Update on clergy housing matters

Urgent and essential repairs - the diocese will continue with urgent and essential repairs at clergy houses. Ministers should email the Property Office direct in the first instance who will assess if a call-out is deemed necessary. The Property Office continues to work from home receiving emails in the normal manner. The maintenance contractors and suppliers are now beginning to resume working, however, there is by no means a return to normal working practices (pre-Covid19). Some works may still have to be deferred or take longer to be addressed and we would ask ministers to continue to be patient during these times.

Emergency out of hours – if there are any emergencies in the evening or weekends and bank holidays, that cannot wait until normal office hours, then please refer to the Diocesan web site for emergency contractors details.

Gas Safety Inspections – we have been advised that these inspections MUST be carried out at the appropriate time unless there are specific reasons related to the Covid19 outbreak i.e household is ‘shielding’ following receipt of a letter from the GP or anyone has symptoms of the virus. We would ask that clergy do all they can to accommodate the gas engineer by accepting the appointments given.

Quinquennial Inspections will remain on hold for the time being.

Vacancy Inspections will resume, but only the Property Manager, Archdeacon and ONE churchwarden to attend (Rural Deans will not be included at the present time). General repairs and maintenance works will be carried out as necessary but priority will be given where an appointment is imminent.

Please note that due to the uncertainty of the current situation it is unlikely that any “improvement” works (new bathrooms, kitchens or windows, etc) will be authorised unless there are exceptional circumstances. These will be considered on a case by case basis by the Houses Committee.