Asked to pay for use of church when selling?

Graham_Devon

This was a new one to me, my parents neighbours, my parents.....the only person that knew about it was when a neighbour contacted someone who lived in one of the houses a couple of years back.

My parents house has sold, solicitor is now saying that they have to pay money towards the church upon selling. It was first £540, today it has been reduced due to an error to £189.

This 'fee' is to pay for the use of the village church. My parents have never used the church!! Neither will they ever use it, that do not believe in that sort of thing.

The person that sold, also had to pay, but 2 years ago had to pay £146.

The solicitor has to pay it when recieving the money for the house sale, so it's instantly deducted from your proceeds.

Anyone have any experience of this??! It's not just here, now dad has been looking into it, there was a case where a poor man bought a house in the west midlands with a considerable amount of land. The church decided it was there, and he lost his home completely.

It's some kind of victorian law?

I would be really greateful if anyone knows more, as non of the neighbours seem to. Why should my parents have to pay the church for selling their house!? Seems totally obsurd?

wecanhelpu

I'm no expert, but it sounds like some sort of tithe.

dmg24

Yep, more than likely something in the deeds.

rach29

Is this maybe to do with Chancel repair liability? If you search this board you will find this is currently a bit of a hot potato. seems to me that it is just another way for solicitors/insurance co's to make a quid or two!

iwanttosave_2

Anyone have any experience of this??! It's not just here, now dad has been looking into it, there was a case where a poor man bought a house in the west midlands with a considerable amount of land. The church decided it was there, and he lost his home completely.

I think thats the one I saw on the news, it almost bancrupted him as everytime there was a repair needed, he had to foot the bill because of where the boundry of his land was or something I forget now, but it was intresting, just a shame people get landed with these things that they didn't even know about.

milla

I think you may be talking about this

http://www.maceandjones.co.uk/news/archive/chancel-repairs.html

Graham_Devon

iwanttosave wrote: »

I think thats the one I saw on the news, it almost bancrupted him as everytime there was a repair needed, he had to foot the bill because of where the boundry of his land was or something I forget now, but it was intresting, just a shame people get landed with these things that they didn't even know about.

Sounds a lot like it. He had to sell up in the end? He was major out of pocket.

Would love a link to it.

Graham_Devon

milla wrote: »

I think you may be talking about this

http://www.maceandjones.co.uk/news/archive/chancel-repairs.html

Aha!! Thanks!

Graham_Devon

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Aha!! Thanks!

There seems to be mention of 2002 in there. They bought before this and the ones that know this (i.e. moved a couple of years back) also knew, but no one else does, my parents neighbours have been there 25 years and never heard of anyone having problems.

So is this some kind of new thing but on a medievil law?

It's not exactly a small amount of money, and why when just selling?

It's no wonder the church is the wealthiest establishment in the country!

iwanttosave_2

From that link

present there is no central register which identifies which properties are subject to a chancel repair liability.

How can they legally pursue the money then if there is nothing down other than on some piece of paper that the owners knew nothing about?

edit: Read the end where they explain it, still non the wiser.

How long have your parents lived there Graham?

wifeforlife

After reading the link, it seems it's for repairs, not general use of the church, so in that circumstance I dont see why they would have to pay.

This is a nightmare, I didnt even know this existed!

Cate