The rent (Agriculture) Act 1976: A forgotten solution to a housing problem? - some research findings

Abstract

Abstract The Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976 did not abolish the agricultural tied cottage system, but did remove automatic loss of accommodation on termination of employment by giving qualifying farmworkers Rent Act-style security of tenure. This was coupled with a mechanism guaranteeing them local authority accommodation if the farmer/landlord could show agricultural need for the tied dwelling. It failed to sever the nexus between employment and housing but did achieve housing security, ultimately at the expense of the local authority. The duties on farmer/landlords and local authorities to house tied farmworkers are unique and have survived despite radical changes to public and private sector housing policy. After summarizing the background and the statutory framework, this article will report on research findings from a project investigating how the Act operates in a changed housing market, and consider its impact on the social relations between farmer and worker