Burial fees in Devon are on the rise, with East Devon and Mid Devon planning significant hikes that could impact families.
Exeter: So, it looks like the cost of dying in Devon is about to get a bit pricier. East Devon is planning to bump up burial fees by 10 percent. That means the cost will go from £491 to £540. If you want exclusive rights to a burial plot, that’ll also see a rise from £870 to £957.
Now, if you’re not keen on sharing your final resting place, you might want to pay an extra £200 to extend your rights for another 10 years. It’s a bit of a steal compared to Mid Devon, where the current fee is £1,460 and is set to increase to £1,495 soon.
In Mid Devon, if you want a burial plot with a memorial stone for 30 years, that’s going up from £1,580 to £1,675. And in Exeter, the burial fee is currently £1,397, but if you want to be alone in your grave for 30 years, it doubles. They’re still figuring out the new rates, which will be revealed in March.
It’s worth noting that in places like Mid Devon, you have to pay both the burial fee and the exclusive rights fee if you don’t want to share your plot. Once you’ve paid for exclusive rights, any future burials in that plot will only require the burial fee.
Interestingly, Plymouth charges £1,420 for a grave with exclusive rights, while it’s £935 without. These fees might also go up in April. Some councils even have different rates for residents and non-residents.
Torridge District Council charges £1,181 for a burial for locals, but it jumps to £1,575 for non-residents. North Devon has a similar setup, with residents paying £704 and non-residents paying £1,408. Both councils are considering hikes in the new financial year.
On the bright side, burying cremated remains is generally cheaper across the board. These rising costs come as councils are looking for ways to boost their income. Expect to see increases in other areas too, like parking fees and renting spaces for events.
Last year, a government grant for rural areas was cut, leaving councils to deal with rising costs, including the upcoming National Insurance hike. The government has promised that no council will see a drop in their core spending power next year, factoring in any council tax increases.
