TENANT farmers could be better protected in future thanks to MAFF proposals to safeguard their rights.

The move follows a ruling in the House of Lords which said that the subtenant had no security following the termination of the head tenancy by notice to quit.

TFA chief executive George Dunn, said: "The House of Lords ruling has produced the unacceptable opportunity for landlords and head tenants to collude on notices to quit, terminate their agreements and automatically bring to an end any subtenancies in place.

"Subtenants who entered their agreements in good faith are powerless to prevent their eviction," he said.

After TFA lobbying, MAFF agreed to start consulting on using regulations from the 1986 Agricultural Holdings Act to protect subtenants by secondary legislation.

Mr Dunn said: "Fairness and equity dictate that agricultural subtenants should be protected from the collusive behaviour of the landlords and head tenants and we look forward to further discussions with the Government on how the rights of farming subtenants can be protected."