New Renters' Rights Changes: What Farmers Need to Know About Agricultural Worker Accommodation
- Jul 20
- 3 min read
The Renters' Rights Act 2025, which came into force on 1 May 2026, introduces some of the most significant changes to residential tenancy law in recent years. While much attention has focused on the abolition of Section 21 notices, there is another crucial change that directly affects farmers and rural landowners who provide accommodation to agricultural workers.
One of the most important changes is the introduction of Section 24A, which requires landlords to complete and serve a new Form 9A before granting a tenancy to certain agricultural workers. Failure to do so could have serious long-term consequences for the ability to regain possession of the property.
Agricultural Workers Have Special Legal Protection
Agricultural workers have long enjoyed a unique legal status within housing law. Unlike most residential tenants, workers who occupy accommodation provided in connection with their agricultural employment may acquire statutory tenancy rights, even where both parties intended the arrangement to be a standard residential tenancy.
These statutory rights provide significantly greater security of tenure, making it much more difficult for the landlord to recover possession of the property.
When Does an Agricultural Worker Qualify?
An occupier may qualify for statutory protection if they satisfy the "employment in agriculture" test. Broadly, this means they:
Have been employed in agriculture for at least 91 weeks during the previous 104 weeks;
Have worked at least 35 hours per week during those qualifying weeks; and
Occupy accommodation provided in connection with that agricultural employment.
If these conditions are met, the occupier may obtain statutory protection regardless of how the tenancy agreement has been described.
Goodbye Form 9 – Hello Form 9A
Under the previous legislation, landlords needed to serve a Form 9 Notice before granting an Assured Shorthold Tenancy to an agricultural worker if they wished to prevent statutory tenancy rights from arising.
From 1 May 2026, Form 9 is abolished.
It is replaced by the new Section 24A Notice, which must be completed using the prescribed Form 9A.
This is not simply a change of name. The introduction of Form 9A creates a new statutory requirement that farmers and landowners must comply with before the tenancy begins.
Why Is Form 9A So Important?
The purpose of the new Section 24A Notice remains broadly the same as the old Form 9—it is intended to ensure that where both parties intend to create an ordinary residential tenancy, the occupier does not automatically acquire statutory agricultural tenancy rights.
However, the notice must be served before the tenancy is granted.
If the required Form 9A is not completed and served correctly and on time, the occupier could:
Acquire statutory tenancy rights under the Housing Act 1988 or the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976;
Gain substantially greater security of tenure; and
Make it significantly more difficult, costly and time-consuming for the landlord to recover possession in the future.
In short, failing to complete Form 9A at the outset could create long-term legal consequences that are difficult to reverse.
Possession Rules Have Changed Too
Even where the correct Section 24A Form 9A has been served, landlords should be aware that the wider possession regime has fundamentally changed.
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 abolishes Section 21 "no-fault" evictions, meaning landlords can no longer simply give notice at the end of a tenancy to recover possession.
Instead, possession must be sought using one of the statutory grounds contained within the legislation, each with its own evidence and procedural requirements.
For farmers and rural employers, this makes getting everything right at the start of the tenancy even more important.
What Should Farmers and Rural Landowners Do Now?
With these changes taking effect from 1 May 2026, anyone providing accommodation to agricultural workers should:
Review all existing and proposed lettings of farm cottages and worker accommodation.
Identify whether any occupiers may qualify as agricultural workers for housing purposes.
Ensure the new Section 24A Notice (Form 9A) is completed and served before granting any new tenancy where required.
Update tenancy documentation and internal procedures to reflect the new legal requirements.
Seek professional advice before attempting to recover possession, particularly where an occupier has a lengthy agricultural employment history.
Don't Get Caught Out
Many farmers have historically relied on the old Form 9 process, but from 1 May 2026, Form 9A becomes the new mandatory document where Section 24A applies.
Combined with the abolition of Section 21, these changes represent a major shift in the management of farm workers' accommodation.
Taking the correct steps before a tenancy begins is now more important than ever and could prevent significant legal and financial complications in the future.
Link to the New Form 9A
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