JANUARY 2026 : A summary of the latest UK Government policy changes and news.

1. National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Consultation

The Government published the latest version of the National Planning Policy Framework and a consultation deadline of 10 March 2026.

Our work to secure recognition of almshouses as affordable housing therefore continues, and next week we will publish our response and explain how you can engage with the NPPF.

2. The Future of Volunteering

The Gradel Institute of Charity (New College, University of Oxford)  have shared a report on ‘The Future of Volunteering‘.

This report considers reflections from a roundtable event on volunteering. While national data suggests a decline in volunteering, the report recognises that much volunteering remains unseen or uncounted – reflecting the reality for many almshouses, where significant trustee time, informal support and local community involvement are not captured in official statistics.

3. Charity Commission

The Charity Commission has updated various pieces of guidance and templates to reflect the introduction of SORP 2026 which applies to accounting years starting on or after 1 January 2026.

This includes changes to guidance on:

• The Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP)
• How to merge charities
• ‘Charity reporting and accounting: the essentials November 2016 (CC15d)
• ‘Prepare a charity trustees’ annual report’.

4. Company Law

For Persons of Significant Control (PSCs) who think they may be unable to complete identity verification by the deadline relevant to them, there are Companies House online forms to apply for up to three extensions of 14 days each.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

1. Applications for an extension must be submitted before the current deadline expires. 
2. There is no equivalent ability for directors to apply for an extension.

posted January 2026

We have just updated the Housing Ombudsman page on our website to support members with the Housing Ombudsman Annual Submission for 2025–26.

The Almshouse Association has received a comprehensive Annual Submission Toolkit directly from the Housing Ombudsman’s Office. This resource is designed to help members complete their annual submission accurately and with confidence.

The Toolkit is intended for:

• Almshouse charities that are Registered Providers, and
• Members that have voluntarily registered with the Housing Ombudsman, to support good practice and compliance.

The toolkit is made up of a series of practical documents, including:

• Housing Ombudsman Toolkit for Annual Submissions 2025–26
• Attachment A: Complaints Policy (Housing Ombudsman members only)
• Attachment B: Partially completed Self-Assessment Form
• Attachment C: Examples of complaints performance reports and governing body statements
• Leaflet: Member Responsible for the Complaints Procedure
• Self-Assessment Form for 2025–26 (for completion)

Each document can be downloaded individually from here

We strongly encourage all relevant members to review the Toolkit early to ensure they are prepared for the 2025–26 submission requirements. If you have questions or need further support, please contact the Member Services team.

See also Housing Ombudsman webinar:

• Housing Ombudsman Annual Submissions – November 2025
  • webinar recording
  • webinar questions and answers

posted 23 December 2025

We are delighted to share that two exceptional volunteers have recently joined our property support team.

As listed and older buildings become increasingly costly to manage, yet remain vital to the communities they serve, we are especially fortunate to have the support of two highly experienced property volunteers.

• David Wilson MRICS, Chartered Institute of Building (among many other qualifications), brings extensive experience in estate and building management.
• Stuart Holland FRICS, Expert Witness, Building Surveyor and Project Manager, adds significant professional expertise in heritage and complex building issues. Stuart is a member of the Association Board and has been a trustee of almshouses in Harrogate for many years.

This is a tremendous boost to the technical strength of our team. If you are facing building-related challenges, particularly those unique to heritage properties, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

To contact David and Stuart, please email Propertyanddevelopment@almshouses.org. Our Member Services team will ensure your enquiry is passed on promptly.

posted 17 December 2025

DECEMBER 2025: A summary of the latest UK Government policy changes and news.

1. Housing Qualifications – Competence and Conduct Standard

The Government has directed the Regulator of Social Housing to produce a standard for registered providers. The Government has directed that the standard must:

• apply to senior housing managers and executives and service providers
• have written policies setting out the model approach to learning and development, appraising staff, and managing poor performance etc.
• adopt or develop an appropriate code of conducts for those staff
• give tenants meaningful opportunities to influence and scrutinise the development of the policy, and decisions relating to the code of conduct, and ensure they are made accessible to tenants and kept up to date and fit for purpose
• secure that their Senior Housing Executives and Senior Housing Managers have, or are working towards, a specified qualification, or type of qualification, in housing management and take steps to secure that Relevant Managers of their services providers also gain a specified qualification.

The standard will come into force in October 2026, with a transition period before all relevant staff must have or be working towards an appropriate qualification. The transition period is 3 years for large registered providers and their services providers (1,000 homes or more) and 4 years for small registered providers and their services providers (under 1,000 homes).

Most importantly, it sets out the criteria for who the standard will apply to. Following extensive engagement on behalf of the charity housing sector, The Almshouse Association is pleased to confirm that it will now, not apply to unpaid volunteers (trustees). Clerks and Wardens will also be exempt under certain circumstances – where they do not have direct management responsibilities. The Almshouse Association is preparing a toolkit for Registered Providers to assist with assessing if their staff are included.

For more information, please visit the Government website here.

2. Charity Commission Update

Dame Julia Unwin has been appointed as Chair of the Charity Commission from 1 January 2026.

The appointment, by the Secretary of State, is for a 3-year term from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2028. Dame Julia Unwin’s appointment was endorsed by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

3. Autumn Budget

Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered the Autumn Budget 2025 on 27 November 2025. Changes relevant to charities include:

• a new VAT relief from 1 April 2026 for business donations of goods to charity and
• the introduction of legislation to strengthen the charity tax rules on tainted donations, approved investments and non-charitable expenditure. 

Other housing related changes include the expansion of the Warm Home Discount Scheme to a further 3 million of the poorest households.

The Chancellor has also axed the ECO scheme and removed other legacy costs from bills, estimated to cut £150 from the average household energy bill from April 2026.

The Budget document can be viewed here and the wider collection of published materials here.

4. Financial Thresholds in Charity Legislation

The Government has published its response to the April 2025 consultation into financial thresholds in charity law. For existing charities:

• the thresholds for preparing an annual return and filing an annual report and accounts with the Charity Commission will be retained at current levels;
• there are increases for a number of accounting thresholds
• there will be an increase to the daily/annual exception for professional fundraisers. 

The changes will require secondary legislation and is not expected to come into effect before 1 October 2026.  For new charities, the current registration thresholds of £5,000 (and £100,000 for excepted charities) will remain the same. Implementation of the changes will be accompanied by updated Charity Commission guidance in the new year.

see also: Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) | The Almshouse Association

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thank you to everyone who has read our Policy and Governance updates this year. For any inquiries or support with policy and governance, please do contact Alice Morrey on alicemorrey@almshouses.org

posted 11 December 2025