Following a concerted campaign by The Almshouse Association and with help from individual members, the Government has agreed to include existing almshouse buildings in the Exempt class of the Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations 2014.

The Government agreed with the Association’s argument that it would not be cost-effective to install metering devices and bill based on consumption.

This news is also important for the continued wider almshouse movement as it is the first time that the official definition of almshouses has been referenced in an official government document and noted in legislation. This marks a major milestone in our journey of promoting almshouses in the 21^st Century.

Exempt Class includes:

“An existing building where the building (or part of the building) is supported social housing, almshouse accommodation, or purpose-built student accommodation.”

As a consequence there is

“No requirement to install metering devices for customers (no assessment of technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness is required as the outcome is expected to be negative)”.

In addition the mandatory billing requirements will not apply.

However, if an almshouse charity is building new almshouses they will fall into the Open Class.  Buildings in the Open class must have meters or heat cost allocators installed unless it is assessed not to be technically feasible or cost-effective.

The regulations come into force on 27 November 2020

Note: The other aspects of the regulations still apply and almshouse charities will still need to notify their Heat Networks under Regulation 3 which states that:

“A heat supplier must submit an updated notification within four years of the date of the first notification submitted and within every four year period thereafter from the date of the previous notification.”

Many members will already be aware of and abide by this regulation.

The Government’s response to their consultation, including the recommended amendments, can be found here.

Full guidance on the regulations can be found here.

Posted 16 November 2020. Updated 23 November 20

The Government has announced that the Green Homes Grant has been extended by a further 12 months.

The scheme, which almshouse charities are eligible to apply for, was previously due to expire in March 2021. However, as part of a number of green initiatives announced by the Government, members will now have more time to apply for works to be completed, with work needing to be completed by March 2022.

This is welcome news following confirmation that almshouse charities can use the grant to make their dwellings more energy efficient. 

We would love to hear from members who have applied for the grant on their experience of the process as well as tracking their improvements. Please email jackbaldan@almshouses.org.

More information on the grant can be found here.

Posted 19 November 2020

Last summer we announced a new and exciting project to help with member engagement across the country – regional representatives that would provide a good listening ear for local charities and give focused signposting to the Almshouse Association services that are available to all members, plus help direct members to the right person at The Association that can provide additional support and guidance if needed.

This new Regional Champions project has now been launched and we’re delighted to announce that the first seven volunteers have been selected.

The newly appointed Regional Champions are:

• Richard Knipe, The Spalding Almshouse Charity – Lincolnshire
• Anya Mathewson, Mulberry Property Management – Yorkshire
• Paul Mullis, Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association – County Durham, Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and Scotland
• David Healey, Sir Josiah Mason Trust – Birmingham, West Midlands and Warwickshire
• Joe Waters, Eventide Homes – Dorset, Hampshire and Isle of Wight
• Karen Percival, Okehampton United Charity – Devon and Cornwall
• Susie Coen, Salisbury City Almshouse & Welfare Charities – Wiltshire

All currently work for or are trustees of almshouse charities in their respective regions and bring with them a wealth of experience in the almshouse sector. They will be in touch with charities in their regions over the coming months to organise regional get-togethers, coronavirus restrictions allowing.

In time, we hope to have 20 Regional Champions covering the whole of the United Kingdom and we will announce further details when available. 

The role of the Regional Champion is to support the Association in engaging with members, providing local expertise and identifying those charities that might need a little extra support from the team at Billingbear Lodge. They will also provide support with our fundraising activities.

Posted November 2020

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 October/November 2020 Summary.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

• Charitable Housing Court Case – The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal against the refusal of an Orthodox Jewish Housing Association to house a non-Jewish family. The judgment provides reassurance to charities which limit their activities – in line with their governing document – to particular groups of people, but charities must ensure they can show that those people suffer a particular disadvantage, or that the policy is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.
• New Chair of Homes England – Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has confirmed Peter Freeman as the new Chair of Homes England.
• Housing Ombudsman Report – The Housing Ombudsman has issued a report on complaints where severe maladministration it found in 2019-20 as a further step towards increasing its transparency. These cases should provide a cautionary tale for trustees regarding the importance of good governance and particularly, submitting annual returns on time.

Charity Commission

• Inquiry Publications – The Charity Commission has published inquiries into two charities, CWM Harry Land Trust Limited and CAWRM, criticising them for poor governance and maladministration. As with the Housing Ombudsman report, they highlight how vital it is to maintain a high standard of governance among trustees to ensure that a charity’s reputation is not tarnished. This can lead to great difficulties, most notably in the charity struggling to carry out its charitable purpose.
• SORP Questionnaire – The Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) provides guidance to those involved with preparing charity accounts. A new questionnaire is aimed primarily at existing or recently retired trustees of charities and is designed help to fundamentally change future SORPs to ensure they are fit for purpose for the charities it covers. The closing date of this survey is the 7^th December.
• Coronavirus – The Charity Commission has published updated guidance to help with running your charity during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Previous Policy and Governance Updates:

Policy and Governance – September 2020 Summary
Policy and Governance – July/August 2020 Summary
Policy and Governance – June 2020 Summary
Policy and Governance – May 2020 Summary
Policy and Governance – Apr 2020 Summary
Policy and Governance – Mar 2020 Summary
Policy and Governance – Feb 2020 Summary
Policy and Governance –Jan 2020 Summary
Policy and Governance – 2019 Summary

Posted 9 Nov 2020

MHCLG (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) announces ‘New protections for renters over duration of national restrictions‘.

As a result of the second national lockdown, which came into effect on November 5, the Government has announced guidance to protect renters. This guidance is not legally binding, but suggests best practice. Whilst The Almshouse Association would advise its members to follow this guidance during the national lockdown, Members should remember that the terminology used will not reflect the legal status of almshouse residents and should take additional advice where necessary.

The key measures announced are:

• Evictions will not be enforced whilst national restrictions are in place, except for the most egregious cases such as anti-social behaviour and fraud,
• Taken with the winter pause on enforcement of evictions, this means that there will not be any bailiff activity until 11 January 2021 at the earliest except in the most serious circumstances,
• Six month notice periods will remain in place until at least the end of March 2021, except for most serious cases.

Housing possession claims are able to be actioned through the courts, but evictions will not be enforced except in the most serious circumstances. These serious circumstances are:

• Cases of illegal occupation,
• Anti-social behaviour,
• Fraud,
• Eviction of a perpetrator of domestic abuse in social housing
• Where a property is unoccupied following the death of a tenant.

MHCLG have said they also intend to introduce an exemption for extreme pre-COVID rent arrears and will provide more details on this in due course.

More information can be found here.

Posted 9 November 2020

Following representations by The Almshouse Association on behalf of our members to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), we are pleased to announce positive clarification regarding the Green Homes Grant.

Members have reached out to us, asking if almshouse charities are eligible for this grant, which could provide some much needed support to make almshouses across the country more energy efficient. Following our consultations, it has been confirmed that almshouse charities can apply for the Green Homes Grant as they are viewed as providers of social housing under the scheme’s eligibility criteria.

The Almshouse Association welcomes this much needed clarification and would encourage our members to investigate this scheme as a way to improve the energy efficiency of your dwellings, as well as the associated cost savings and improvements to the comfort of residents which this entails.

Full details on the scheme can be found here.

Posted 4 November 2020

The Charity Commission has released a number of “5-minute guides” to help trustees to carry out their roles in line with the law.

The new guides cover five key aspects of charity management – a ‘core syllabus’ covering the basics that the regulator expects all trustees to be aware of.

They explain the basics of:

• financial oversight
• achieving a charity’s purposes
• good decision making
• addressing conflicts of interest
• what to file with the Commission and what support is available

Further information can be found here.

The Charity Commission has also published a useful reminder of what charities need to send them and details of the support and guidance they provide. This includes informing the Commission of changes to the charity’s details (e.g. changes of trustees or contact details), submitting your charity’s annual return, and reporting serious incidents. To read the guidance, please visit:

www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-send-to-the-charity-commission-and-how-to-get-help.

Similarly, trustees may find the following publication helpful:

Charities and Investment Matters – A guide for Trustees

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charities-and-investment-matters-a-guide-for-trustees-cc14/charities-and-investment-matters-a-guide-for-trustees

Charity Intelligence

Charity Intelligence is a free website that provides independent financial information and performance data for Charity Funds in the UK. It is a free service but charities/individuals have to register. Members seeking financial information may find this a useful tool:

https://www.charityintelligence.co.uk/

Posted 3 November 2020

The Almshouse Association has received a written response to a question raised by Baroness Eaton during the House of Lords discussion on almshouses on October 20.

During the discussion Baroness Eaton put forward:

“To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to protect and promote small-scale community housing models, such as almshouses, as part of their reforms of the planning system.”

The Government, through Lord Greenhalgh, responded by saying:

“As part of its contribution to the Loneliness Strategy being led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has commissioned the London School of Economics to undertake research into the benefits of community-led housing in respect of addressing loneliness. The final report of the research is expected in 2021.

We are currently consulting widely on the proposals for reform set out in the Planning White Paper, and we will be listening carefully to all the representations made, including those from organisations representing almshouses. In relation to s106 planning obligations, we are consulting on proposals to replace the existing system of developer contributions with a new Infrastructure Levy, which will deliver at least as much onsite affordable housing as at present.

The upcoming government guidance on producing local design codes will set out more detailed parameters for key elements of successful design, recognising the need for a variety of housing tenures, including community and co-housing schemes, to create diverse, equitable and resilient communities. Further information on this will be published in due course.”

The Almshouse Association welcomes this response and would like to thank Baroness Eaton for assisting us. We look forward to continuing our work with the Government to ensure that almshouses are able to continue offering their vital service.

Posted 3 November 2020

The Almshouse Association held a webinar on ‘Making Changes to your governing document’ in partnership with the Charity Commission on Wednesday 28th October 20.

The webinar was fully booked with 100 members signing up and more wanting to take part. To ensure all our members have the opportunity to see the webinar, we have made a recording and also produced pdf slides. These can be accessed by clicking in the links below.

• Powerpoint slides – Making changes to your governing document

• Webinar Recording – Making changes to your governing document

About the Presenter
William Byrne is a Case Manager with The Charity Commission where he deals with complex permissions casework. He is based in the Commission’s Liverpool site within a team that spans Liverpool and Newport. William is a trustee himself, being the Vice Chair of Governors at a large primary school.

To see a list of previous webinars access recordings and slides, please visit our training pages and scroll down to webinars here.

Posted 29 October 2020