Housing Guide
| Diocesan Responsibility |
| Occupant’s Responsibility |
| Parish’s Responsibility |
| INTERNAL | |
| Boilers | The diocese will arrange and pay for an approved contractor to carry out a boiler service on the same day as the Gas Safety Inspection. The diocese will organise and pay for necessary repairs, but a replacement will only be considered when beyond economic repair or deemed extremely inefficient by the inspecting engineerThe contractor will contact the occupant directly with an appointment date. It would be appreciated if every endeavour could be made to keep to the appointment time and date given. Not only will this maintain the anniversary date of the inspection, but as the inspection/services are organised into deanery groups, the engineers’ costs to the diocese are kept to a minimum |
| Cat Flaps | Cat/dog flaps must not be installed to PVC and composite external doors |
| Central Heating | Supplementary the diocese will not replace any defective existing gas fires. An electric fire will be provided in the living room as a form of back up heating |
| Chimney Sweeping | The diocese will not pay for any log burning/solid fuel maintenance requirements |
| Curtains and Blinds | The diocese does not provide curtains, blinds, curtain tracks or poles to the property |
| Electrical Installation | The electrical installation will be tested by a qualified electrician on a 5yearly cycle. The Diocese provides standard pendant lights to all rooms and compliant lighting in bathrooms, kitchens and all other wet rooms.Under no circumstances should the electrical wiring (or its associated fittings) be altered or tampered with by the occupant or a person not approved under a Competent Persons Scheme. Such work may be considered illegal and could lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £5000 |
| Light shades & fittings | The occupier is responsible for all light shades and decorative light fittings, regardless of ownership.Any electrical work to install decorative light fittings should be undertaken by an appropriately qualified electrician. |
| Extractor Fans | Extractor fans are provided in kitchens and bathrooms |
| Fixtures & Fittings | All fixtures and fittings provided in a parsonage are part of the fabric of the house. Any alteration to or removal of such items should have the prior approval of the Clergy Housing Team and be replaced by the occupant with an appropriate fitting before vacating the parsonage |
| Floor Coverings | The diocese is responsible for laying vinyl floor coverings to bathrooms, shower rooms, WC’s, kitchens and utility rooms |
| Floor Coverings | All other floor coverings in the house are the responsibility of the occupant |
| Gas Safety Tests | The diocese will arrange and pay for an approved contractor to carry out an annual Gas Safety TestThe contractor will contact clergy direct with an appointment date. It would be appreciated if every endeavour could be made to keep to the appointment time and date given. Not only will this maintain the anniversary date of the inspection, but as the inspection/services are organised into deanery groups, the engineers’ costs to the diocese are kept to a minimum |
| Infestations | Infestation within the house or garage, by mice, rats, wasps, flies or other pests should be reported to the Housing Department, which will arrange for appropriate action to be taken. |
| Infestations | Garden infestations are the responsibility of the occupant. |
| Insulation (Roof) | Loft insulation is provided as standard at the time. |
| Internal Decoration | The diocese is only responsible for internal decoration where required as a result of any significant building repair. |
| Internal Decoration | During occupancy, the vicar is responsible for decoratingAny internal decoration should be in neutral colours with ceilings and any gloss work kept white and in good orderIt is not permitted to apply any textured (artex/embossed lining paper) paint finishes to ceilings or walls |
| Kitchen/Utility Rooms | The need to replace or refurbish the kitchen or utility room will be determined by the Clergy Housing Team at a Vacancy or Property InspectionRoutine repairs will be carried out as and when requiredThe cooker aperture will be set at 600mm. |
| Kitchen Appliances: | The provision of all white goods is the responsibility of the occupantThe occupant is responsible for maintenance and repair of all kitchen appliances (with the exception of existing integrated cookers and hobs) regardless of ownershipAny existing appliances may be gifted and will not be serviced or repairedPermission needs to be sought for any non – standard appliances (such as American style wide fridge, or range cookers).All free-standing white goods will need to be removed when vacating |
| Lofts | Items may not be stored in the loft |
| Vicarage function & use | The occupant must not provide space within the vicarage for office/equipment for parish use Vicars should not make any arrangements for use of or access over any part of the house without prior permission of the Houses & Glebe Sub-Committee |
| Smoke Alarms & CO monitors | The diocese will provide smoke alarms on the hall and landing ceilings.CO monitors will be installed in appropriate locations as necessary.It is the responsibility of the occupant to test the alarms at regular intervals |
| Study Shelving | The diocese will provide up to 25 metres of adjustable shelving or similar (e.g. Billy Bookcases – Ikea) |
| Telephones | Telecommunications and the removal of any redundant cables are the responsibility of the parish |
| Telephone/ Internet Installation | This is the responsibility of the occupant |
| Window Locks | Locks will be provided to all opening downstairs windows as standard |
| EXTERNAL | |
| Aerials | The supply, fitting and maintenance of aerials are the responsibility of the occupantLocal authority consent may be necessary – particularly in Conservation Areas and where the parsonage house is listed. Advice can be sought from the Housing Department |
| CCTV | The diocese will not provide or replace CCTV as standard. |
| Satellite/Cable Installations | Any redundant/defective satellite cables will be removed at move in surveyAny installation and ongoing maintenance to the aerial/poles or satellite are the responsibility of the occupant |
| Door Locks | All external doors will be fitted with appropriate locks to conform with insurance requirements. |
| Door Locks | Replacement of any lost keys or lock out of the property is the responsibility of the vicar |
| Drains | Maintenance and repairs to the drainage system of the house is the responsibility of the Diocese.The vicar should however, ensure that grids are cleared of leaves and debris in the autumn. Kitchen fat, wet wipes, nappies or other hygiene items can cause blockages and should not be flushed down the toilets. |
| Drives & Paths – Maintenance | It is the responsibility of the occupant to ensure driveways and paths are cleaned to remove leaves, vegetation or moss that may cause them to become hazardous. |
| External Painting | The condition of the external woodwork will be checked by the Clergy Housing Team at a Vacancy or Property Inspection and where necessary, repairs and repainting will be instructed. |
| Fences | Maintenance and repair of wholly owned diocesan boundary fences and walls are the responsibility of the diocese and will be repaired when funds allowShared boundary party walls or fences will be dealt with under party wall arrangements. The minimum standard to be achieved is a fence capable of keeping small children within the garden under normal supervision and to provide general security and privacy for the house, but the Diocese will not pay for the erection of fencing to contain animals.Occupants are not permitted to plant any shrubs in such a position that they are likely to cause any damage to fences or walls, or obstruct access for maintenance purposes |
| Garages / Parking | A house may have a single garage, but this is not possible in all casesGarages will have a lockable, manually operated door. Fixtures and fittings such as shelving and remote controlled doors will not be provided |
Garden Maintenance | Maintenance of hedges is the responsibility of the occupant and should be suitably maintained with all cuttings disposed of |
| Garden Maintenance | During a vacancy/void the Parish should maintain the garden, lawns and boundary hedging. |
| Garden Sheds & Greenhouses | The diocese will not provide or maintain garden sheds or greenhouses Defective shed/ non-safety glass greenhouses will be removed at move in surveyAny reasonable sheds will be gifted and not maintained by the Diocese |
| Gutters | Essential repairs and maintenance are carried out by the diocese and the clearing of gutters is a diocesan responsibility |
| Intruder Alarm | The diocese is responsible for repairs of the system The diocese will not pay for systems to be connected to monitoring station |
| Rubbish | It is the occupant’s responsibility to ensure that all household and garden waste is removed offsite in accordance with the relevant local council’s guidelinesAll personal belongings and equipment must be removed from both the house and gardens upon vacating. Failure to do so may result in the occupant being re-charged |
Security Lighting | Appropriate security lighting is provided and maintained as standard |
| Septic Tanks | Problems should be reported to the Clergy Housing Department so repairs can be arranged The occupant should monitor the tank and the Diocese will arrange for it to be emptied locally, usually once a year. |
| Trees | A tree inspection will be carried out by a qualified tree surgeon at the time of a Vacancy or Property Inspection The diocese will meet the cost of pruning or taking down a tree that threatens the structure or drainage of a property, overhangs the public highway, has become or is likely to become dangerous or has grown too large for the siteNeighbour’s requests for tree work must be forwarded to the Clergy Housing Team for consideration |
| Washing Lines | The diocese will not provide or reimburse the cost of supplying and fixing of washing lines or rotary clothes driers |
| Windows | Failed double glazed units will only be replaced when funds allow |
| GENERAL | |
| Burglaries | Full repairs to any structural damage will be arranged by the Clergy Housing Department |
| Burglaries | In the event of a burglary the occupant should notify the Police as soon as possible and advise the Clergy Housing Department of any damage at the earliest opportunity with the police incident number During Out of Office hours, the occupant should call the out of hours emergency line and report it via Fixflo. Loss of or damage to contents should be notified to the occupant’s contents insurers |
| Council Tax | The parish is responsible for the payment of council tax for the parsonage house on behalf of their vicar. Most parishes choose to set up a monthly direct debit to pay the tax, usually organised by the PCC Treasurer.It should be noted that councils only issue two reminders during the year for late payments – then your right to pay by instalments will be rescinded and the remainder of the tax for the year will have to be paid.In a vacancy the Parish should contact the council to advise that the house is unoccupied as there may be exemptions available from the council. This varies from council to council. If council tax becomes payable in a vacancy, then this remains the parishes responsibility. Churchwardens should check the property during a vacancy to collect any Council Tax notices.If the house is rented out during a vacancy, then the tenant/occupier becomes responsible for the council tax. |
| Insurance (Buildings) | All parsonage houses are insured by the Diocesan Board of Finance for public liability |
| Insurance (Contents) | The occupant is responsible for insuring their own possessions against damage or loss |
| Planning Applications | The Clergy Housing Department will investigate the implications of planning applications relating to neighbouring properties and object if it is considered the proposed changes could be detrimental to the parsonage house and/or its occupants. This can obviously be done in conjunction with the occupant concerned Any notification of a planning application should be forwarded to the Clergy Housing Department without delay as there is usually a time limit to make any objections |
| Security | Occupants are expected to take sensible precautions to minimise the risk of burglary e.g. by locking windows and doors and activating the alarm system when leaving the house. Failure to do so may lead to an invalid insurance claim. |
| Subletting | Do not sublet the house to anyone or take in any form of lodger without the prior written consent of both the Diocesan Secretary and your Archdeacon |
| Utility Bills | Gas, electricity and oil bills, are the responsibility of the occupant |
| Water Rates | Water and sewerage bills are the responsibility of the parish |