Lettings, Leases & Sales

Hiring Out Church Premises (Short-Term Use)

Church property is charity property, held by trustees for the benefit of the local church. For temporary, occasional, or intermittent use of your premises (e.g., hiring a hall for a regular group or a one-off event), you should use a Hiring Agreement or Licence. This does not create a formal tenancy.

The Synod provides a Generic Hiring Agreement for local churches to use for this purpose. It is important to review your arrangements with regular users, as daily or very frequent use (such as for a nursery) may legally constitute a lease, which has different legal implications.

The 'Standard Hiring Agreement' template is available on our Property Resources & Forms page.

Letting of Manses and Residential Property

If you propose to let a manse or other residential property, you must seek the approval of the Synod Resources Committee. It is important to note that manses should not be let on a long-term basis; an initial term of six or twelve months is usually appropriate.

Leases and Sales of Church Property (Long-Term Arrangements)

Under the Charities Act, trustees have a duty to obtain the best terms reasonably obtainable when leasing or selling charity land and property. Any other arrangement requires approval from the Charity Commission.

You must seek the approval of the Synod Resources Committee for all sales and leases of church land and property. This requires a written proposal giving clear details of the arrangement. If the sale or lease is part of a larger redevelopment project, you must also follow the Project Development Group process outlined on our Funding & Major Projects page.

For further details on these complex procedures, please contact the Synod Office or the Thames North Trust.