Church Property Measure 2018

11 Certification etc.

(1) Where a house is built, bought or otherwise acquired as the parsonage house of a benefice or improvements to a house proposed to be constituted as such are completed, whether under this Part or any other enactment—

(a) the bishop of the diocese must certify the house as the parsonage house of the benefice, and

(b) the house is to be regarded for all purposes as the parsonage house of the benefice as from the date of the certificate.

(2) Where the parsonage house of a benefice is divided into two or more parts—

(a) the bishop of the diocese must certify one of those parts as the parsonage house of the benefice, and

(b) the part certified as such is to be regarded for all purposes as the parsonage house of the benefice as from the date of the certificate.

(3) A dwelling-house which, in the opinion of the Church Commissioners, should be retained for use as a parsonage house is to be treated as a parsonage house for the purposes of the Repair of Benefice Buildings Measure 1972 so long as it is vested in the incumbent or would be if the benefice were full.

(4) Subsection (3) does not apply to a dwelling-house held under a lease which provides for the landlord to be wholly or mainly responsible for the repairs.

(5) Where a question arises as to whether land is parsonage land, it is for the Church Commissioners to determine the question; and their determination is final.