Farm & finance · News & views

Continuing our annual look ahead for farming and finance, we asked the team for their views on what 2025 may have in store for farms and the rural lending market.

The changes to permitted development rights for agricultural buildings present opportunities for farmers. For those needing finance, we explain some of the different finance options for farmers depending on their circumstances and long-term plans.

Here are some recent cases where we’ve been able to consider the whole story to create successful funding solutions for our clients.

In each case, our clients had approached their own banks or other rural lenders who had not been able to help.

It’s been 20 years since R&BS was founded! We've looked at what factors are influencing the market now. Interest rates are one, along with changes with lender appetities and staffing, and new entrants to the industry.

Read what we have to say about these opportunities and challenges...

We asked the team what they see happening to farming and banking in '24, and how that could affect the agricultural lending market.

Six months in to his role as Consultant in the Midlands, we caught up with Paul Simon to find out what he has been doing, and to ask his views on the farm mortgage market.

Paul joined us in July having spent the last 16 years working as an agricultural relationship manager for Lloyds Bank.

With mortgage rates still higher than they have been for over 15 years how can those buying land, looking to diversify or refinance make sure they are getting the best deal?

We give some tips on what to consider when talking to banks or lenders.

The banks and lenders we work with continue to agree lending proposals. Pricing has risen due to bank base rate, but margins have remained as they were and have perhaps improved.

Read our view on the positive market, and the considerations before fixing your interest rates. 

We look at the deposit you’ll need and how a bank or lender would assess your ability to repay the loan.

Plus, how the type of property and what you intend on doing on the land can affect the mortgage you could get. 

We asked the team what they see happening to farming and banking in '22, and how that could affect the agricultural lending market.

We've never seen so much variance in lender responses to farm mortgage proposals. More farmers are having lending requests declined by their existing bank. 

We explain the reasons why and show how you can be successful at getting the funding you need.

You’ve found the perfect property, but when you get into the detail you find the property has an agricultural tie.

What is an agricultural tie, how will it affect your chances of getting a mortgage and how can you get a mortgage?