Family, succession & tenancy — what the scheme means for your holding long-term
The 30-year commitment has meaning beyond your own farming career. This page addresses inheritance, land sale, tenancy, and the protections in place.
A 30-year LRS commitment is one of the longest formal land management obligations in England. This page addresses the questions most frequently raised by landowners and their families. Where answers are provisional or require legal advice, this is stated clearly.
Can the land be sold?
Yes. The scheme obligation transfers to the buyer as a land obligation registered against title — not a personal contract. In practical terms:
- The land can be marketed openly.
- The buyer must confirm acceptance of the scheme obligations as part of the purchase.
- Trustmark standing and associated income rights are transferable with the land.
A Gold-tier holding with 10 years of audited ecological delivery carries a documented income profile that a buyer acquires alongside the land.
Death and inheritance
The obligation transfers through inheritance. Key points:
- Executor notification. Executors are expected to notify the scheme within a defined period following the death of a participant.
- Heir confirmation or exit. The heir can confirm continuation or apply for exit on defined terms.
- Trustmark tier succession. Any active tier requires re-confirmation by the heir, including any working-group participation commitments at Silver or Gold.
- Multiple heirs. Where land is inherited by more than one person, a single responsible person must be nominated for scheme purposes.
Farm tenants
Three sub-cases apply.
Owner-occupiers
Straightforward. The landowner is the scheme participant and makes all management decisions within scheme parameters.
Landlords with tenants
Changes to management that affect tenanted parcels require tenant agreement. DEFRA has published guidance on LRS and tenancy. The distinction between Farm Business Tenancies (FBTs) and Agricultural Holdings Act (AHA) tenancies matters for what is possible without fresh tenant consent.
Tenants themselves
Tenants cannot enrol tenanted land without the freeholder joining or agreeing to the scheme obligation.
AHA tenancy holders— raise your situation with the YWT team before the workshop. The consent pathway for AHA land is more involved than for FBT.
Early exit
| Exit route | Status |
|---|---|
| Compulsory purchase | Permitted without penalty. |
| Death / incapacity | By agreement. Heir can confirm or exit. |
| Voluntary exit | Possible. Claw-back of scheme-funded works may apply depending on timing and reason. |
Full exit provisions will be presented at the 30 April workshop and set out in the Participation Agreement.
The 30-year horizon in context
Most dales families farming across generations are already operating on a 30-year horizon whether they frame it that way or not. The scheme makes that horizon formal, legible, and financially supported.
Independent advice
Have your solicitor review the Participation Agreement before signing, with particular attention to exit provisions.
Consider an independent financial adviser familiar with agricultural tax and inheritance planning.
Talk with everyone who will farm or inherit within the scheme term — partners, next generation, and any co-owners.