Crofting Reform etc. Bill

# Crofting Reform etc. Bill Crofting in Scotland—the small-scale farming of rented land, primarily in the Highlands and Islands—has been subject to statutory regulation for over a century, but the legislative framework had become outdated and fragmented across multiple acts. The bill addresses the challenges faced by modern crofters, including difficulties in succession planning, bureaucratic barriers to productive land use, and unclear rights regarding housing and improvements to their holdings. By consolidating and modernising the law governing crofts, the bill aims to make crofting more accessible and economically viable while supporting the sustainability of rural communities. The bill introduces several key reforms to crofting law. It streamlines succession procedures to make it easier for crofters to pass holdings to their heirs, removes restrictions on how crofters can use and develop their land, and clarifies their rights to build houses and make permanent improvements. The legislation also enhances security of tenure, reduces administrative burdens, and improves dispute resolution mechanisms between crofters and landlords. Additionally, it addresses issues around vacant crofts and abandonment, aiming to keep land in productive use. The bill consolidates provisions from earlier crofting acts into a more coherent framework while maintaining protections for both crofters and the crofting estate.

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