Property

  • Property Overview

    Guidance and procedures for the care, maintenance, and development of church property.

    • Funding & Major Projects

      Information on applying for grants, loans, and the release of funds for building work.

    • Lettings, Leases & Sales

      Guidance on hiring out church halls, letting property, and the procedures for sales and leases.

    • Inspections & Maintenance

      Procedures for carrying out essential Annual and five-yearly Quinquennial Inspections.

    • Health, Safety & Compliance

      Your legal duties regarding fire safety, asbestos, gas and electrical safety, accessibility, and more.

      • Fire Safety

        Guidance on the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, including the need for a Fire Risk Assessment.

      • Asbestos

        Your duty to manage asbestos under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, including surveys and management plans.

      • Gas & Electrical Safety

        Your responsibilities as a landlord for gas safety checks in residential properties and five-yearly electrical testing.

      • Equality Act & Accessibility

        Your duty to make 'reasonable adjustments' to ensure church buildings are accessible to people with disabilities.

      • CDM (Construction) Regulations

        The legal requirements for managing health and safety during any construction or building project.

      • Church Licensing

        An overview of the various copyright and performance licences required for church activities.

    • Property Resources & Forms

      Download essential forms, agreements, and guidance notes for property management.

    • Property Contacts

      Contact details for advice and support on all property matters.

Health, Safety & Compliance

Your legal duties regarding fire safety, asbestos, gas and electrical safety, accessibility, and more.

As trustees of church buildings, local church Elders have a legal responsibility to ensure that their premises are safe for employees, volunteers, hirers, and members of the public. This involves complying with a wide range of health and safety regulations.

This section provides detailed guidance on your key responsibilities. Please select a topic below to read the full guidance note.

Fire Safety
Guidance on the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, including the need for a Fire Risk Assessment.

Asbestos
Your duty to manage asbestos under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, including surveys and management plans.

Gas & Electrical Safety
Your responsibilities as a landlord for gas safety checks in residential properties and five-yearly electrical testing.

Equality Act & Accessibility
Your duty to make 'reasonable adjustments' to ensure church buildings are accessible to people with disabilities.

CDM (Construction) Regulations
The legal requirements for managing health and safety during any construction or building project.

Church Licensing
An overview of the various copyright and performance licences required for church activities.

Downloadable guidance notes for each of these topics are available on our Property Resources & Forms page.