Latest News | The Almshouse Association

Policy & Governance update: 16.08.21

The Almshouse Association regularly posts a news summary of the latest Policy and Governance legislation that could impact / requires action from our member charities, with links to further information where applicable. Please find below our latest summary

Property and Planning

GLA Launches Social Housing Retrofit Accelerator:

The Greater London Authority has launched the Social Housing Retrofit Accelerator which is aimed at helping housing providers as they develop bids for the first wave of the £3.8bn Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, which is worth £160m and set to open in the autumn.

Social landlords will now be able to access the GLA scheme to get free technical guidance on retrofitting their homes to cut carbon emissions and reduce heating bills.

It is backed by £3.45m in funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and is intended to help speed up energy-efficiency work in social housing across the country.

Bids for the SHDF open on August 23^rd. Members who are Registered Providers and interested in applying should talk to their local authority who will need to bid for funding on their behalf.

Charity

Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for the charity sector:

The government has updated its Covid-19 guidance for trustees. This includes advice for trustees on holding meetings remotely or postponing or cancelling meetings to reflect the lifting of restrictions in England and Wales.

As restrictions lift, some members may choose to revert to physical meetings. However, Coronavirus is still impacting on events and so it is still reasonable to make adjustments to suit your needs. Further guidance can be found here.

Wales

Coronavirus Restrictions Lifted:

Most of the remaining Coronavirus restriction in place will be lifted from August 7^th. This includes rules on the number of people who can meet indoors as well as social distancing will end.

Wearing a face mask in shops, health and social care settings and on public transport will still be required.

16-08-2021

Policy & Governance: 02.08.21 update

Property and Planning

National Disability Strategy – The Government has published its National Disability Strategy which seeks to improve the life of disabled people across the country. Part of the strategy focuses on housing, particularly accessibility, with some immediate measure including:
- boosting the supply of housing for disabled people by raising accessibility standards for new homes, increasing the supply of affordable homes, including supported housing, and accelerating the adaptation of existing homes by improving the efficiency of local authority delivery of the Disabled Facilities Grant, worth £573 million in 2021 to 2022
- extend disabled tenants’ rights on accessibility
- ensure the safety of disabled people in buildings, for when there are emergencies

Building Beautiful Places – Members who are considering developing new almshouses may be interested in the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and new National Model Design Code which place ‘beauty’ at the heart of new buildings.

Charity

Charity Commission – updated guidance on charity accounting – The Charity Commission has updated its guidance on Charity reporting and accounting: the essentials November 2016 (CC15d) and on Independent examination of charity accounts: guidance for trustees (CC31) to include advice on the use of electronic signatures on the balance sheet, trustees’ annual report and independent examination.

Adult Social Care

Help with anti-social behaviour for social housing tenants – MHCLG has published guidance that clarifies the roles of the agencies responsible for tackling anti-social behaviour and the help and support available for residents. Although the guidance refers to ‘tenants’ it is generally applicable information.

Environment and Energy

Government Consultation Opens on automatic energy switching – The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has published proposals to trial automatic switching for customers on expensive default energy tariffs to cheaper deals. The proposals include trials of a new system (to take place in 2024) in which some consumers on costly tariffs would be automatically switched to cheaper ones on the market unless they opt out. BEIS has published a related policy paper and consultation – closing 15 October 2021.

Miscellaneous

Risk management template for event organisers – DCMS has published a Risk management template for event organisers, which it offers as a resource to help event organisers to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in event settings. This may be of interest to members thinking about holding a celebratory tea party as part of The Almshouse Association’s 75^th anniversary.

Posted 2 August 21

New! Photography competition!*

Are you a budding David Bailey?

As temperatures start to rise across the summer months, we are launching our summer photography competition to coincide with our 75^th anniversary.

The competition is split into themes consisting of:

Generations
Tea and cake
Almshouse pride
Happiness
Flora and fauna
Through the garden gate

You simply choose a theme that your photograph relates to and send the photo to us in jpeg format via email with your name, contact and almshouse charity details to gerryharmon@almshouses.org.

All members are welcome to enter!

The winner will receive a quality garden tool set and £50 Dobbies voucher and the runner up will receive a pair of gardening gloves and £20 Dobbies voucher. Both will receive a commemorative certificate and Almshouse Association pin, as well as coverage on our website and social media channels

The winner and runner up, chosen by a group of judges, will be announced at our afternoon tea garden party on the 8^th September and notified the week commencing the 13^th September 2021.

The closing date for the competition is 4 pm on the 16^th August 2021.

So…. set your shutter speed, polish your lenses, fire up your artistic flare and get clicking!!

We can’t wait to see all your amazing photos!

*Please read our Terms & Conditions for the Photo competition here

Posted 2 June 21

New almshouses in Cheltenham

New ecologically friendly almshouses offer more than a roof over residents heads.

CEO Nick Phillips attended the official opening of four new almshouses at Jesse Mary Almshouses in Cheltenham on 16th July 2021.

The new solar-powered almshouses have been built to a very high standard of comfort and economy, typical of the new generation of almshouses – taking the best of traditional design and incorporating the highest standards of insulation and solar energy in order to reduce the impact on the environment and improve economic resilience.

Amongst the throng enjoying the day were trustees, residents, The Mayor of Cheltenham (who cut the opening ribbon), Councillor Steve Harvey – The Deputy Mayor of Cheltenham, Councillor Sandra Holliday and MP for Cheltenham, Alex Chalk, Assistant Whip and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice, Valerie O’Connor, Chairman of Trustees, Nick Phillips, CEO of The Almshouse Association and architect and building contractor representatives.

Resident Fran has been living at the Jesse Mary almshouses for 17 years; now 70, she enjoys supporting the older residents and playing her part in the community and neighbourly spirit of almshouses.

“I have loved every single minute of living here and I am very happy. Even if I won the lottery I still wouldn’t want to move!”

In his statement to the BBC, MP Alex Chalk spoke of the vital role almshouses play today in the social and community housing sector.

“Almshouses are a proven model and fill a gap not just in quality affordable housing for those in need but in reducing isolation and loneliness. A powerful model for the future!”

Nick Phillips, commented on the value that almshouses bring to a community and their genuine affordable model.

“These almshouses show what can be achieved by one local charity, established nearly 100 years ago, leading the way locally on not just affordable homes and creating close communities but in environmental construction and design.”

It was a great day enjoyed by all and we even managed to get a spot on the BBC news!

The new almshouses consist of four individual one-bedroom properties, finished to the highest modern standard with open-plan kitchen and underfloor heating throughout. All have ground-level entry with two designed for wheelchair access and equipped with re-enforced ceilings which can accommodate a hoist. State of the art PV panels have been installed to minimise any environmental impact.

They have been built in the grounds of the Jesse Mary Chambers almshouses and complement the existing building which was put up in 1924 under the Will of Mr. Henry David Gregory Chambers, in memory of his sister.

Cheltenham Almshouses & Aid own and manage four almshouse sites across the town with a total of 39 properties and residents

Posted 20 July 21

Refugee resettlement – can you help?

Hospitality Pledge Landlord Search

Krish Kandiah, social entrepreneur, writer, activist, theologian and Chair of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board recently reached out to Nick Phillips, CEO of The Almshouse Association to talk about the plight of Afghan refugees and to see if any almshouse charities would be able to help.

UK and NATO forces are pulling out of Afghanistan after 20 years. The UK is resettling hundreds of Afghan families who helped us with translation and support services during the conflict that are now facing extreme threat to life.

They are urgently looking for landlords, Housing Associations and private home owners who would be willing to rent out their properties to the local authority for 12 months to help.

If you are interested in helping please click here.

Posted 20 July 21

Policy & Governance: 19.07.21

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

English Housing Survey, 2019 to 2020 – social rented sector – MHCLG has published the English Housing Survey, 2019 to 2020: social rented sector, which reports on the characteristics and circumstances of social renters in England.

Building Safety Bill – The Building Safety Bill has been published (explanatory notes). The Bill takes forward the Government’s commitment to reform the building safety system and changes to the Architects Act 1997, the Housing Act 1996, and will establish a National Regulator for Construction Products and a New Homes Ombudsman.

Charities

Annual Charity Commission research on public trust in charities – The Charity Commission has welcomed research findings suggesting trust in charities is continuing to recover after hitting an all-time low three years ago. But the regulator says trust remains fragile, and that charities must respond to underlying public expectations if they are to fully return to levels of trust last seen a decade ago. Maintaining trust within the communities we serve, through high standards is vital to ensure that our charities continue to receive the support necessary to provide relief to those in need. Almshouses have provided this high standards as cornerstones of the communities they work in for hundreds of years, we must strive to continue this work in perpetuity.

Annual returns – The Charity Commission’s 2021 charity annual return service is now available. The Commission has also updated the document that lists the questions in the annual return: see its Guidance: Prepare a charity annual return.

Covid-19 and charity AGMs – The Charity Commission has updated its Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for the charity sector in relation to Annual General Meetings disrupted by the pandemic. Specifically: “We recognise that for some charities virtual meetings are not a viable solution, nor are socially distanced face-to-face meetings. In such instances, trustees may consider they have no choice but to cancel or postpone their AGMs and other critical meetings. If you do consider such a decision is necessary, you should follow any rules in your charity’s governing document that allow for postponement, adjournment or cancellation. If there are no such rules, but you decide that this is still the best course of action for your charity in the current circumstances, you should record the reasons for this decision to demonstrate good governance of your charity. This is particularly important if it is not possible to hold your AGM which may make it difficult for you to finalise your annual reports and accounts.”

Taxation and Finance

Proposed Accounting Direction for registered providers of social housing – The Regulator of Social Housing has published a consultation – closing 21 September – on proposed updates to the existing Accounting Direction. The responses to the Accounting Direction 2019 consultation identified a number of issues that were outside of the scope of the changes proposed at the time. RSH will review the proposed changes to the Accounting Direction in light of the responses received to the consultation. Any changes that may be made to the Accounting Direction will come into force for accounting periods commencing 1 January 2022. Members who are also Registered Providers may wish to respond to the consultation.

Posted 19 July 21

Charities Bill update

The Government has published a factsheet for the Charities Bill. The Bill implements the majority of recommendations made by the Law Commission in its report Technical Issues in Charity Law.

It addresses a variety of technical issues in the law governing charities. The provisions extend and apply to England and Wales only, subject to a couple of minor provisions.The following is reproduced from the factsheet.

OVERVIEW OF THE BILL

The Charities Bill will:

give charities wider or additional powers and flexibility to amend their governing documents, to decide on how they procure goods and services, and to make “ex gratia” payments (which charities have a moral obligation, but no legal power, to make)
clarify when property can be applied cy-près (Cy-près means “as near as possible”. When a charitable purpose cannot be carried out, the Charity Commission can direct under a scheme that the funds should be used for other similar charitable purposes), including the proceeds of failed fundraising appeals
produce a clearer and less administratively burdensome legal framework for buying, selling, leasing and mortgaging charity land
clarify and expand the statutory regime that applies to permanent endowment
introduce a power – with appropriate safeguards – for charities to borrow from their permanent endowment and to make certain social investments using permanent endowment
facilitate, where appropriate, charity mergers and incorporations
confer additional powers on the Charity Commission to authorise charities to pay an equitable allowance, to require charities to change or stop using inappropriate names, and to ratify the appointment or election of charity trustees where there is uncertainty concerning the validity of their appointment or election
improve and clarify certain powers of the Charity Tribunal.

MAIN MEASURES IN THE BILL

Amending governing documents: reduce inconsistency by more closely aligning the amendment mechanisms for incorporated and unincorporated charities a new, clearer statutory power for all unincorporated charities to amend their governing documents by resolution consistent criteria for the Charity Commission to consider before consenting to a change of purpose, regardless of whether the charity is a company, CIO, or unincorporated charity.
Improving land transactions: greater flexibility to obtain advice on disposals of land from a greater range of professional advisers removing certain overly prescriptive and burdensome statutory requirements creating certainty for purchasers when they buy land from charities, with a reliable, straightforward and practically workable process for certifying compliance with the Charities Act requirements.
Making use of permanent endowment: a new definition of permanent endowment which is clear, consistent and aligns with the sector’s understanding of the term a new power to borrow from permanent endowment as a useful alternative to the existing rules for trustees who have opted in to total return investment, the ability to use permanent endowments for loss-making social investments when they expect those losses to be offset elsewhere, which will promote long-term investments for social good.
Helping incorporations and mergers: allowing legacies in wills to be transferred to a merged charity, which will remove a need for “shell charities” to be maintained, which results in wasted money through admin costs giving corporate charities “trust corporation status” automatically if they administer charitable trusts providing trustees with certainty about costs before the Charity Tribunal new “authorised costs orders” which would provide advanced assurance that the costs incurred by trustees can properly be paid from the charity’s funds.
Other measures in the Bill: fundraising appeals: expanding and rationalising the circumstances in which funds from a failed fundraising appeal can be applied to other purposes of the charity, with appropriate oversight by the Charity Commission remuneration for supply of goods from trustees: enabling trustees to be paid for goods provided to a charity, subject to appropriate safeguards – this aligns with the current law which allows trustees to be paid for services, creating consistency and enabling charities to access goods which may be offered at more favourable terms by a trustee than elsewhere.
Equitable allowances: enable the Charity Commission to authorise trustees to be paid for exceptional skill and effort with which they have carried out work for their charity in circumstances where it would be unjust not to do so ex gratia payments: enabling charities to make relatively small ex gratia payments without seeking Charity Commission permission, and to delegate the power to make those payments to an appropriate person within the charity names: expansion of the Charity Commission’s powers in respect of misleading, offensive or duplicative charity names to remove anomalies and to prevent the registration of a charity with an inappropriate name (or prevent the registration of a change of name) identifying charity trustees: creation of a new power for the Charity Commission to ratify a trustee’s appointment or election which is, or is potentially, invalid.

The Almshouse Association will continue to monitor the Bill’s progress and welcomes the input of our members if they are concerned about any parts of the new legislation.

Posted 7 July 2021

Inquiry on housing demand

House of Lords Committee Launches Inquiry on Housing Demand

The House of Lords Built Environment Committee has launched an inquiry looking into the UK’s housing demand.

The Almshouse Association intends to submit responses to relevant questions as part of the inquiry and would welcome our members input in this process. You can find full details on the inquiry here: Meeting the UK’s housing demand – Committees – UK Parliament.

If you would like to take part then please send your response to Jack Baldan via jackbaldan@almshouses.org. In your response please make sure you identify which question you are responding to. You are not required to answer all questions, only those which are relevant.

Please submit answers by July 23rd 2021.

Posted 6 July 2021

Policy & Governance update: July 21

Each month, the Association posts a news summary of the latest Policy and Governance legislation that could impact / requires action from our member charities, with links to further information where applicable. Please find below our July 21 Summary:

Affordable Homes Update

The Government continues its drive for home ownership under new “affordable” homes scheme as First Homes. Purchasers of the new scheme must prove to have less than £80,000 pa income or in London £90,000 to qualify. This is relevant as the reality is it reduced the affordable housing aspect of section 106 to a maximum of 75% available for affordable for social rented.

Minister of State for Housing, Christopher Pincher, submitted a Written Statement on affordable homes. The statement issues changes to planning policy, which will come into effect on 28 June 2021. The issues covered in the statement include:

The definition of a First Home
- Eligibility criteria for First Homes
- Setting developer contributions for First Homes
- The remaining 75% of affordable housing secured through developer contributions
- Plans, development management and transitional arrangements
- Level of discount
- Exception sites
- Delivering Shared Ownership homes

Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government

Meeting the UK’s housing demand – The Built Environment Committee has launched a call for evidence – closing 10 September – on the demand for new housing in the UK and how barriers to meeting this demand can be overcome. It will consider the key factors shaping the type, tenure and quality of housing needed in the UK. The inquiry will also examine a range of challenges to meeting that demand including skills shortages in the construction industry and some specific aspects of the planning system. The Committee will report by the end of the year and make recommendations to the Government.
Regulator of Social Housing Corporate Plan 2021-2024 – Members who are RPs may be interested in the Regulator of Social Housing’s Corporate Plan 2021-2024, which outlines how the regulator plans to deliver its purpose over the next three years.
Housing Ombudsman’s Insight report shows significant increase in complaints – The Housing Ombudsman has published its latest insight report covering January to March 2021. It shows a significant increase in the number of enquiries and complaints received compared to the same quarter in 2020, going up by 73%.

“The learning highlights an important lesson that communication is key. Our Complaint Handling Code states that landlords should keep residents regularly updated and informed even where there is no new information to provide. In one case featured about a repairs issue relating to damp and mould, the landlord failed to keep the resident informed so he contacted other agencies including the Ombudsman service and then also failed to keep those agencies informed. We made a finding of service failure.”

The top three areas of complaint over the three-month period were:
– Repairs 45%
– Tenant behaviour 13%
– Complaint handling 11%

Planning

Historic England – Listed Building Consent – Historic England has published guidance on listed building consent. The note gives both general advice for owners of listed buildings about listed building consent as an application process and on how to judge whether proposals need consent, how to achieve certainty on the need for consent and how to make informed applications. It also gives advice on works which may or may not need listed building consent, depending on how the works are proposed to be carried out.
The Association is still seeking to work with Historic England on producing a specific guide focused on almshouses.
London Mayor declares a “retrofit revolution” to tackle the climate emergency – The Mayor of London has declared a “retrofit revolution” in London, announcing a new package of measures to make buildings more energy efficient. A new £3.5m “centre of excellence” will help social housing providers access funding to make their homes fit for the future and protect the most vulnerable from cold, damp homes.

The Almshouse Association is in discussions with the Mayor’s Office to ensure that London almshouse charities can access this fund if needed.

Coronavirus

Everyone working in care homes to be fully vaccinated under new law to protect residents – The Department of Health and Social Care has announced that people working in CQC-registered care homes will need to be fully COVID-19 vaccinated with both doses. The new legislation means from October – subject to Parliamentary approval and a subsequent 16-week grace period – anyone working in a CQC-registered care home in England for residents requiring nursing or personal care must have two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine unless they have a medical exemption. It will apply to all workers employed directly by the care home or care home provider (on a full-time or part-time basis), those employed by an agency and deployed by the care home, and volunteers deployed in the care home. Those coming into care homes to do other work, for example healthcare workers, tradespeople, hairdressers and beauticians, and CQC inspectors will also have to follow the new regulations, unless they have a medical exemption.

Each almshouse charity will need to assess the risk and vulnerability of their residents and may make its own policy with this regard. The Almshouse Association team will be happy to discuss if you have any queries.

Wales

Heritage partnership agreements – The Welsh Government has published a summary of responses to its consultation on agreements for the management of the historic environment. A heritage partnership agreement (HPA) is a voluntary arrangement for the long-term management of one or more designated historic assets.
Social Housing in Wales – Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change, announced a commitment to deliver 20,000 new low carbon homes for rent within the social sector during this term. Social housing will be defined as within the recognised TAN2 affordable housing definition. It will only include social homes for rent, intermediate homes for rent and shared ownership schemes. The Almshouse Association is seeking to work with the Welsh government to make them more aware of almshouses and their position in the affordable housing sector.
Welsh Government extends measures to protect businesses from eviction until end of September 2021 – The Welsh Government has announced that the moratorium against forfeiture for the non-payment of rent will now be extended until September 30, 2021. It was originally due to end on June 30, 2021.

Posted 5 July 21

APPG: How did almshouses perform during the pandemic?

APPG on Almshouses holds session on almshouse response to coronavirus

On July 1^st, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Almshouses, of which The Almshouse Association is Secretariat for, held a session to discuss how almshouse charities operated during the coronavirus pandemic.

As part of the discussion we heard from three almshouse charities:

Paul Mullis – Durham Aged Mineworkers Homes Association, North East
Juliet Ames-Lewis – Richmond Charities, London
Andrew Barnes – Great Hospital, Norwich

All three discussed how the pandemic had forced them to quickly act to ensure that residents were kept safe and comfortable as lockdown was introduced. They agreed that the small scale, community focused almshouse model provided them with the flexibility to quickly make the necessary decisions, based upon the strong personal knowledge they have of each individual resident.

It was clear from the testimony that the strength of the almshouse community in each charity was vital to fostering resilience in the residents.

Similarly, the speakers noted that all of them would have benefited from almshouses having greater recognition, particularly from their local councils. It was felt that the lack of appreciation for the model meant there had been unnecessary delays at the start of the pandemic.

“The Almshouse Association was created 75 years ago this year on the back of a world war. The founders of the Association saw the strength and resilience of the almshouse model and had faith that it should continue. What it was they saw in the model is recorded as the strength of charitable purpose going beyond just housing, local trustees knowing their local residents and the strength of the community bonds. When we hear about how the Great Hospital, Durham Aged Mineworkers and The Richmond Charities responded to the pandemic it is clear that structure, model and spirit carried them through. The challenges today seems to resonate …. That is about awareness of the almshouse model and how they operate. There is work for us to do!”
Chief Executive Nick Phillips | The Almshouse Association

The Almshouse Association would like to thank everyone who participated in the session, especially our speakers; Paul, Juliet and Andrew.

We would also like to thank APPG co-chairs Siobhain McDonagh MP and Sally-Ann Hart MP for their continued support.

To find out more about the APPG on Almshouses, please click here.

Posted 5 July 2021

click here to read more ‘Almshouse News and Stories’