About buying or renting land
Your charity is likely to have a legal power to buy or rent land (including buildings) to use in carrying out its work or as an investment. In most cases, Charity Commission approval isn't needed, providing you and the other trustees meet your legal duties to:
- carry out your trust in accordance with its terms
- act reasonably
- act in the best interests of your charity
This means you and the other trustees must take all reasonable steps to make sure:
- you have the legal power or authority to buy or rent land (in most cases you will have unless your charity's governing document specifically forbids it)
- the land or property is suitable for its intended use
- you obtain planning permission if needed
- the price or rent is a fair one compared with similar properties on the market
- the charity can afford the purchase
- you understand any legal obligations relating to the land
- you take appropriate professional advice (from a solicitor or a qualified surveyor)
The Charity Commission can't provide advice on whether the land or property is suitable or appropriate for your charity to buy or rent. You should contact a solicitor or qualified surveyor.
- Find a solicitor (service provided by the Law Society, opens in new window)
- Find a surveyor (service provided by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, opens in new window)
When Charity Commission approval is needed to buy or rent land
You only need to ask the Charity Commission to approve the transaction if:
- you are buying land from one of the trustees or from someone closely connected to the charity
- your charity's governing document specifically forbids its trustees to acquire land
- you want to buy or lease non-freehold land using money held for a specific purpose which can’t be spent (eg money the charity has been given specifically to provide ongoing investment income)
More detailed information is available in our guidance:
How to apply for Charity Commission approval to buy or rent land
Use this form if you need to ask the Charity Commission to approve a land purchase, lease or rent:
Frequently asked questions