Property Leasing and Hire
How to Hire or Lease Church Property
All use of parish property where the activity is not controlled by the Parish Council must be documented with the parties involved. The documentation for the external use of a parish hall/centre can take two forms:
- A lease is for regular, commercial, long-term, high-frequency and/or exclusive use of space (including storage). The Parish Council should agree on the terms with the Area Archdeacon. The Parish Property Team will arrange for the formal lease document to be drafted. Only authorised diocesan officers can sign the lease. All Lessees must have public liability insurance.
- A Hall Hire Agreement is for one-time, occasional and community use that is not commercial. This use will never include exclusive use of part of the property for a long time. This agreement is on the Diocesan website and can be completed by the parish. Hirer’s liability insurance is provided to all hall users without their own public liability insurance who are covered by a license. A Parish Warden or a hiring coordinator chosen by the parish council can sign the Agreement and keep it at the parish office.
Churches
Buildings that are dedicated or consecrated as churches can only be used for Anglican worship and sacraments, and activities related to the church's mission and ministry.
The Archbishop has strict procedures for allowing other faith communities to use churches for worship. The Archbishop must give prior consent for another use or worshipping group.
Contact your Archdeacon or the Episcopal Office for more information and how to get permission.
Residential Property
If a rectory is not needed for clergy use, it can be leased outside once the Diocese gives permission. A residential lease follows the rules of the Residential Tenancies Act.
The Act applies to all residential property no matter the condition, rent, or tenants working for the parish instead of paying rent.
The Diocese appoints a skilled licensed Property Manager to manage all residential leases. The Property Manager makes sure the property follows the Act, has fair arrangements with the tenants and reduces risk to the parish and trustees.
Only authorised diocesan officers can sign documents for residential property, not parish officers or property managers.
The following advice and resources are for leased properties:
Forms
The website has a sample Agreement for Hall Hire form. Do not change this legal document except to add more details where indicated.
Exemptions
Church property may get lower rates and taxes from state and local governments if it is used for Church purposes. If church property is used for other purposes, this may affect these benefits.