Glasgow City Council Criticised over major increases in burial charges and new levy on lairs renewal

Under the new pricing structure, approved by councillors in February, the exclusive right of burial for an initial 25-year lease now costs £1,573 for a Glasgow resident and £3,146 for a non-resident. Previously, the cost was a fixed £1,542 regardless of where someone lived.

Interment fees have also increased. Resident interment fees are now £1,171, rising to £2,342 for non-residents. Combined with other council costs, Glasgow Central Mosque says the total burial cost is now £3,038.10 for resident families and £5,782.10 where either the deceased or the lair owner lives outside Glasgow.

For many struggling families, pensioners, and households already struggling with rising living costs, these charges are simply too high. Funeral expenses are already a heavy burden, and an extra charge of thousands of pounds creates distress and impossible choices at the worst possible moment.

The mosque says the changes were introduced without consultation or prior warning. In a statement shared with worshippers, it said the new structure creates “real concern, creating both financial pressure and practical difficulty for families at an already difficult time.”

It also raised concern over the end of burial lairs in perpetuity. Under the new system, lairs are no longer granted permanently. Families now receive an initial 25-year lease, with future 10-year renewals charged at 20% of the prevailing lair purchase price.

This raises serious questions for families who believed they had secured a permanent resting place for loved ones. Many will never be able to afford repeated renewal costs. What happens to their lairs if they cannot pay?

People already buried before 1 March 2026 should not be affected if their lair was purchased under the old system with burial rights granted in perpetuity. Existing lairs bought before that date generally keep the rights originally granted, meaning permanent burial rights rather than a time-limited lease.

The concern is for new burials and new lair purchases after that date. Families arranging funerals now face much higher costs and a 25-year lease instead of permanent ownership. This creates a clear divide between older lairs and new ones.

For Muslims, burial is a religious requirement. The same applies in Judaism and in many traditions of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, where burial is regarded as the proper and sacred way to lay the dead to rest. Funerals are often expected to take place quickly, leaving little time to raise large sums of money or make alternative arrangements.

Glasgow Central Mosque is now engaging directly with Glasgow City Council to challenge the impact of these changes and seek a more reasonable approach. It is also raising the issue with elected representatives and speaking with neighbouring councils to reduce the burden on families.

A council spokesperson said the changes follow national legislation under the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016. Any lair purchased in Scotland after 1 March 2026 now comes with a 25-year right of burial. After that, the right can be renewed for 10 years at a time, with no limit on renewals.

Budget papers show the introduction of non-resident charging is expected to bring in £150,000. The council states that other local authorities already apply average non-resident surcharges of 181%, while Glasgow’s figures are based on a 100% surcharge.