Legal responsibilities for church buildings and property

Keeping churches and manses safe and welcoming is about more than day-to-day care, it also means making sure that all buildings are up to date with essential legal certifications. These checks are not only a legal requirement, but are also a vital part of protecting everyone who uses and visits the property. By staying on top of these responsibilities, we ensure that our places of worship and ministry remain safe, compliant and fit for purpose.

By keeping up to date with these inspections, it demonstrates good stewardship of the buildings and responsibility toward those who use them. It is a practical way of caring for our congregation, staff and community, while also fulfilling legal obligations as custodians of these important spaces.

Electrical Installation Condition Report

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a legal requirement, and is a certificate that confirms the electrical systems in the church and manse have been inspected, tested and deemed safe to use. Faulty or outdated electrical installations can present serious risks, so regular inspections help identify and address potential hazards before they become a danger.

Gas Safety Certificate

Gas safety certificates are mandatory where gas appliances or heating systems are in place, with annual checks by a qualified Gas Safe engineer a legal requirement. The engineer will ensure boilers, heaters and pipework are functioning safely and efficiently, which protects residents and visitors and also helps maintain the integrity and longevity of the systems themselves.

Fire Risk Assessment

It is a legal requirement for all churches and public access buildings to undertake a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA). This must be carried out in accordance with Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

The FRA must be carried out by a competent/qualified person and reviewed on an annual basis and whenever a building (or part of it) is changed, modified or extended. There are independent companies who specialise in undertaking FRAs which you can find out more about from here. Further guidance can be found via Ecclesiastical Insurance. The assessment reviews:

  • fire prevention

  • means of escape

  • emergency lighting

  • training

  • fire detection and alarms

  • fire extinguishing equipment

  • tests and practice evacuations

  • record keeping and monitoring

Legionella in church buildings

Church Elders are legally responsible for taking all reasonable measures to prevent incidences of legionella within their church buildings. The potential risk of an outbreak of legionella within the water supply system, tank, hoses or outlets must be assessed by a competent person. To confirm (or otherwise) that legionella is/is not present in the system, a number of water samples, taken from vulnerable locations within the system, must be analysed by an accredited laboratory.

This document provides further information and detailed guidance is also available from the Health and Safety Executive website.