Buccleuch’s land is in more than one country, which matters first: the statutes below extend to England and Wales, not to a Scottish holding. This page makes no claim about how Buccleuch handles tenant solar requests. It sets out what to ask and the law for a tenancy in England.
What Buccleuch publishes
Buccleuch’s About Us page places the Boughton Estate in Northamptonshire and estates in the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway. Its Agriculture page says it farms through agricultural tenancies and land it manages itself, and describes a 2016 anaerobic digester at the Borders Estate. Neither mentions tenant solar, so ask the estate office what is in writing.
Which law governs your tenancy
First find out which statute governs your tenancy. Many older tenancies fall under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 (the 1986 Act); more recent ones are often farm business tenancies under the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 (the 1995 Act). They give tenants different rights over what they add, so your agreement, solicitor or land agent should confirm which applies.
Removing what you fix to the building
Under section 10 of the 1986 Act a tenant can remove fixtures and buildings they put on the holding during the tenancy or within two months after it ends, once rent is paid and on at least one month’s written notice; the landlord can counter-notice to buy at a fair value to an incoming tenant. Section 8 of the 1995 Act has no notice step in its text but lists its own exclusions.
Consent and compensation
For an older tenancy, section 64 of the 1986 Act gives compensation for improvements listed in its schedules. Section 67 requires the landlord’s written consent for long-term improvements; for those in Part II of Schedule 7 a tenant can apply to the Tribunal if the landlord refuses. Section 66 measures compensation by the increase in the holding’s value, less any public grant.
Who repairs the roof under the array
A roof array depends on the roof under it. Under the 1973 repairing regulations, as made, roof repairs and replacements fall mainly to the landlord of an agricultural holding, with some tenant duties, unless a written agreement says otherwise, so a failing roof is a conversation to have first. solar panel weight and roof loading lists the questions for a structural engineer, and solar panels on asbestos cement farm roofs covers asbestos cement.
What to put in the written request
A written request is easier to answer if it covers:
- the building, roof age and material;
- the proposed system and where it sits;
- a structural assessment, as in solar panel weight and roof loading;
- cost and funding, including tax (farm solar cost guide, grants and funding);
- insurance, grid connection and your proposal for the end of the tenancy.
Tenants of the Church Commissioners, the Crown Estate and Devonshire (Chatsworth) will find the same checklist on their pages. For the building and system, see solar panels for agricultural buildings; for wider background, tenant farmer solar and landlord consent.
| Point on this page | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Boughton Estate in Northamptonshire; Borders and Queensberry estates in Scotland | Buccleuch, About Us | undated |
| Farms through tenancies and in-hand land; 2016 anaerobic digester | Buccleuch, Agriculture | undated |
| Right to remove a tenant’s fixtures and buildings; exclusions and conditions apply | 1995 Act s.8, 1986 Act s.10 | current text |
| Written consent as a condition of compensation for improvements | 1986 Act s.64, s.66, s.67 | current text |
| Who repairs and replaces roofs under the 1973 regulations | SI 1973/1473, Fixed Equipment Regulations | 1973, as made |
Common questions
Do these Acts apply to Buccleuch land in Scotland?
No. legislation.gov.uk marks the sections cited as extending to England and Wales, so they do not govern a Scottish holding.
Does Buccleuch publish a solar policy for tenants?
Nothing on the pages cited describes one for Buccleuch (checked 20 October 2026). Ask the land agent whether any standard terms exist and keep the reply.
Who repairs the roof before panels go on?
Check the tenancy first. For an agricultural holding the 1973 regulations, as made, make the landlord mainly responsible for roof repairs and replacements, with some tenant duties, unless the agreement says otherwise; asbestos cement roofs need the separate guide first.
Other estate-landlord and tenant-farmer pages
See the wider UK estate-landlord and tenant-farmer solar resource set: