Defra – Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committee appraisals

To ensure that the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs fulfils his obligations in respect of tied housing in the agricultural and forestry industries, local housing authorities may request the Secretary of State to appoint Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees (ADHACs) to advise on the need to rehouse former workers under the provisions of the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976.

Acorus Rural Property Services Limited is retained by Defra to provide technical appraisals to help individual ADHAC committees to determine the agricultural need and urgency of that need where a farmer wishes to use a tied cottage occupied by a former worker to house a new worker. The Acorus report provides a description of the business, together with an appraisal of the labour and housing needs of the holding, following a farm visit/inspection and meeting the occupant of the dwelling the subject of the ADHAC reference. Although the technical appraisal will assist the ADHAC it does not bind the committee; if necessary the hearing may be attended by the Acorus consultant as an expert witness.