Chancel Repair Liability Insurance

If you are the owner of former rectorial land in England or Wales, you may be liable under a little known piece of legislation called the Chancel Repairs Act 1932 to fund repairs to your local church.  

The land does not need to be near a church to be affected.  Further, properties in urban areas are as much at risk as properties in country villages.  However, many people may buy a property in church grounds, unaware that they could be liable under this legislation for the maintenance costs to the church.

Chancel Repair Liability dates back to medieval times but hit the headlines in the year 2000 because of a High Court decision involving a church in Aston Cantlow, Warwickshire.  In this case, a couple that had inherited a property in the church’s parish grounds were ordered to pay more than £95,000 for chancel repairs because of the chancel liability law.  The couple challenged this decision and in 2001 the Court of Appeal allowed their appeal.  Unfortunately however, the couple’s relief was short-lived.  In 2003, the House of Lords overturned the Court of Appeal’s decision, finding that Chancel Repair Liability was enforceable.  To make matters worse, the repair costs had more than doubled since the case began and in February 2007, the High Court assessed the claim at a final figure of around £200,000.  In addition to this, the couple faced legal costs estimated to be in excess of £400,000.

You can check whether your property is in an area that has potential for Chancel Repair Liability by having a chancel repair check carried out - a solicitor should be able to do this for you.  If it is, you can take out a Chancel Repair Liability insurance policy to cover this risk. 

Contact your Cherrypicked Insurance Broker to get a competitive quote for Chancel Repair Liability insurance and find out more about our range of comprehensive insurance products for your property, whether it be your home, property to let or your commercial premises.

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