Chancel repair liability

If you live within the boundaries of a parish church you could be liable to contribute towards the costs of repairs to it. The legal obligation dates back to medieval times, but it could still affect you if you own a house in England or Wales.

What is chancel repair liability?

It's a liability benefiting pre-Reformation churches in England and Wales. In short, if you live on land within the boundary of one of these churches, you could be liable to pay for chancel repairs.

In comparison to the full UK housing market, only a small number of homes are affected. But commercial and residential properties are liable regardless of their age, and it's a perpetual obligation (never-ending).

Issues concerning the local church aren't typically factored in when you're looking to buy a home. But ignoring this liability or deciding against conducting thorough searches and getting insurance could be a costly mistake.

History of chancel repair

Chancel repair dates back to the 16th century. Originally chancel repairs were the responsibility of monks living in a monastery. But when Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries and sold the land, chancel repair liability passed from the monks to the landowners.

In the present day, cases are extremely rare. But there have been a handful of well-documented cases over the past 25 years that bring the law back into the public domain.

Because of this, landowners within the boundary of monastic land are liable for any chancel repairs. It has evolved over centuries, and in July 2025 the Law Commission published a consultation paper with proposals to reform chancel repair liability in England and Wales.

The proposals aim to simplify the law so that chancel repair liability only applies to buyers if it is recorded on the land’s title register. They also suggest that any property bought or sold since October 2013, without a note of this liability on the title, should be free from it.

Is chancel repair liability still an issue?

A law change in 2012 prompted around 250 churches to register the liability at the Land Registry. As a result, some churches lost legal rights and their ability to issue notices to property owners within their boundaries.

Despite the law change, chancel liability still exists, and churches can still apply for a property in their boundary to be liable. It shouldn't affect properties that have been sold since 2013, unless the property is registered as liable.

It's a complicated issue, but it still needs to be considered.

How do I know if I’m liable for chancel repair?

If you're buying a home, your solicitor could carry out a Land Registry search during the conveyancing process to reveal any existing notices. The cost of the search can depend on your solicitor's fees.

If you’re buying a home, this search can often be included in the property ‘searches’ that are carried out. These searches should report on flood risks, land registry, and local searches, so it could flag chancel repair liability. But you should check first.

You don't necessarily need to be in the process of buying a house to check if you're liable for chancel repair. Instant reports can be bought online, or you could do this yourself by searching through the National Archives

What is chancel repair liability insurance?

As you can imagine, chancel repair liability insurance can help protect you from any repair costs relating to your local church’s chancel.

During a home-buying process your solicitor should notify you if the property is liable for chancel repairs. If it is, and you decide to go ahead with the purchase of the property, you can typically buy chancel repair liability insurance during the conveyancing process.

How long your cover lasts for depends on the policy you buy. Some insurers offer a set cover period (typically up to 25 years), other policies offer cover for as long as you own the property.

Is chancel repair liability covered by my home insurance?

Standard home insurance policies don't cover chancel repair liability, but specialist cover can be found online. Alternatively, your conveyancing solicitor may be able to recommend insurance providers.

How does chancel repair liability insurance work?

Unlike many insurance policies, chancel repair liability insurance is a one-off payment that could last as long as you own the property. It's important you check your policy, cover can last for 25 years or forever depending on your insurer.

There are 2 types of chancel repair liability insurance:

• No search chancel liability insurance: No search has been carried out on your property, you're insuring against the possibility you could be liable.
• Known liability chancel repair insurance: There's a known liability, and you're insuring against a possible claim made by the church for repairs.
• Your property may already be covered: Always check this before you exchange, your solicitor should enquire for you.

How much does chancel repair liability insurance cost?

The price can vary due to a number of factors, including:

• The level of cover required
• Amount of land involved (from less than 1 acre to 10 acres)
• Whether the policy is for 25 years, 35 years or runs indefinitely

What can happen if you’re found liable with no cover?

Successful claims made by the church in the past 200 years are extremely rare. But a high-profile case in 2003 highlighted the existence of chancel repair liability to a national audience. A couple in Warwickshire were forced to sell their farmhouse after being given a repair bill for £230,000 for upkeep of the local church.

More recently, homeowners in Tamworth had to go to court and fight lengthy battles to dispute similar claims.