Category: Rural

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐄𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞

Meet Ellie, one of our Associate Partners, Rural Chartered Surveyors and RICS Registered Valuers, based across our Brecon and Hay-on-Wye offices. With a wealth of experience in the rural sector, Ellie is known for her friendly, down-to-earth approach, combined with a professional commitment to delivering the best service for her clients.

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫⬇️
🌱 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐫𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐫?
Growing up with a background in the beef, sheep and arable sectors, I’ve always had a passion for agriculture. I knew I wanted a career that would keep me connected to the industry and rural surveying offered the perfect mix of agriculture, property and working directly with farming families and rural businesses.
📚 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲?
I first discovered rural surveying during my final year at school and it immediately caught my interest. I went on to study Rural Enterprise and Land Management at Harper Adams University in 2017. While I was there, I completed work experience with Ryan Williams in the Hay-on-Wye office before spending my placement year with McCartneys LLP in 2019. After graduating with First Class Honours in 2021, I returned to McCartneys as a Graduate Surveyor. Since then, I’ve completed my CAAV qualification in 2022 and qualified as a RICS Chartered Surveyor in 2023.
📋 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦?
I provide a wide range of professional services for farmers, landowners and rural businesses. A large part of my role involves carrying out rural property valuations for purposes such as Inheritance Tax (IHT), Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and secured lending. I also advise clients on landlord and tenant matters, estate management, utilities and infrastructure schemes, as well as compensation and compulsory purchase matters. One of the things I enjoy most about my role is its variety, every day brings different clients, challenges and opportunities, allowing me to build lasting relationships while helping clients make informed decisions about their property and businesses.
🎯𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐲?
Running. I love getting stuck into a training plan for a race, although it’s been a while!
💭𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐚 𝐫𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐫, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠?
Farming…or riding horses!
☕️𝐓𝐞𝐚 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞?
Coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon!
✈️𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲?
Back to America. I was lucky enough to visit in 2024 but there’s still so much more I’d like to see. Montana was a particular highlight, but I’d love the chance to explore more of the country!
We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Ellie a little better! She’s a valued member of our rural team, and we’re delighted to have her as part of the McCartneys team.
Contact details for Ellie can be found below:
☎️ Telephone: 01874 610 990
📧 Email: ellie.hopkins@mccartneys.co.uk

The Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 is a key piece of legislation that gives business tenants security of tenure.

In simple terms, where the Act applies, a tenant has the right to remain in occupation and request a new lease when the existing term comes to an end, unless the landlord can rely on one of the statutory grounds for opposing renewal.

The Act applies to premises occupied for the purposes of a business. This includes shops, offices, workshops, industrial units and many other commercial properties. The protection is designed to prevent a business tenant from being forced to leave simply because the lease term has expired.

For farmers and rural property owners, it is important to understand that agricultural tenancies are generally excluded from the Act. Land let for agricultural purposes will normally be governed by agricultural tenancy legislation, including the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 and the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995, rather than the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.

However, with the increasing diversification of farming businesses, the distinction is not always straightforward. Many farms now incorporate a range of non-agricultural enterprises, including farm shops, cafés, holiday accommodation, renewable energy schemes and commercial units created from converted farm buildings.

Where a building is let for a business purpose that is not agricultural in nature, the tenancy may fall within the protection of the 1954 Act. For example, if a converted barn is leased as offices, a workshop or a retail unit, the tenant may acquire security of tenure and be entitled to seek a lease renewal when the term expires.

This can have significant implications for landlords. A tenant occupying premises protected by the Act may not be required to vacate at the end of the lease simply because the landlord wishes to recover possession. The correct statutory procedures must be followed, and the landlord must establish a valid ground of opposition if renewal is to be resisted.

As a result, careful consideration should always be given when letting rural property. Landlords need to understand whether a lease is intended to benefit from the protection of the Act or whether it should be contracted out before completion. Equally, tenants should be aware of the rights available to them and how those rights may affect the long-term security of their business.
For rural estates, farms and diversified businesses, knowing whether the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 applies is an essential part of effective property management and can have a significant impact on future occupation, investment and development plans.

Simon Edwards
Managing Partner

simon.edwards@mccartneys.co.uk

Did you know that Agricultural Holdings Act (AHA) tenancies continue to provide many farming families with the security needed to invest, grow and plan for future generations?

While these tenancies offer significant benefits, they can also be complex. From succession rights and rent reviews to tenancy negotiations and dispute resolution, understanding your position is crucial for both landlords and tenants.

At McCartneys, our Rural Professional team has extensive experience in helping clients navigate every aspect of AHA tenancies. We work closely with farming families and landowners to provide practical, straightforward advice tailored to their individual circumstances.

With ongoing changes across the agricultural sector, making informed decisions has never been more important. Whether you’re considering succession, reviewing an existing tenancy, or simply want to understand your options, we’re here to help.

Get in touch with the McCartneys Rural Professional team to discuss your AHA tenancy and secure the future of your farming business.

SFI26 Window 2 is expected to open on 22nd September 2026. It will be open to all farmers and land managers in England, giving more businesses the opportunity to access SFI funding.

To be eligible the farm business must:
🌾 be registered with the RPA and have an SBI at the point of application, and
🌾 have at least 3ha of eligible agricultural land linked to that SBI.

New with Window 2:
The RPA has introduced a new feature on the SFI26 application service to help farmers with ELM revenue agreements that are due to expire. This new functionality allows farmers to apply for funding on land covered by these agreements before their existing agreements come to an end.

The new functionality will be available only to farmers whose agreements are due to expire by the end of February 2027 under one of the following schemes:
✨SFI23
✨Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier (CSMT)
✨Legacy Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT)
✨Environmental Stewardship Higher Level Stewardship (HLS)

If you have an agreement that is not due to expire before the end of February 2027, but part of your farm is not currently covered by an agreement, or you have options missing that you would like to include in an SFI agreement, we can talk through the available options and help identify what could work for your land.

Now is a good time to start getting prepared by reviewing your land and considering which SFI26 actions could work for your farm. If we can be of assistance with your SFI26 application, our rural team is here to help!
Please get in touch with your nearest rural office
Craven Arms – 📞01588 672 385
Ludlow – 📞01584 872 251
Hay-on-Wye – 📞01497 820 778
Kington – 📞01544 230 316
Knighton – 📞01547 528 621
Worcester – 📞01905 769 770

McCartneys are delighted to be favoured with the Genuine Dispersal Sale on behalf of Mr M Jenkins at 53 Careys Brook House, WR2 4TZ.

SFI26 Window 2 is coming in September

Window 2 will be open to all farmers and land managers in England, giving more businesses the opportunity to access SFI funding.
The window is expected to open in September, although an exact opening date has not yet been confirmed.

To be eligible the farm business must:
🌾 be registered with the RPA and have an SBI at the point of application, and
🌾 have at least 3ha of eligible agricultural land linked to that SBI.

New with Window 2:
The RPA has introduced a new feature on the SFI26 application service to help farmers with ELM revenue agreements that are due to expire. This new functionality allows farmers to apply for funding on land covered by these agreements before their existing agreements come to an end. The new functionality will be available only to farmers whose agreements are due to expire by the end of February 2027 under one of the following schemes:
✨SFI23
✨Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier (CSMT)
✨Legacy Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT)
✨Environmental Stewardship Higher Level Stewardship (HLS)

🚜If you have an agreement that is not due to expire before the end of February 2027, but part of your farm is not currently covered by an agreement, or you have options missing that you would like to include in an SFI agreement, we can talk through the available options and help identify what could work for your land.

🐑Now is a good time to start getting prepared by reviewing your land and considering which SFI26 actions could work for your farm. If we can be of assistance with your SFI26 application, our rural team is here to help!
Please get in touch with your nearest rural office
Craven Arms – 📞01588 672 385
Ludlow – 📞01584 872 251
Hay-on-Wye – 📞01497 820 778
Kington – 📞01544 230 316
Knighton – 📞01547 528 621
Worcester – 📞01905 769 770