Property Schedules and Forms

Annual Property Schedules

A property schedule is a systematic record of all land and building that shows managing trustees what is under their responsibility, how its used and that it's being managed properly. The term annual returns refers to the annual reporting back of the information held in the property schedule.

As stated in Standing Orders (941, 953-4, 964-66), it is the responsibility of the Church, Circuit and District to prepare and review the annual property schedule, which includes both the state of the property and the accounts & investments associated with the property. All properties, unless on a full repairing lease, should be inspected annually. This includes all chapels, manses, auxiliary buildings, empty properties, burial grounds and even vacant land.

The property schedule is found under the ANNUAL RETURNS section the Online Suite. Before completing the annual property schedule, it is recommended to have the following completed or reviewed:

1. The Annual Church Inspection Checklist for Chapels or Manse Inspection Checklist (links below for Word and pdf versions).
   
2. Quinquennial Inspection Report (QIR)- the QIR is an inspection conducted by a suitable professional who will raise any urgent and recommended repairs for the property over a 5 year period. Click here for more information about Quinquennial Inspection Reports.
   
   If a QIR was completed within the year, then the information from the report should be entered into Schedule G for chapels and ancillary properties and Schedule E for Manses (links below for Word and pdf versions).

Managing Trustee Annual Checklist

The Managing Trustee Annual Checklist is an aide to help ensure managing trustees to fulfil their obligations as managing trustees under Charity Commission guidelines. The checklist covers areas such as legal, financial, storage & disposal of documents, capital and revenue, membership and safeguarding. Thus, it may be useful to have the those with responsibility for each area to review the questions in advance of completing the checklist. Depending on your District's policy, you may be asked to send the responses to the Circuit and/or District.

Click here to fill in the online version of the Managing Trustee Annual Checklist that will be sent directly to your District. To view the questions in advance, links for the Word and pdf versions can be found below.

Please note that this is not a complete list, merely guidance to ensure that you keep in mind certain areas of responsibility on an annual basis.  It is suggested that reference should be made to specific District or Circuit requirements.

Additional Property Schedules and Forms

• Schedule 14a  for the use of Model Trust property by other Churches or Congregations can be accessed via the Sharing of Buildings page (weblink). 
• Licences for regular part-time, non-exclusive use and letting of Methodist property by third parties can be found on the The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP) website.