Church Property Measure 2018

2 Construction, purchase or improvement of parsonage house

(1) The incumbent of a benefice may do any of the following where it is thought desirable, whether or not the current parsonage house is disposed of—

(a) build a house which would be suitable for the residence and occupation of the incumbent of the benefice;

(b) buy a house or land for the site of a house, or buy other land, which would be suitable for the residence and occupation of the incumbent of the benefice;

(c) make improvements to a house built, bought or acquired as property of the benefice under a power conferred by or under this Measure or any other enactment and which is proposed to be constituted as the parsonage house.

(2) Where a benefice is vacant, a power under this section may be exercised by the bishop of the diocese to which the benefice belongs.

(3) Where the bishop of a diocese is, by virtue of subsection (2), building or making improvements to a house and the vacancy in the benefice is filled before the completion of the work, the incumbent succeeding to the benefice must complete the work, in so far as there is any money specially applicable or loaned by the Church Commissioners for that purpose (including any money loaned after the vacancy was filled).

(4) In carrying out the duty under subsection (3), the incumbent must act in accordance with the plans and specifications authorised by the bishop of the diocese subject to such modifications as the bishop and the Parsonages Board agree.

(5) If the incumbent fails to carry out the duty under subsection (3), the Parsonages Board may complete the work.

(6) A power under this section, when exercisable by the bishop by virtue of subsection (2), includes a power to enter the land of the benefice concerned in order to exercise the power.

(7) A body which is the patron of a benefice (including a college or hall of Oxford or Cambridge University) may make an interest-free loan to assist with—

(a) building a house or buying a house or other land in the benefice for the purpose mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (b);

(b) (in so far as not coming within paragraph (a) of this subsection) building, rebuilding or repairing a house or other building suitable for the residence or convenience of clergy in the benefice or buying a building, or land for the site of a building, for that purpose.