Sales, leases, transfers or: trustee action guide

A practical deep dive on Sales, leases, transfers or mortgages: what trustees need to know about disposing of charity land (CC28), covering what changed in the Charity Commission update, who is affected, and the highest-priority actions to complete in the.

The Charity Commission updated "Sales, leases, transfers or mortgages: what trustees need to know about disposing of charity land (CC28)" on 15 May 2026. This article explains what changed, which charities are most affected, and what trustees and senior teams should do in the next 30 days.

What changed in this update

This guidance update clarifies practical expectations for trustees and senior staff. Teams should align operating procedures, templates, and decision logs so daily practice matches current Commission direction.

Who should prioritise this now

Trustees and governance leads responsible for policy direction
Operations managers translating guidance into daily workflows
Programme and fundraising teams affected by implementation detail

30-day action plan for trustees and leaders

Read the updated guidance in full and note what has changed.
Translate changes into clear operating actions for each team.
Update staff-facing procedures, templates, and training notes.
Set a 30-day checkpoint to confirm the new process is in use.
Log decisions and evidence for future board and audit review.

Questions to take to your next board discussion

Which procedures now need immediate adjustment?
Where are teams most likely to interpret this guidance differently?
How will trustees monitor implementation over the next quarter?

Use this article as an implementation guide, then confirm details against the source publication. Keep a short decision log so trustees can evidence how the update was interpreted and applied.

The strongest response is not to react quickly. It is to respond clearly, with named owners, dated actions, and written evidence for trustee assurance.

Disclaimer

The content in this article is provided for general informational purposes and should not be treated as legal, financial, tax, fundraising, governance, or professional advice.

You should obtain advice from a qualified professional before acting on this content. Your organisation may require specific legal or regulatory guidance based on its circumstances.

Charity law and regulatory guidance can change. Trustees remain responsible for checking current requirements, including Charity Commission guidance where applicable.

For full legal terms, see our website disclaimer.

Frequently asked questions

Does this Charity Commission update apply to every charity?

Not always. Start by checking the scope, legal context, and activity type in the source publication, then map those conditions against your own charity before changing policy.

Should trustees record this update in board papers?

Yes. Board papers should capture what changed, the risks considered, the actions agreed, and who is accountable for delivery. That evidence supports effective trustee oversight.

How quickly should we act after an update is published?

For governance or compliance updates, set an initial response inside 30 days. For research publications, review strategic implications in the next planning cycle and record the outcome.

Sales, leases, transfers or mortgages: what trustees need to know about disposing of charity land (CC28): what charities should do next