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North Ayrshire Council

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Buying a grave

In North Ayrshire you can only buy a grave (or lair) from us when arranging a burial or an interment of ashes. We have a policy of no pre-purchasing of lairs.

Under Scottish law, when you buy a lair you buy the Exclusive Right of Burial in the lair. This includes the right to erect a memorial. The land stays in the ownership of the burial authority or Council. These rights are sold in perpetuity and may be transferred at any time using a legal procedure with the approval of the Council.

Under normal circumstances a lair will accommodate three adult burials and up to six caskets of cremated remains.  However this is dependent on ground conditions and other factors.

Bereavement Services

Fees 2012-2013

Purchase of Exclusive Right of Burial (New Lair) £385

Purchase of Exclusive Right of Burial - Cremated Remains only(New Lair) £185

Purchase of Exclusive Right of Burial - Cremated Remains only in Garden of Remembrance (New Lair) £185

Purchase of Exclusive Right of Burial (Woodland Area) £385

Purchase of Exclusive Right of Burial (Private Baby Lair) £185

Interment of Stillborn Child/Under 16  No Charge

Interment of Sixteen and Over £385

Interment of Cremated Remains £185

Interment in Common Ground £200

Dis-interments £770

Duplicate of Title Deeds £17

Transfer of Title Deeds £17

Memorial Foundation £140

Memorial Foundation and Re-erect £200

Memorial Bench, Foundation & Plaque Price available on request

 

Effective 1 April 2011.

 

If you require further clarification on the above please contact Bereavement Services on 0845 603 0594.

 

Contact Details

Montgomerie House,

2A Byrehill Drive, West Byrehill Industrial Estate,

Kilwinning,

KA13 6HN

 

Telephone: 01294-541501

When I buy a lair, do I own the land that the grave is on?
No, you do not own the land when you buy a grave. What you have bought is the right to be buried at that spot.

What is the maximum number of interments permitted in a grave?
Up to three interments can be accommodated in any one grave. Up to six sets of cremated remains may also be interred.

What information do you need from me to let me know if there is still room in my family plot for further burials?
We will need to know details for the plot (i.e. lair number, title deeds, dates of previous interments) to check if there is space available.

Is there a difference between a lair and a grave?
No, a lair is just another name for a grave.

Can the title deed for a lair be transferred?
We would need to check the section and lair number from the title deed to find out who is interred in the ground and how much space, if any, is available. The lairs can be transferred by completing the necessary transfer document. There is a fee for this service.

Can I sell an unused lair back to the council?
Yes. The Council will buy back lairs if you have the original title deeds and which have not been used for burial and will refund the amount paid at the time of purchase. Please note it is an offence to sell a lair to anyone other than the Council.

Can I pass ownership of my lair to another person?
Yes. Lairs can be transferred but must be done so via the Council's procedures and in a manner that is legally binding. Lairs cannot be transferred by any other means.