Inspections & Maintenance

Quinquennial Inspections (Every Five Years)

A Quinquennial Inspection is a five-yearly professional assessment of the condition of your church buildings and manse. It provides a detailed report on the state of the buildings, listing defects and prioritizing repair and maintenance work with an idea of cost. This helps ensure that church resources are used as economically and effectively as possible.

For Listed Buildings, a Quinquennial Inspection carried out by a suitably qualified Architect or Surveyor is a legal requirement. For all other properties, it is a strong recommendation and a requirement for any church seeking financial assistance from the Synod for building work.

The Synod Property Development Worker oversees the arrangements for Quinquennial Inspections and will remind churches when an inspection is due. However, the responsibility for arranging the inspection lies with the local church trustees (Elders).

The consultant's final report will be sent to the church, with a copy also provided to the Synod.

You can download the full 'Quinquennial Inspection Procedure 2024' document from our Property Resources & Forms page.

Annual Inspections

In addition to the five-yearly professional inspection, local churches should carry out their own Annual Inspection of all church properties, including the manse. This should be a thorough visual check of the building's condition, conducted using the Synod's questionnaire pro-forma.

This regular check helps to identify any maintenance issues before they become serious and ensures the ongoing care of the buildings. Copies of these annual inspection sheets should be kept and passed to the professional surveyor when they carry out the next Quinquennial Inspection.

The 'Annual Inspection pro-forma' is available for download on our Property Resources & Forms page.