land law for tenants

[gilliande]

I have been on grazing land for 12 years i had a verbale agreement with
htthe landlord (to which there was a witness) i was on the land for 8
years paying my rent to him. 4 years ago the land owner put the
responsibillity of collecting the rent and managing the land into the
hands of a new landlord. I was asked to sign a farm business tenancy
agreement I did not sign the agreement as i am not a farm business.
The previous land lord did take hay off the field i dont know if that made
him a farm business however as mentioned i am not a farm business tenant.
I was then sent another farm business agreement to sign however I told the
new landlord that i would have to let a solicitor look at the agreement,
which I did not sign i did (however continue to pay my rent as agreed with
the landlord that let the land to me in the first place.) since then i
have continued to pay my rent when sent my rent demand but have still have
never signed an agreement which now is only refered to as the agreement. I
have now been given notice to quit the land within six weeks (which will
be more or less impossible to do in such a short time with 4 horses to
find space for. The reason for wanting me to quit is that I did not sign
the agreement and return it in march.this year even though i never have
signed or returned a signed copy of any agreement in the past. I also
understand that if there is a reason to ask me to quit it should be done
immediately. During my tennancy on the land under the first landlord i
asked if i could build a shelter and was given permission. Do I have any
rights at all

[R1Geezer]

very little, the landlord has given you notice, that's all he has to do. Clearly you have not complied with their conditions. However petty it may seem they have the right to impose their administative rules on their tennants. If you have no lease then there is very little you can do.

[themas]

Do not assume you just have to go. I do not know whether you do have rights, but I do know you might have some - contracts can be verbal as well as in writing. You need to consult a solicitor - preferably one who is knowledgeable about agricultural land and tenancies. (You may not be a farm business, but it might be that - in legal terms - the type of tenancy you have (or were being asked to sign) is an agricultural one.

[terambulan]

You have not met the landlords terms by refusing to sign his agreement. Therefore, he has given you 6w notice to vacate his land. End of, you must comply.

If u r determined to fight the eviction I suggest you contact the CAB for free legal advice first.

Meantime, you have 6w to find alternative grazing.