BLHB says 'no' to invitation to lease consultation

The Association of Land Tenants and Own Land Users (BLHB) sees no possibilities for a follow-up to the lease talks about the 'loose ends'. BLHB is only welcome on the condition that it endorses Spelderholt's so-called final agreement, but the union says it cannot agree to it.

At the initiative of LTO and the Private Land Ownership Federation (FPG), the parties involved in the Spelderholt consultation have been invited to follow up on the so-called final agreement, following the discontinued attempt at mediation by Mr. Sicko Heldoorn. In doing so, the BLHB requested that it endorse the principles of the final agreement before being admitted to the consultations.

Extra agenda items
"We would like to participate in the discussion, but then the points lease price, flexible lease, transition law and existing lease price system must be on the agenda. However, according to FPG and LTO, that is not possible. We cannot say in advance that we agree with the vision of the lessors. They do not even want to discuss the vision we have submitted ourselves. Our conclusion is that participation in the follow-up consultation is not possible under those conditions. Once it stops, "adds BLHB chairman Piet van der Eijk.

Final agreement no basis
Attempts to renew the lease system failed last year. The conclusion of long-term and/or regular lease contracts should therefore be realized in the future. The continuity of business operations for agricultural entrepreneurs and preservation of sustainable land use had to be safeguarded with this.

BLHB and also NAJK were of the opinion that the final proposal failed to achieve these aims. Furthermore, BLHB and NAJK also disagreed with the phasing out of regular leases and the way in which the lease price is determined for new contracts.

Transition to free prices
According to BLHB and NAJK, the lease price system had to be related to the earning capacity of the land. BLHB and NAJK also had no confidence in the proposed method of corrective rent assessment. The lessors' organizations and LTO Nederland do support the proposal. Part of the proposal is free lease prices for flexible (liberalized) lease. This form can only be tested against lease prices in the free market. 

No consent BLHB and NAJK 
In addition, a transitional period would apply to the current regular lease, during which the regular lease would eventually transfer to free prices. For the other new proposed lease forms with a free initial price (new regular lease and career lease), lease price adjustments can be made on the basis of an index. These proposals could not count on the approval of BLHB and NAJK.

Not in the interest of tenants
Van der Eijk emphasizes that it is not the case that the union places itself outside the process. "We would like to discuss further in close consultation with politicians and parties. There were also other initiatives for mediation, but we are not open to a conversation with conditions attached in advance. It is not in the interest of the tenants if we discuss it further."

The BLHB informed the parties on Monday 4 September that they would not accept the invitation.

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