Specialist legal advice to protect rural businesses, resolve agricultural property disputes and safeguard the long-term use and ownership of land.

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Rural land and agricultural businesses face legal issues that are often closely connected to the operation, ownership and succession of the wider enterprise. Disputes involving tenancies, access, boundaries, partnerships or family ownership can affect business continuity, investment decisions and the long-term future of a farm or rural estate.

DTM Legal advises farmers, agricultural landlords and tenants, landowners, rural businesses, farming partnerships, trustees and beneficiaries on a broad range of rural land and property disputes. Our established service includes agricultural tenancy disputes, notices to quit, succession applications, possession claims, rent arrears, access, drainage, ownership disputes and restrictive covenants.

Our Property Litigation solicitors combine specialist agricultural knowledge with a practical understanding of rural businesses. We assess the legal position, the available evidence and the wider commercial or family circumstances before helping clients pursue a proportionate resolution through negotiation, mediation, arbitration or court and Tribunal proceedings.

Rural Land and Property Legal Services

We provide practical advice and representation across a wide range of agricultural and rural property matters, including:

Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 tenancy disputes
Farm Business Tenancy disputes
Preparing and responding to notices to quit
Agricultural tenancy succession applications
Retirement succession matters
Possession claims involving agricultural land
Rent arrears and rent-related disputes
Breaches of agricultural tenancy obligations
Repair, maintenance and husbandry disputes
Tenant improvements and compensation claims
Diversification and changes in the use of agricultural land
Rights of way and access disputes
Private road and track disputes
Drainage, flooding and watercourse disputes
Boundary and encroachment claims
Adverse possession claims
Restrictive covenants affecting rural land
Nuisance and trespass claims
Sporting rights disputes
Trusts of land and beneficial ownership claims
Farming partnership disputes
Disputes following the breakdown of family farming arrangements
Agricultural property ownership and occupation disputes
Injunctions and urgent court applications
Mediation, arbitration and negotiated settlements
Court, Tribunal and Land Registry proceedings

Why Instruct DTM Legal?

Agricultural and rural disputes require an understanding of both property law and the practical operation of the land or business involved. Our team considers the history of the property, the type of tenancy or ownership arrangement and the effect that any proposed action could have on the farming enterprise.

We provide clear and commercially focused advice designed to protect land, income and business continuity. This may involve establishing the validity of a notice, protecting succession rights, recovering possession, preserving access or resolving a partnership or ownership dispute without disrupting the wider operation unnecessarily.

DTM Legal’s rural property work is led by lawyers with specialist experience in agricultural litigation. Anna Duffy and James Holton are members of the Agricultural Law Association, and both advise on complex agricultural property and tenancy matters.

We provide:

Specialist advice on agricultural tenancies and rural property
Practical support for landowners, landlords and tenants
Clear analysis of notices, agreements and historic documents
Strategic advice focused on business and family objectives
Support with succession, possession and ownership disputes
Coordination with land agents, surveyors and other rural professionals
Robust representation in formal proceedings where required

Get in Touch

Whether you are dealing with an agricultural tenancy, succession application, farming partnership dispute or disagreement concerning the ownership or use of rural land, our Property Litigation team can help you protect your position.

To discuss your requirements, contact:

Anna Duffy, Head of Property
Telephone: 0151 230 1219 / 07973 529844
Email: anna.duffy@dtmlegal.com

James Holton, Senior Associate – Property Litigation
Telephone: 01244 354824 / 07595 280723
Email: james.holton@dtmlegal.com

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Key Considerations in a Rural Land or Property Dispute

Identifying the relevant tenancy, ownership arrangements and practical effect of the dispute at an early stage can help protect the land and the wider rural business. Read our Key Considerations guide to understand some of the points a solicitor may wish to discuss when responding to your enquiry. It can help you prepare the relevant information and make your initial conversation more productive.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Commonly asked questions about rural land and property disputes.

Agricultural tenancies created before 1 September 1995 are commonly governed by the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986. These tenancies can provide substantial security of tenure, and some older agreements carry statutory succession rights.

Most qualifying agricultural tenancies beginning on or after 1 September 1995 are Farm Business Tenancies governed by the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995. They generally provide greater contractual flexibility, although the precise rights of the parties will depend on the legislation and the terms of the agreement.

Yes. Early negotiation can often resolve disputes involving rent, access, maintenance, occupation or the future of a tenancy. Mediation may also help the parties reach a practical agreement while preserving an ongoing commercial, family or neighbourly relationship.

Some agricultural tenancy disputes may be referred to arbitration or another specialist procedure. The appropriate route will depend on the tenancy, the nature of the disagreement and the remedy required.

The required notice will depend on the length and wording of the tenancy. Government guidance states that the minimum notice period for ending a Farm Business Tenancy by notice to quit is generally 12 months.

The notice must also comply with the agreement and relevant statutory requirements. A defective notice may fail to terminate the tenancy, so landlords and tenants should obtain advice before serving or relying upon one.

Some tenancies governed by the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 carry statutory succession rights. This may allow an eligible close relative to apply to succeed to the tenancy following the tenant’s death or, in qualifying cases, retirement.

Eligibility is not automatic, and the applicant must satisfy the relevant statutory requirements. Applications following death must generally be made within three months, so advice should be sought promptly. Farm Business Tenancies do not carry the same statutory succession rights.

The starting point is usually the registered titles, historic conveyances, plans and physical features on the land. Witness evidence, photographs, farming records and expert surveying evidence may also help establish where the legal boundary lies.

Land Registry title plans usually show only general boundaries rather than the exact legal line. The parties may be able to record an agreed boundary, apply for a determined boundary or ask the court or First-tier Tribunal to resolve the dispute where agreement cannot be reached.

See what our customers have to say about their experience

5/5 350+Reviews

Steve Tatham

26/04/2026

Tom Evans provided an excellent service regarding my recent Voluntary Redundancy. Tom was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful in supporting the processing of the legal documentation around redundancy. Tom was very timely and managed our sessions well to ensure we didn’t overrun. I would highly recommend Tom and use him again if I needed legal support.

Ellie

27/10/2026

DTM’s employment department has dealt with a couple of matters on our behalf. They have dealt with all matters efficiently, providing clear advice on employment law, whilst also understanding the commercial aspects of suggested actions.

Mia

15/10/2023

They feel like an extension to our business. They fully understand our business inside and out and are very responsive and provide a huge level of support.

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Rural Land and Property Dispute Services

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