The tenant farming commissioner Bob MacIntosh is advising landlords and tenants to postpone rent reviews due this spring unless they are straightforward and don’t need face-to-face meetings. Further inspections for tenant improvements for those taking advantage of the current waygo amnesty should be concluded by 12 June where possible.

If it is not possible for inspections to be conducted safely under current COVID-19 restrictions then meetings can be held after the amnesty period.

The industry bodies NFUS and SLE, in association with the TFC, are also advising landlords, tenants and their agents to act in accordance with Government advice and avoid such face-to-face meetings. No person, especially anyone in a vulnerable category, should feel they are obliged to attend a meeting and maximum use should be made of other methods of communication to discuss pressing matters that cannot be postponed until the restrictions are lifted.

Landlords and tenants should agree in writing that they will enable finalisation of amnesty claims to be carried out, if necessary, after 12 June. Where such agreement cannot be reached, the TFC should be informed. This process will only apply to claims where the amnesty process has begun before 12 June. It is not an opportunity to delay the start of the process. Tenants who delay the start of the process until after 12 June will lose their ability to take advantage of the amnesty provisions.