This area can be a minefield and it can take a great deal of time and money when trying to unravel past bad practice. We are all aware that getting users for church premises is not difficult. In fact over subscription is more often the problem. Making proper arrangements for use of church premises is much more about the boundaries agreed for day to day use and a clear basis for the ending of the relationship by either party. This information is offered as a guide and an example of good practice. 
The information about sharing church buildings with other congregations is particularly important as neither a licence or a lease are usually the appropriate documents to use in making any such arrangement with another church congregation.
The files below can be downloaded and will give you standard forms and covering letters as templates for your own situation in respect of the following;
One-off hire use - this is ONLY suitable for a once off hire of say the church hall for example a children's party. It must not be used for a regular booking e.g. a keep fit class meeting every Tuesday evening.
Licence - this is ONLY suitable for a regular booking for example a weekly meeting of an 'outside' group in one of the church rooms which is then cleared ready for use by another group. A licence is ideal when you wish to maintain a right of access and use by the church of the rooms offered by the licence.
Neither of these forms is to be used in any circumstance that creates any EXCLUSIVE use of a room within the church premises (including offices, side rooms and larger halls). For this you will almost certainly need a LEASE and this must be arranged by a solicitor with advice and approval from Methodist Resourcing Mission Office in Manchester (their website can be found by clicking on http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=information.content&cmid=165.
Also useful for advice are the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes, their website can be found on http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=information.content&cmid=192.
In any circumstance the advice given on this page is without prejudice and MICCG (London) can take no responsibility for its implementation or use. If in any doubt on a particular situation you must seek advice from Methodist Resourcing Mission Office or your Circuit/Church legal advisors.
