Rachel Hackney

Rachel specialises in supporting landed estates, land owners, farming families, private businesses, and trusts with the property aspects of succession planning to facilitate the passing of landholdings to the next generation.

She has particular expertise in agricultural property transactions, including the acquisition, financing and disposal of farmland and buildings, alongside advising on environmental land management schemes and grants.

Rachel also advises on the grant, surrender and termination of agricultural tenancies including grazing tenancies and licences, Agricultural Holdings Act tenancies, and farm business tenancies, as well as expertise in bespoke land matters such as rights of way, adverse possession, complex deeds of easement and first registrations of large estates.

Examples of Rachel’s work include:

• Preparing a large estate worth £12 million for sale in lots, including advising on the structure, private water supply arrangements, preparing tenancies, deeds of surrender and overage, and advising on agricultural land management schemes.
• Facilitating the purchase of a large estate worth £14.5 million, including extensive title queries, transfers of part, surrenders, and drafting farm business tenancies and commercial leases.
• Leading on a large transaction for a farming family, including multiple transfers of part, gifts of land, restructuring of legal charges, and granting of farm business tenancies.
• Resolving multiple issues to facilitate the transfer of multiple assets worth £18.5 million from one estate company to another as part of a refinancing deal.
• Coordinating plot sales for a landed estate with residential, commercial and sporting interests, including option agreements and overage provisions.
• Successfully claiming ownership of a parcel of land on behalf of a farmer who had occupied it for more 20 years without challenge, but who was not registered as the legal owner.