PLACE OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP

Any building that is used by a recognized religious group for the purpose of worship might be exempt from the requirement to provide an EPC if marketed for sale or to let . However, most religious buildings find themselves being used for a multitude of uses simply to get full value from the cost of upkeep and to provide to the varied needs of their communities.

Religious teaching and reading groups; play groups; musician & choir practice; social gatherings; bring-and-buy sales; exercise or meditation classes; committee meetings and many other varied activities may use a part or all of the local church/mosque/temple/synagogue as their venue. If a building is identified as a place of worship but also plays host to these other activities then a judgement must be made as to whether the building is first and foremost a place of worship or if it acts more as a community center.

The guidance to assessors is not always clear cut but we work to the guidance that we receive which is that if the building is used exclusively for religious worship for more than 50% of the total time that the building is open for use, then it would be appropriate to define the building as a place of worship.

If however the use of the building sees less than 50% of the total time that the building is open for use being for religious worship then the exemption for a place of religious worship would not apply and an EPC should be commissioned.

When making this judgement all parts of the building (that is to be marketed for sale or to let) should be considered which might include areas such as parish offices or staff accommodation.