Guidance

Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector: role and services

How the Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector operates.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

Alan Laidlaw is our Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector in England.

Role and services

The Commissioner will promote the standards of conduct and responsible behaviour that are set out in the voluntary industry Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice in England.

Further details and guidance on the Commissioner’s role and services, including the complaints facilitation service, will be updated on this page, shortly.

Complaints procedure

We are in the process of setting up a complaints facilitation service. This will provide a confidential and impartial point of contact for anyone in the sector to raise concerns. These concerns may be regarding unreasonable behaviour, poor conduct, and non-compliance with the Code of Practice. 

Contact information

You can get in touch with the Commissioner’s office using the following mailbox: AgriculturalTenancies@defra.gov.uk

Background

Defra appointed a Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector following a recommendation in the independent Rock Review, to encourage collaboration and fairness within the tenanted sector.

Updates to this page

Published 26 September 2025

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