Farming UK reports that finding affordable rural housing is ‘likely to be more difficult’ under new Government proposals to change the law on residential tenancies in England.

The proposals would change the property owner’s rights so that they would only be able to recover possession for a limited number of reason. These might have to be proven in court, and include wanting to live in the house themselves or sell it.

The Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) has now warned that the changes could 'damage the vitality' of rural communities.

Kate Russell, policy adviser at CAAV, says: ‘This change has already been made in Scotland with the result that houses are instead being used for holiday lets or are sold, damaging the vitality of rural communities and making it harder for those working in the countryside to find homes.’ She said there was a risk that more houses may also be left empty rather than let for short periods and the impact of the proposed changes on the English tenanted sector is 'very concerning’.

This news comes after it was revealed last week that half of all the land across England is owned by less than one per cent of the UK’s population, according to Inside Housing. The report, Who Owns England?, found that 25,000 landowners controlled half of the country. Aristocrats were the largest group of landowners, holding 30 per cent of the UK. Corporations were the second biggest landowners, holding 18 per cent, followed by oligarchs and city bankers (17 per cent) and the public sector (8.5 per cent).

Full articles:

→ Farming UK - Finding affordable rural housing could now be 'more difficult'

→ Inside Housing - Morning Briefing: half of the country is owned by less than 1% of the population