governing landlord and tenant relationships, the taxation/fi scal treatment of owner-occupied and let and, and the agricultural pol icies relevant to let and owner-occupied land. These common factors ha ve undergone a number of significant revisions during recent decades w hich have tended to reduce the attractiveness of letting. Scottish lan downers have responded by not only letting less agricultural land but letting a higher proportion under more short-term arrangements. In par ticular, the limited partnership tenancy has replaced the traditional agricultural tenancy as the most popular arrangement entered into. Thi s arrangement is covering increasing areas of land. However, ifs emerg ence will have long-term consequences for land management in Scotland.