Waiting for Schouten's position

In answer to the questions from Jaco Geurts (CDA), Minister Carola Schouten (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality) says that she will explain in the short term (at least this year) how she wants to shape the review of the lease system. . That's about time.

The review of the lease system has been discussed for 6 years now. The introduction of the liberalized lease in 2007 led to ambiguity in the lease system. In addition, the acreage of regular leases decreases considerably every year. 

The land that has become available is almost exclusively released on a liberalized and, in particular, short-term lease; which sustainable land use does not promote. A leading steward expressed the landlords' views in a response to Boerenbusiness as follows: "65 (now 67) years as termination ground and young farmers can move forward with flexible lease forms!"

Reissue
In this way, the steward indicates what it is about the lessors: the termination of regular leases, followed by reissue in flexible leases. This then at free prices and a limited term (subject to sale of course). The Association of Land Tenants and Own Land Users (BLHB) has submitted an integral proposal to the Minister that does justice to the interests of the tenant farmers and lessees.

For the BLHB, a termination option (at retirement age) on leasehold companies without a successor is negotiable. In the case of reissue, new regular leases are an attractive alternative for tenants and lessees. The combination of a lease price that can then be freely agreed with a long-term contract (and possibility of succession) is attractive for tenant families and (from the point of view of yield) also for landlords.

Flexible lease does not provide continuity and is only attractive for using extra land for a limited period. In view of the dominant position of the land owner, BLHB argues that the lease price for flexible leases is only free for contracts for 1 year and is limited by law for longer periods.

Ground lease?
Leasehold and, if necessary, career lease are suitable for putting into use for a longer, but finite duration. For high-quality crops that require crop rotation (seed potatoes and flower bulbs), 1- or 2-year cultivation leases with a free lease price remain available. Existing lease agreements must be respected.

The BLHB has also informed the agricultural representatives in the House of Representatives and is awaiting the minister's position with interest.

Peter van der Eijk

Piet van der Eijk was the chairman of the Association of Land Tenants and Own Land Users (BLHB) from 2012 to the beginning of 2019. He also has an arable farm in the Biesbosch polder in the outskirts of the Eiland van Dordrecht.

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