See below for an overview table of who (the Diocese or clergy occupant) is responsible for maintaining certain aspects of the property. Where it is possible and relevant, the Handbook will also specify what standard can be expected. To navigate the table:
click on each heading for further information relating to that item
use the back button to return to the index page
*Grant available
Whose Responsibility? Is There a Set Standard? Is an Inspection or Maintenance Programme in Place? Is Permission Required for Changes? Water and council tax payments Diocese Electricity and fuel payments Clergy Heating in all habitable rooms Diocese ✓ ✓ ✓ Electricity Diocese ✓ ✓ ✓ EV chargers Clergy ✓ ✓ Solar panels Installation and maintenance: Diocese ✓ Solar panels* Cleaning and bird proofing: Clergy Smart meters Clergy ✓ Telephones and broadband Installation: Diocese Telephones and broadband Costs: Clergy Televisions and aerials Clergy External decorations Diocese ✓ ✓ ✓ Windows and doors Diocese ✓ ✓ Door knocker Diocese ✓ Doorbell Clergy Roof, brickwork and chimney stacks Diocese ✓ ✓ Gutters, downpipes and drainage Diocese ✓ ✓ ✓ Internal decorations* Clergy ✓ Fine cracks* Clergy Major, worsening cracks Diocese ✓ Floor coverings in kitchen, bathroom, utility rooms, cloakrooms and WCs Diocese ✓ ✓ Other flooring, carpets and underlay Clergy ✓ Curtain tracks and poles Clergy Sockets and switches Diocese ✓ Light fittings (e.g lampshades, bulbs) Clergy Light fixtures (e.g. pendants, electrics) Diocese ✓ Chimney sweeps Clergy ✓ ✓ Fireplaces Diocese ✓ Gas fires Diocese ✓ ✓ Woodburners Clergy ✓ Study space and shelving Diocese ✓ Kitchen units Diocese ✓ ✓ ✓ Appliance connection points Diocese ✓ ✓ Appliances Clergy Extractor fans (kitchen and bathroom) Installation and maintenance: Diocese ✓ ✓ Extractor fans (kitchen and bathroom) Cleaning and replacing filters: Clergy Bathroom fittings e.g. toilet roll holders, toilet seats, mirrors, shower heads and hoses Clergy Bathroom suites Diocese ✓ ✓ Bathroom tiles Diocese ✓ ✓ Built in wardrobes Clergy ✓ Pests Clergy (unless within 3 months of moving in or causing structural damage) Rot Diocese Damp and mould Clergy and Diocese depending on cause Asbestos Diocese ✓ ✓ ✓ Burst pipes and plumbing Diocese (unless caused by negligence) Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms Installation and replacement: Diocese ✓ ✓ Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms Testing and batteries: Clergy Intruder alarms Installation: Diocese ✓ Intruder alarms Maintenance: Clergy Security lighting Diocese ✓ Large trees Diocese ✓ Ivy, creepers* Clergy ✓ Invasive, pervasive, poisonous plants Diocese ✓ ✓ Boundary gates, fences and walls Diocese ✓ ✓ ✓ Lawn, shrubs, hedges, small trees* Clergy ✓ Patios Clergy ✓ Garden sheds, greenhouses Clergy ✓ ✓ Gardening infrastructure (eg water butt) Clergy ✓ Garden tools* Clergy Driveways and paths Diocese ✓ Garages Diocese ✓
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Properties During a Vacancy
Once a clergyperson has moved out of a property and a vacancy begins, responsibility falls to the churchwardens and the Diocese – via Savills – to handle the logistics of […]
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