What's New

The UK Government announced up to £15 million of support will be available to respond to flooding in areas of Northern Ireland in the absence of the Executive. The money has been made available through the granting of a request made to HM Treasury jointly by the UK Government’s Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland’s Department of Finance to reallocate funding from capital to resource budgets – recognising the need to be nimble and act swiftly at times of crisis for communities....

The Welsh Government has announced proposal to update and reform the Council Tax system in Wales. The consultation seeks views on how and when changes should be made to the basic structure of Council Tax in Wales and update the property valuations used. See the consultation for full details and how to respond. The deadline for the consultation is 6th February 2024.

The Department of Finance has launched a 14-week consultation on a range of rates reliefs and allowances. The announcement summarises the seven proposals for changes to rate reliefs: four are in the non-domestic sector, and three are in the domestic sector, with greater detail in the consultation papers. The deadline for the consultation is 13th February 2024....

DEFRA has announced that Round 2 of the Slurry Infrastructure Grant is now open for applications. Our website note of 13th October provides an overview of the Slurry Infrastructure Grant Round 2 Guidance, published by DEFRA on 13th October 2023. The grant is to improve or expand slurry storage capacity and to cover stores. It must be used to reach the grant storage requirements: 6 months for beef and dairy8 months for pigs The deadline for full applications is 27th June 2025....

DEFRA has updated the guidance for applying for Grassland Derogation for 2024. Applications must be made between 9th November and 31st December 2023 for grassland derogation in 2024, those made in June/July 2023 will only apply to 2023.

The forms for the 2023 CAAV Agricultural Land Occupation Survey for England and Wales have been circulated to Local Association secretaries by email and are attached again here for convenience. The survey records changes in land occupation, including new arrangements (FBTs, succession tenancies, grazing agreements or contract farming arrangements) and identifying what has happened to land that has left the let sector (sold or taken in-hand, for example). It does not ask about rent. This is the...

DEFRA has invited the CAAV and other representative bodies (together with some individuals) to seek views and evidence from their members on questions arising out of the Government’s response last May to the report of the Rock Review on Tenant Farming. This paper summarises the issues and questions being asked and invites members to respond with their comments and relevant evidence to the Secretariat (jeremy@caav.org.uk) by 21st December so that they can be brought together and reviewed for...

The Government has now issued its response to the consultation on Community Benefits for Electricity Transmission Network Infrastructure. The note below provides a summary. Four webinars are to be offered to provide an overview of the proposals and answer questions - see these links to register for these events. register for webinars aimed at individuals and community representatives register for webinars aimed at industry representatives...

This note summarises key points for members from the Government's Autumn Statement 2023.

These Regulations make changes to the written statement of contracts and termination notice RHW17, as summarised in CAAV Note 22nd November 2023.

Legislation associated with the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 has been amended by The Renting Homes (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2023 (SI 2023/1199), seeing revised template contracts and an amended termination notice RHW17, which is now only to be used in limited circumstances where 2 months' notice is required. These changes take effect from 6th December 2023 and it will be important that the new template contracts are used from this date. Members will need to check and...

Natural England has published a set of flowcharts for land managers who are considering creating or enhancing habitat to generate BNG Units. This note provides more detail.

This Report provides a review of HS2 including programme update, local community impact and engagement as well as land and property issues. For claimants who have had land acquired that is no longer required for revised scheme, the Report states "We are committed to acting in good faith and for fair treatment for all affected – particularly those with transactions in progress – while protecting taxpayers appropriately." It also provides a brief update on safeguarding, reconfirming that...

A draft code of practice on right to rent has been published, which will be applicable to landlords and their agents in England. It is due to come into force at the same time as the Immigration Act 2014 (Residential Accommodation) (Maximum Penalty) Order 2023 and the Immigration (Restrictions on Employment and Residential Accommodation) (Codes of Practice) (Amendment) Order 2023 - these Orders amend the civil penalties that apply for breaches. The code of practice is due to come into force...

This note provides an update on fertiliser values for tenant right in 2023.

The Department for Communities has issued a consultation on draft Regulations for Section 8 of the Private Tenancies Act 2022, which would require the installation of sufficient smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide alarms in private rented properties. The consultation closes on 6th December 2023.

The Department for Communities has issued a consultation on draft Regulations for Section 10 of the Private Tenancies Act 2022, which would introduce certified 5-yearly checks of a private rented property’s hard-wired electrical installation by a qualified electrician. The consultation closes on 6th December 2023.

The Compulsory Purchase Association (CPA) has offered CAAV members a 50% discount to its Talking Heads: CPO 'Cheshire Lounge Tribunal Decision'. The event can be booked here. The discount code is 'CAAV1212' (note that CPA members can attend free).

Following the Government reshuffle, this note sets out the Ministerial team at DEFRA.

The Government has just issued its latest statement on its approach to managing land for nature in responding to a House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee report on the “30 by 30” policy – An Extraordinary Challenge: Restoring 30 per cent of Our Land and Sea by 2030. This note provides an overview....

DEFRA has today confirmed Bluetongue virus serotype 3 in a single adult cow at a premises just east of Canterbury. The note below provides further information.

New regulations under the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 now bring into effect from 7th November 2023 its requirement at s.69 for telecommunications operators to provide information about Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) when serving certain notices under the Electronic Communications Code. This note provides a summary.

These Regulations set a statutory 60 day time limit for farmers to challenge BPS decisions and a further 60-day time limit if they wish to appeal. See CAAV Note 7th November 2023 for further information.

These Regulations revoke the BPS legislation in England, but allow its legislation to continue to apply for the purposes of BPS 2023 and prior scheme years. See CAAV Note 7th November 2023 for further information.

The Government has today laid two statutory instruments in Parliament which confirm the end of the Basic Payment Scheme for England from the end of this year and so of 31 years of area-based direct payments. This note provides a summary.

The King has, this morning given the Speech setting out the Government’s intended legislative programme for what is likely to be the last session of the present Parliament. The note below reviews the measures of most relevance to rural and property practice. With the scale of devolution many of the measures are particularly focussed on England.

This note provides a summary of the legislation in England and Wales concerning Energy Performance Certificates and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards and addresses some frequently asked questions.

The Select Committee published its Second Special Report on the High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill, announcing that it has paused its work because of the recent announcement by the Prime Minister. The Committee will not be holding any further hearings until it receives further information from the Government or instruction from the House. The report explains in full why this decision has been made and expresses the Committee’s hope that clarity will be forthcoming soon for the benefit...

Although receiving Royal Assent on 26th October 2023, most provisions of this Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 require commencement regulations to be brought into effect and so are not currently in force. Once fully implemented, the Act will provide a range of measures to tackle money laundering, corruption and fraud. This includes greater transparency over who owns and controls Limited Companies and limited partnerships (LPs). The CAAV Note of 9th May 2023 outlines how the...

Last week the government announced that the Energy Act 2023 received Royal Assent, the final version is now available. Our webnote of 16th March 2023, written at the end of the Committee Stage in the House of Lords discussed the main areas likely to be of interest to members. Since the Bill entered the Commons it has undergone several amendments. We will provide an update on the Act as soon as possible....

The Government has launched a review focused on promoting fairness, transparency and accountability across the egg supply chain. The consultation seeks views on how the UK egg sector currently functions and how it can be improved. The consultation deadline is 22nd December 2023....

Following the making of the Environment Act 2021 (Commencement No. 6) Regulations 2023, s. 19 of the Environment Act – the duty of Ministers to have due regard to the environmental principles when making policy decisions – comes into force from 1st November 2023. This note provides more detail. We looked at some of the background to and development of the principles in our note of 31st January 2023....

Responding to the often-repeated policy aim to increase the tree cover in England the English Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) and WD1 Woodland Maintenance Countryside Stewardship option have been updated. This note provides more information....

This week, the RPA has commenced the run-in to the roll-out of delinked payments. This note provides more information. Those looking for a refresher on the background and principles of the delinked payments should see our website note of 2nd May 2023. More detailed questions may find an answer in our Q&A document of 12th May....

This year has again seen torrential and destructive flooding across Europe, from Emilia Romagna in Italy in the spring to Greece, the Balkans and Spain in the late summer and now Storm Babet across Britain. With the serious floods there, valuers in Slovenia were asked by lenders about the longer term effects on property values. They turned to TEGOVA for support and, through the EVSB, Jeremy Moody prepared the attached commentary on issues that might apply to the UK as much as to Slovenia....

DEFRA has published a draft biodiversity gain plan template, along with accompanying guidance, to illustrate the information that may be required to be submitted to an LPA to meet the requirements of Biodiversity Net Gain. This note provides more detail.

Natural England has joined and then extended two nature reserves in Somerset to create a ‘super’ nature reserve of around 1,400 hectares. This note provides more detail.

The Government has for several years promised residential tenancy legislation in England, including the abolition of s.21 of the Housing Act to remove the ability to serve a notice for repossession without giving a reason (the “no fault” notice). The Government issued its response to the report on the Bill and is now to delay the operational repeal of s.21 until the associated court reforms to support repossession proceedings are in place. Other statements in relation to student lets and...

The Welsh Government has published a written statement setting out the two stage process of amending the Welsh Water Regulations including: the final extension of the 170kg/ha annual holding nitrogen limit to 1st January 2024; andthe process to be implemented, of an 'Enhanced Nutrient Management Approach' where the limit is likely to be exceeded. This note sets out these changes to the nitrogen holding limit rules, the last section of Phase 2 of the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural...