Agricultural Holdings and Land Reform

Many publications have analysed the recent Scottish Parliament legislation, which affects landowners, managers and occupiers. However, as yet, there has been little practical guidance for landowners on the best course of action to take to ensure they are not adversely affected.

CKD Galbraith manages a large number of estates in Scotland and also acts for farmers and individuals. Some of the steps that CKD Galbraith advises landowners to consider are as follows:

• Evaluate all land titles, including former disposals or break-offs, and establish if any Superiors’ Rights are worth preserving.
• Where possible existing sales should be by disposition with the appropriate conditions. Conditions imposed in this way (and not by way of a Feu) can still be reserved
• Identify the curtilage of your residential properties
• Ensure public path access agreements are in place
• Consider separate ownership of sporting rights
• Review tenants’ access arrangements to lochs, woodlands, etc. It is not always desirable for a tenant, who may exercise his right to buy, to own such accesses
• Consider contract farming arrangements especially in light of the mid-term review

Note: This is intended as a pointer to some of the practical steps that can be taken in light of recent legislation. Specialist advice should be taken in every case.

For more information, please contact Tim Kirkwood, telephone: 01463 224343 or email: tim.kirkwood@ckdgalbraith.co.uk

The Glorious Twelfth – Grouse Prospects 2003

August 12th marks the start of the grouse-shooting season, and is the most celebrated day in the shooting calendar. CKD Galbraith manages grouse moors throughout Scotland and its shooting and sporting agency is the Scotland’s largest.

This year, gamekeepers on estates managed by CKD Galbraith are predicting one of the best grouse shooting seasons in recent years, particularly in Aberdeenshire, Upper Speyside and Inverness-shire.

Robert Rattray, who leads the company’s sporting and holiday letting department, said: “Scotland has had one of the best Springs in recent years and the weather has been very favourable in the build up to the breeding season. Initial indications show that covey sizes are good. There will be regional variations, as always, but in general we expect a good season.”

CKD Galbraith was formed through the merger of CKD Finlayson Hughes and Cluttons (Scotland) on April 7, 2003. CKD Galbraith’s portfolio contains some of the finest shooting, fishing and stalking opportunities available in the UK, plus an unrivalled selection of sporting lodges.

For more information, please contact Robert Rattray on 01738 451600,email robert.rattray@ckdgalbraith.co.uk or visit www.sportinglets.co.uk

CKD Galbraith Events

James Galbraith, Chairman of CKD Galbraith, and Richard Higgins are giving two seminars next month entitled "Commercial Property Investment for the Private Client". The seminars are to be delivered to a wide range of business people and professionals. The details of the two events are as follows:

Wednesday 10th September - McDiarmid Park, Perth, 6pm
Thursday 11th September - Marriott Hotel, Inverness, 6pm

For more information please email
James Galbraith: james.galbraith@ckdgalbraith.co.uk or
Richard Higgins: richard.higgins@ckdgalbraith.co.uk

To read previous newsletters from CKD Galbraith please click here.

A New Force in Property

CKD Galbraith is a new property consultancy formed through the merger of CKD Finlayson Hughes and Cluttons (Scotland).

The consultancy specialises in serving the needs of private clients. With offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Aberfeldy, Inverness, Ayr and London, our partnership provides the full range of property consulting services across the commercial, residential and rural sectors throughout Scotland. The combined knowledge, expertise and experience of CKD Finlayson Hughes and Cluttons (Scotland) both firms – each enjoying long-established reputations for quality service – has created a national partnership with unrivalled local knowledge.

Services include:

• Sourcing properties
• Surveys
• Appraising and valuing
• Negotiating purchases on the best possible terms
• Residential Property
• Commercial Property
• Forestry Property

For more information please visit www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk