6 Jan 2016
Peterborough office
48 Broadway, Peterborough Cambridgeshire, PE1 1YW
01733 346 333 01733 562 338 enquiries@hegarty.co.ukStamford office
10 Ironmonger Street, Stamford Lincolnshire, PE9 1PL
01780 752 066 01780 762 774 enquiries@hegarty.co.ukOakham office
66 South Street, Oakham Rutland, LE15 6BQ
01572 757 565 01572 720 555 enquiries@hegarty.co.ukMarket Deeping office
27a Market Place, Market Deeping, PE6 8EA
01778 230 120 01778 230 129 enquiries@hegarty.co.uk6 Jan 2016
Q. What is Chancel repair liability and how might it affect me?
A. Any property within a Church of England parish with a medieval church could be liable to contribute to the repair of the chancel. This is a duty dating from the Middle Ages.
The chancel is the part of the church containing the altar. This made headlines in 2003 when a couple were found liable for £100,000 chancel repairs. People buying properties which might be affected took out chancel repair insurance. However, since then, the law has changed.
Now chancel repair liability that was not registered before 13th October 2013 cannot bind any new purchaser of the land. If you buy a property after this date, your solicitor will know from the title of the land whether there is chancel liability. Property purchased before this date (or gifted or inherited property), might still be subject to chancel repair liability.
