Quinquennial Inspections
Having your church building inspected by a suitably qualified and experienced professional every five years is not only a legal requirement but is hugely beneficial in helping to keep your building in good repair. The report should provide you with a list of the repairs needed, in priority order, plus early warning of potential problems to help you plan for the next five years and beyond.
The fees for an inspection are paid by the PCC and should be agreed with your architect in advance of the inspection. Arranging a Quinquennial Inspection (QI) is the responsibility of the Churchwarden.
Appointing an inspecting architect
The Church Buildings Office maintain a list of architects and surveyors approved to undertake QIs (available on request). While you are not required to appoint an inspector from this list, you must seek approval from the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) if you wish to use an inspector who isn’t listed (in this case, please contact the Church Buildings Office).
The person appointed as inspector must carry out the QI personally and must carry adequate professional indemnity insurance of at least £1 million.
If you wish to change your inspecting architect, you should give notice to your current adviser.
Tips for appointing a new inspecting architect:
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A template for a letter of appointment is available on the Church Buildings Council website here. Once you have appointed an inspector, you should inform the Church Buildings Office.
If you are likely to be involved in a project requiring grant funding, then you may need to appoint an architect who has conservation accreditation. You may also need to demonstrate that your architect has been appointed in compliance with procurement regulations.
It isn’t a good idea to regularly change inspecting architect. Using the same person means that they can build a long term picture of the building and any issues. It also makes for better planning and scheduling of repairs.
On the day of inspection
The church log book should be provided, along with copies of other relevant reports (such as your electrical installation inspection).
The churchwarden, or other responsible person, should be prepared to go around with the inspector. They should also:
- Ensure that keys for all the doors in the church are available (including towers and vestries).
- Provide ladders to help reach gutters, roofs, lofts etc, making sure they comply with the Work at Height Regulations.
- Ensure that the bells are down.
Understanding your QI report
As a comprehensive assessment of the condition of the building, a QI report can be a lengthy document. The Church Buildings Office can help you with understanding your QI report and coming up with an action plan, but if you have any queries, your first contact should be your church architect or surveyor.
A template for an action plan is available on the ‘maintenance‘ page of this website.
You are encouraged to build a good relationship with your architect, after all you both want the best for your building. Don’t be afraid to ask their advice outside of the QI cycle – if you are worried about cost, ask about this upfront.
Information for inspecting architects
Church inspectors should acquaint themselves with the current Church Buildings Council and Ecclesiastical Architects & Surveyors Association guidance on producing Quinquennial Inspection reports. They should also ensure that their report covers those items as requested by the current Diocese of Exeter Guidance for church inspectors.
Back to ‘Maintenance‘.
