It is with great excitement we are able to share with you our brand new website.
The upgraded site marks the beginning of a new marketing campaign as we continue to find innovative ways to reach potential tenants for our clients. Our investment affirms our commitment to work hard for landowners looking to enhance their income through the letting of farm buildings and empty yard space
What can you expect?
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Welcome to the team
We are delighted to welcome Charlotte Brown and Harry Pennington to the Howie, Kent & Co team
Charlotte joined us in May as a Graduate Surveyor She has a degree in Rural Enterprise and Land Management from Harper Adams University, with her placement year spent at a livestock market. After university, Charlotte worked as a Liaison Officer overseeing the installation of telecommunication infrastructure on private land in rural Northern Ireland and the Lake District.
Harry joined us in June as this year’s university placement student. Harry is studying at Harper Adams University, and is looking forward to learning about all aspects of the professional side of our business, which he can apply back to his studies. A Shropshire Lad, Harry enjoys getting involved in his family farm where they run a pedigree beef and sheep enterprise alongside arable land.
Bringers of Change | OPINION DUNCAN HOWIE
As Charles Darwin said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.” How adaptable to change are you?
The current farming situation, particularly for arable farming, looks reasonably - if not fully - dire Many may be doing a great job, have plenty of diversified income and are in a good place However, many will not be and as March year-end accounts get completed for 23/24 many farming businesses will not show a great profit As we move through this year, the situation looks no better Do you find yourself in this situation? If so, how much cash will you let wash out of your business in the hope all things will revert to how they used to be? Your farming decisions may need to be radical (ie. wholesale system change to de-risk), as may your search for securing additional income.
At Howie, Kent & Co, we work with renewable developers, social housing developers, leisure developers, and critically we also let commercial space (sheds, offices and yards) for our farming and landowning clients. What is the one constant that links all these points of advice?
It is change and the sweating of a farming asset. Bringing people together who need land and those that have it. That may be for batteries, electric HGV charging or glamping pods, but the process is the same: change. You may love farming, but it may be fair to assume that in the years to come it may not be paying out like it did. With our insights into working with a range of developers and having our feet firmly in the world of farmers and landowners, we find ourselves in a unique position to help farmers secure their futures.
With our commercial agency work, there has been a historic lack in supply of commercial space. Farmers have been and are perfectly placed to meet this demand from the wider economy. Have we had a walk around your farm recently? If not, give us a call! There is no charge, and we may have an angle or thought that you have not considered before Or likewise we’re always happy to review farm plans to look for any opportunity there could be For example, what gas pipes are nearby, what electrical infrastructure crosses your land, what social housing scheme could be progressed, or what opportunity is there for leisure development?
Change is hard and uncomfortable but if longevity is sought, it is the only option
Are you ready to bring change?
Duncan Howie Director
Are you thinking of putting up a new warehouse and could you have it completed by March/April 2025?
We have a good tenant looking for 10,000 sq ft warehouse in Chelmsford/ Witham area with the following requirements:
10,000 sq ft or two x 5,000 sq ft warehouse(s) Storage and distribution of high-end food & drink products
March/April 2025 start date
2 HGV movements per day
Daytime operating hours
Staff on site Chelmsford/Witham area
Strong covenant
Give Sarah Thurmer a call for all the details 01621 212651
COMMERCIAL LEASE ADVICE
Do your commercial tenants have a valid lease or licence in place for the duration of their occupancy? Whether you are letting a simple storage unit, a workshop, a fenced yard compound or even just a container, our Commercial Property team give advice on the pitfalls of not having a lease or licence in place.
Rent arrears
A valid commercial lease specifies the amount of rent due from the tenant, the agreed rent payment date, and the potential consequences of late payments It sets a framework from day one for rental payments which can put tenants off delaying or withholding rent It is also important to make sure invoices are sent to tenants in good time and to the right contact, especially if someone else in the team is paying rent that is not your day-to-day contact i.e. bookkeeper or accounts team.
Conflict at renewal stage
Term length and potential for a renewal is an important term to agree at the outset so that both parties are on the same page. This allows the tenant to balance their own business plans with the landlord’s own site arrangements. Tenants will know when to expect a renewal and also be prepared for a rent review or potential rent increase at the renewal stage if there is no provision for a review in the lease This avoids potential conflicts and misunderstandings which can be awkward and heated if taking place on site and coming as a shock to the tenant.
Difficulty enforcing site obligations
Leases outline the rules and responsibilities for both parties from the outset of their occupation and move onto the site. This allows the tenant to be aware of their obligations and makes enforcement much simpler. It can avoid conflict between tenants and landlords if all sides are on the same page Site rules can include maintenance, access routes, operating hours, alterations to the premises and/or signage restrictions
Eviction
A lease will set out in clear terms the possible breaches which makes the process a lot easier for both sides and often takes the emotion out of any disagreements if there is a valid lease to fall back on If no lease is in place, evicting a tenant can become incredibly time-consuming and expensive at an already stressful time for both parties.
Insurance
A valid commercial lease can set out the insurance obligations on both sides so if and when issues arise there is a clear split in responsibilities. It also allows the landlord to formally request that a tenant has contents insurance and if documentation is required.
Some insurance companies may require a formal lease agreement as part of their coverage conditions and without it landlords can face difficulties in obtaining or maintaining insurance for their site.
Subletting
A valid commercial lease agreement can set out whether the landlord will allow tenants to sublet or assign the premises to others, and if this is with or without landlord consent The last thing any landlord wants is unauthorised individuals using the premises or being on site which can be a nuisance and security risk to existing tenants and the landlord’s own operations It could also lead to goods being stored that were not discussed as part of the initial agreement that could be hazardous or even illegal.
Reduced valuations
RENT REVIEWS
If ever needing a site valuation for any reason, having an up to date lease in place to show the valuer the current annual rental income on the site much more efficiently and lead to a more favourable valuation, and therefore higher market value for the landlord. It can save time and money if you are able to present this to the valuer without them needing to do the legwork to find out the current market value of each unit or compound
Tenant vacating early
If there is no lease in place a tenant is free to leave the premises and site at any time with little or no notice period, or with rent unpaid. With a lease in place the tenant is legally obliged to remain in the premises until the lease end date, or with the valid serving of notice Rapid turnover of tenants can lead to increased costs for landlords in finding new tenants or clearing out property of leftover goods to prepare for new tenants.
If you would you like us to assist in reviewing your current agreements or get advise on putting a new agreement in place, please give us a call.
Howie Kent & Co are pleased to offer a commercial property Rent Review service for landlords seeking to review their rental income lease arrangements It is a very common situation for individual lease arrangements or entire estate commercial properties to become out of step with the prevailing market conditions
Our rent review service aims to provide landlords with independent verification of their rental values and act as an independent resource to renegotiate new rents and lease agreements with tenants.
Please give our Commercial Property Director Jon Bartlett a call on 01621 212651 to find out more.
| OPINION
ANABEL NUTTALL
Is diversification taking the focus away from traditional farming?
We caught up with our Harper Adams University placement student in 2022/23 Anabel Nuttall, who provides us with a summary of her findings from her final year project.
I completed my dissertation titled 'Is diversification taking the focus away from traditional farming? A case study approach’, in May 2024 Investigating the growing trend of diversification in agriculture and its impact on traditional farming practices The research primarily focuses on rural Shropshire and Cheshire, where economic pressures and policy changes have driven farmers to seek additional revenue streams through diversification.
The study aimed to determine whether diversification strategies are shifting the focus away from traditional farming. This was achieved through qualitative research involving semi-structured interviews with three farmers who have diversified. My dissertation explores the motivations behind diversification, the types of enterprises farmers are exploring and the outcomes of these initiatives
Key findings
Motivations for diversification
Economic necessity, driven by declining profitability in traditional farming, is the primary motivator for farmers to diversify.
Farmers have adopted diversification strategies such as agritourism, leisure, hospitability and educational services to enhance their financial stability and ensure the long-term viability of their farms
Impact on Traditional Farming
Diversification has supplemented income and provided a buffer against the volatility of traditional agricultural markets.
While it leads to a shift in focus, diversification does not necessarily result in the complete disregard of traditional farming. Instead, it supports a more sustainable integration of traditional farming with new business models
Challenges and Opportunities
Diversification requires significant investment in new skills, resources and sometimes sustainable capital. It also demands an entrepreneurial attitude, which may be challenging for some traditional farmers.
Despite these challenges, the benefits of economic resilience, risk mitigation and entry into new markets often outweigh the difficulties faced during the transition period
My inspiration for exploring this topic stemmed from my placement year at Howie Kent & Co, where I worked with clients who themselves had various diversification enterprises and potential opportunities. These included letting out of disused farm buildings and engaging in the idea of solar and battery farms on their land This experience highlighted the practical aspects and potential benefits of diversification, motivating me to look deeper into its impact on traditional farming.
The conclusion is that diversification presents significant opportunities for economic growth and resilience in the agricultural sector, however, it also highlights the need for government support to aid farmers in setting up a diversification enterprise, ensuring that the new venture complements rather than detracts the focus from traditional farming.
We would like to congratulate Anabel on her recent graduation and success gaining a Graduate Rural Surveyor position at a national land agency.
DIVERSIFICATION OPPORTUNITY
We have multiple tenants actively seeking:
Warehouse space
10,000 to 45,000 sq ft
Min 8m eaves height
Planning Class E(d)
Evening and weekend access
Tenants willing to do improvement works to the site
These companies and individuals are looking for space to create Padel Tennis courts - one of the UK’s fastest growing sports.
Give Sarah Thurmer a call for more details 01621 212651.
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION SITE FINDING
Duncan Howie and Harry Pennington inspecting an operational Anaerobic Digestion (AD) site with a client.
Howie, Kent & Co’s professional team find sites and then progress commercial terms for AD projects nationwide on behalf of our clients. If you have land that you think might be suitable, please get in touch.
RECENTLY LET PROPERTIES
A snapshot of properties we have let to commercial tenants in the last 90 days. If you have a building similar to these that you are considering renting out, please get in touch with our team.
