CASE STUDY: A £100,000 loan helps replace ageing windows to improve comfort, energy efficiency and quality of life for residents.
The Almshouse Association supports member charities to maintain, develop and improve their almshouses through grants and loans. A £100,000 loan to Maldon Housing Association Ltd enabled the replacement of ageing windows at Fairfield House, improving residents’ comfort, reducing draughts and helping protect their homes against rising energy costs.
The trustees have kindly prepared a comprehensive case study to share with our membership. We’ve summarised it below, but if you’d like to read the full account in their own words, please click here.
About Maldon Housing Association
Maldon Housing Association is a charity providing supported housing for older people in 57 flats across three properties in Maldon, Essex: Fairfield House, Berridge House and Deed House.
Its origins date back to 1966, when the Maldon Housing Society was established following an initiative by the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service to provide accommodation for older local people. The Association became a member of The Almshouse Association on 1 April 2008.
Governed by entirely voluntary trustees, Maldon Housing Association is committed to remaining an independent, community-based organisation, providing personal support and maintaining close relationships with residents.
Funding a major project
For several years, trustees had been concerned about how to finance major improvements beyond everyday maintenance and planned repairs. In earlier decades, donations from local businesses and organisations had helped fund improvements, including the gradual conversion of old-fashioned bathrooms into wet rooms.
However, changing economic circumstances made significant donations increasingly difficult to secure. More recently, priority had been given to replacing ageing boilers and undertaking essential fire-safety work to doors and roof spaces.
Fairfield House’s original Crittall windows had become a particular concern.
Many no longer fitted properly, making them difficult or impossible for residents to open and close. In summer, flats became excessively hot, while in winter, draughts made rooms cold and uncomfortable.
The problem was especially significant because many residents are aged 78 or over, with some experiencing frailty and restricted mobility. Ill-fitting windows also allowed heat to escape, undermining efforts to control energy costs.
Trustees therefore decided to apply for a £100,000 loan from The Almshouse Association to fund the replacement project.
Planning the work around residents
The project required careful planning to ensure residents’ safety and minimise disruption. Facilities Manager Tina Nash, project supervisor and chartered architect Clifford Patten, and contractor J and J Windows worked together to coordinate the programme.
Initial preparations included planning permission, an asbestos survey, a structural survey of the bay windows and a detailed site inspection. The team agreed that the work would begin in residents’ flats before moving on to communal areas.
A trial installation in flat FH2 was planned to check the suitability of the new windows and the installation process before the full order was placed. The flat was chosen partly because its windows faced a busy road, making it possible to assess the benefits of improved sound insulation.
A successful trial installation
The trial windows were installed on 30 March 2026. The work took three days and proceeded as planned, receiving approval from the Facilities Manager and project supervisor.
The resident was delighted with the result. Triple glazing significantly reduced traffic noise, which had previously been a major disturbance, particularly from delivery lorries at night.
The new window handles were also much easier to reach and operate, addressing a problem that had affected several residents. The installation caused minimal damage to the internal decoration, and the resident praised the contractors for their considerate and efficient approach.
Following the successful trial, the trustees authorised the order for the remaining windows.
Completing the project with residents at the heart
Work on the full replacement programme began on 6 July 2026, during an unusually long period of dry, sunny weather. The contractors worked through the summer, completing residents’ flats first and then moving on to the communal lounge and other areas.
A schedule allocated one or two days to each flat, depending on its size and layout. Residents were asked to clear the areas around their windows where possible, with support from family and friends.
Staff remained available to help residents feel comfortable and secure while work was taking place. The communal lounge was made available as a temporary space, providing refreshments, comfortable seating and somewhere to spend time away from the work.
The lounge was closed for just one week while its kitchen windows and large bay windows were replaced. Although this temporarily interrupted the regular coffee mornings and informal gatherings, residents understood the need for the closure.
The project also highlighted the strong community spirit at Fairfield House, with residents helping one another move belongings and keeping each other company while work was underway.
A brighter, more comfortable home
Residents have welcomed the improvements, praising the new windows for making their flats and communal rooms feel brighter and more spacious.
One resident commented: “The new windows have made the rooms in my flat and in this room feel bigger and lighter. I think they are fantastic!”
Another said: “I haven’t closed my new windows at all! I couldn’t open the old ones at all because the catch was stuck and it wasn’t easy to get to anyway. Thank you for getting this done for us!”
Residents enjoying coffee in the lounge
The replacement windows have made ventilation easier, removed the problem of draughty frames and are expected to improve energy efficiency. Triple glazing should also help reduce heat loss and allow radiators to be used at lower settings, potentially reducing energy bills.
The trustees, staff and residents of Fairfield House are grateful to The Almshouse Association for its £100,000 loan, which made this important improvement possible and has helped create a more comfortable home for the people who live there.
The Almshouse Association was delighted to support this project through its grants and loans programme, helping to ensure that another historic almshouse can continue its long tradition of providing homes and communities for those who need them most.
We would like to thank all the people and organisations who so kindly donate to The Almshouse Association and leave gifts in their Wills. Without their generosity, we would not be in a position to help support almshouse charities with their renovations and new builds.
The Almshouse Association awards loans and grants to our member charities every year. In 2025, £1,198,500 was approved in new loans and grants totalled £50,000. Charities pay no interest on the loans, just a small administration fee. As they make repayments on the loans over a ten-year period, the Association can continue to offer loans to charities year after year, meaning that your donations continue to support almshouses and their residents in perpetuity.
If you are interested in making a donation to The Almshouse Association or leaving a gift in your Will, please do visit our Support Us pages here.
posted 13 October 2026