1920.] 



Tithe Rentcharge. 



1235 



purchasers shall pay the tithe rentcharge in accordance 

 with an informal apportionment of the rentcharge made 

 in connection with the sale. Landowners cannot, however, 

 bind the owner of the tithe rentcharge by any such 

 arrangement, nor would the consent of the owner of the 

 rentcharge be sufficient in all cases to make the informal 

 apportionment binding on all persons who may be the successors 

 in title to the land and the rentcharges respectively. Where 

 an informal apportionment is made, disputes and litigation 

 not infrequently arise, particularly in cases where the lots are 

 further sub- divided and resold. As a rule, the only effectual 

 mode of apportioning tithe rentcharge is by means of an altered 

 apportionment issued by the Minister, and, except in a few 

 special cases, this can be done only if a landowner is willing to 

 initiate the proceedings. The landowners concerned in any 

 proposed altered apportionment may jointly employ an agent 

 for the purpose of preparing a draft altered apportionment, 

 and arrange for the payment of his remuneration and of the 

 official fees. Alternatively, the applicant may request the 

 Ministry to prepare the draft and to collect the costs by means 

 of a rate levied on the other landowners concerned in such 

 proportions as appear to be equitable. There is a widespread 

 belief that proceedings for altered apportionment are trouble- 

 some and expensive. As a matter of fact, in cases where the 

 ]\Iinistry is requested to prepare the draft and assess the cost?, 

 all that is necessary is that the appUcant should send in his 

 appHcation on the usual form, together with a plan showing 

 the properties into which the original estate has been sub- 

 divided, in which event the Ministry will do w^hat is further 

 necessary in the matter. In such cases the official fees work 

 out on an average at about £iS per case, £1 per landowner, 

 and IS. 2d. per acre. The necessary forms of appUcation and 

 instructions may be obtained free of charge on request to the 

 Ministry. 



4 N 2 



