Agricultural workers

Any existing ASTs of dwellings used to house agricultural workers will become assured periodic tenancies, in the same way as existing ASTs of other dwellings.

It will also be possible for new assured periodic tenancies to be created, where the landlord opts out of the tenancy being an AAO.

In each case, the new rules applying to assured periodic tenancies will apply as they apply to tenancies of other types of dwellings. That said, it is worth noting that some possession grounds will be available to assured tenancies (whereas they will not to AAOs). In particular, landlords may seek possession where:

• the headlease is either an Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 or Farm Business Tenancy, which is coming to an end;
• the dwelling is required for an agricultural worker employed by the landlord; and
• the dwelling was let in consequence of the tenant’s employment, and that employment has now ceased.