Your Deed of Grant explained
What is the Deed of Grant?
The Deed of Grant is the document stating who is the current legal Registered Owner of the Exclusive Right of Burial for a grave, as recorded in the cemetery records. It bears their name and address, the sum paid, the term of lease (currently sixty years), the number of interments permitted and the details of the grave itself. The Deed is issued to the Registered Owner shortly after the grave is purchased and must be kept in a safe place.
Does the Exclusive Right of Burial mean that the Registered Owner own the grave?
No. The land remains under the ownership of the London Borough of Hounslow. The Registered Owner owns the Right of Burial to the grave. This means that you have the automatic right be buried in the grave, and the right to allow others to be buried in the grave, space permitting.
Can the Registered Owner transfer the ownership to someone else?
If the Registered Owner during their lifetime wishes to assign the ownership of the Exclusive Right of Burial to another person for the remainder of the lease term, there is a formal process to follow. Please contact the Cemeteries Team to arrange a transfer by a Form of Assignment. Ownership can be transferred to more than one person, and up to four is recommended There is a fee for this service. Please contact the Cemeteries Team or refer to our website for current charges.` Please be aware that possession of the Deed of Grant does not signify ownership of the Exclusive Right of Burial, which belongs to the person registered as the Owner in the statutory cemetery records.
What are the rights and responsibilities of the Registered Owner?
In addition to having the Exclusive Right of Burial, there is the right to erect and make changes to a memorial through an approved stonemason. The Registered Owner is responsible for keeping the memorial in a safe condition. If the memorial is found to be dangerous, and the Registered Owner does not make it safe to a satisfactory standard, the Council reserves the right to make the memorial safe and recover the costs from the Registered Owner. The Registered Owner is responsible for observing the regulations regarding the grave as set out in the letter accompanying the Deed. These regulations can also be found on our website and are subject to amendments. It is very important that the Registered Owner informs the Council of any changes to their contact details.
What happens when the Registered Owner dies?
If the Registered Owner should die within the grave’s term of lease, it is recommended that the Registered Ownership is transferred to another person to enable any future burials in remaining grave space and the placing or amending of a memorial. Please contact the Cemeteries Team for advice and guidance on the correct method of transfer for the circumstances.
What happens when the term of lease has expired?
Once the term of lease has expired, if nobody comes forward to repurchase the Exclusive Right of Burial, the ownership reverts to the London Borough of Hounslow.
For further details please contact:
The Cemeteries Office,
eltham Lodge,
38–40 Harlington Road West,
Feltham TW14 0JJ.
Email: cemeteries@hounslow.gov.uk
Telephone: 0208 5832090 option 7.
