Annex 7 – How to avoid common mistakes in your application

This information will help you avoid the common mistakes we find customers make in their applications that delay their progress.

  • Check and update your information in the Rural Payments service including:

    • Personal details, business and contact details – make sure these are all up to date in the Rural Payments service, including email address. Read ‘Check your personal details’ and ‘Check your business details’.

    • Permission levels – check that everyone who can act for your business has the correct permission levels in the Rural Payments service. Read ‘Check your permission levels’.

    • Land use – check and update your land use if needed. In particular check that the land use codes used in the Rural Payments service are correct at the time you apply, and that the land parcels are eligible for the scheme. Read ‘Check your land use’ and ‘Change your land use’.

  • Options or FER maps and other supporting documents – the information in these must match or support the information in the application. Read about your maps under ‘View and print documents’, and read ‘Supporting documents and evidence’.

  • Rotational arable options – take care to add to this application all land parcels you intend to use for rotational crops for the whole 5 years. Read ‘Add land parcels to our application’ and ‘Annex 1 – Arable offer options’.

  • Check your application meets the scheme rules – read the ‘Mid Tier and Wildlife Offers’ manual before you start your application to make sure you understand how to meet the rules of the scheme. Read ‘Mid Tier and Wildlife Offers’ manual on GOV.UK.

  • Submit your application to RPA – check that you have received a screen message confirming that you have submitted your application successfully before you leave that screen. Read ‘Submit your application’.

  • Supporting documents and evidence that must be submitted to RPA – make sure you email or post these to RPA, without this information we cannot progress your application. Read ‘Supporting documents and evidence’. Read ‘Supporting documents and evidence’.

  • Agreement offer declaration – when you receive your agreement offer, make sure that the person who signs the acceptance declaration has the correct permission level. Read ‘Next steps’.