Chancel Repair Liability
A rare historic liability that can make a property owner responsible for church repairs.
Chancel repair liability is an ancient legal obligation attached to some properties, making the owner responsible for contributing to the upkeep of a local parish church. It applies to roughly 5,000-10,000 UK properties — mostly older rural properties near medieval churches. Since 2013, new owners are protected unless the liability was registered at the Land Registry before then. Your conveyancer will run a specific chancel repair search (usually £15-£25) to confirm the position.
Related terms
- Conveyancing →
- Restrictive Covenant →
- Conveyancing Process — full guide →
This glossary entry is a brief definition. For the full practical walkthrough, see the guide above.
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Restrictive Covenant
A legal obligation that limits what you can do with a property.
Conveyancing
The legal process of transferring property ownership.
Conveyancing Step by Step
Searches, enquiries and contracts — the legal stage explained.
Unmortgageable Properties
Why lenders decline certain properties and your options.
