Agriculture Act 1970

45 Rent to be charged for smallholdings

(1) A smallholdings authority in determining the rent at which any land is to be let by them under section 44 of this Act, shall have regard to the rent which, in their opinion, might reasonably be expected to be determined to be the rent properly payable if—

(a) the land were already let as an agricultural holding;

(b) the terms of that letting (other than terms relating to rent) were those on which the smallholdings authority propose to let the land in question; and

(c) the question what rent should be payable in respect of that agricultural holding had been referred to arbitration under the enactments relating to agricultural holdings which are for the time being in force.

(2) For the purposes of the foregoing subsection it shall be assumed that, on any such arbitration as is mentioned in paragraph (c) of that subsection, there would be no improvements, or matters treated as equivalent to improvements, and no dilapidation, deterioration or damage, of which, in accordance with the enactments referred to in that paragraph, special account (whether by way of reducing or increasing the rent determined) would fall to be taken in determining what rent should be payable.

(3) Subsection (1) of this section (but without the assumptions specified in subsection (2) thereof) shall have effect in relation to any revision by agreement of the rent at which any land has been let by a smallholdings authority as a smallholding (whether under section 44 of this Act or under the previous enactments relating to smallholdings) as it has effect in relation to determining the rent at which any land is to be let under the said section 44.