Church conversions are always popular, with the unique old buildings providing striking and distinctive homes. We take a look at the practicalities.
A well-converted church can make a wonderful home, with a beautiful high ceiling, dramatic windows and often a picturesque setting. But owning a church can involve ongoing costs and responsibilities and it is essential to understand what is involved before you move in.
Survey
A survey is essential and you should engage a specialist surveyor with experience of surveying unique older buildings. They will be able to identify any fundamental problems, such as structural weaknesses and issues that may have arisen if the building was neglected for a lengthy period.
As well as advising on the condition of the property and any works needed to put it into good repair, they should also be able to determine whether the conversion has been carried out sufficiently well to make a comfortable home. For example, have measures been put in place to insulate the property, to dampen noise and prevent echoing and to ensure that windows open to provide sufficient ventilation?
Listed building status
If the church has listed building status, you will be restricted as to what works you can carry out. You will need special listed building consent and you will have to use specified materials, which often cost considerably more than those generally in use. For example, you may be required to use cast iron downpipes instead of plastic and PVC windows will not be permitted.
It is a criminal offence to demolish, alter or extend a listed building without the correct authority.
Check the right consents are in place
It is important to ensure that all of the correct consents to the conversion of the church into a home are in place. This includes planning consent, buildings regulations approval and for a listed building, listed building consent.
If you buy a listed building where work has been carried out that does not have consent, you will be required to restore the building to its original condition at your expense and failure to do so will be a criminal offence.
Your solicitor will be able to ask the seller to provide the relevant consents so that they can be checked against the conversion to ensure there has not been any breach.
Restrictions
The legal title to the church is also likely to include a number of restrictions as well as rights granted to third parties. It is often the case that no external alterations are permitted and where the property comes with a graveyard, relatives will generally have a right of access. You will not be able to alter the graveyard in any way although you will have to maintain it.
Ongoing costs
Buying a church means you can expect some ongoing costs that may be substantial. Church roofs are notoriously expensive to repair and replace and if the building has any features such as a steeple, you should bear in mind that a specialist builder will be required to carry out any maintenance work, which is likely to be extremely costly.
If you would like to speak to one of our expert property lawyers, ring us on 0333 305 5189 or email us at info@lpropertylawyers.co.uk
