The new Flemish Farm Lease Decree, applicable as of 1
November 2023, aims at creating a fair balance between the rights
and obligations of the farmers as tenants and the landlords. As
more than 60 percent of the land in the Flemish Region is leased by
farmers, the farm lease legislation is therefore essential for the
Flemish agricultural sector. The new legislation is applicable,
also on existing farm lease agreements
Key changes and implications of the new Farm Lease Decree in
Flanders
sOn 1 November 2023, the decree of 13 October 2023 governing the
specific rules on farm lease (and published only on 28 November
2023) entered into force in Flanders (the “Farm Lease
Decree”). Farm lease legislation is a competence of the
Regions since 1 July 2014. The Walloon Region already introduced
its own farm lease decree on 1 January 2020. The new Flemish Farm
Lease Decree aims at amending the federal farm lease act of 4
November 1969 (the “Farm Lease Act"), and creating
