The Almshouse Association welcomes the Government’s additional investment of £350 million into the Affordable Homes Programme.

Many of the most vulnerable in our society are struggling to find a home and this, coupled with the increasing cost of living and pressure on public services and council budgets, is pushing many to breaking point. The government would benefit by recognising the vital role of the charity housing sector in alleviating this pressure and helping to support people in housing need.

Click to read the Government’s press release: Thousands to benefit from the security of a safe home – GOV.UK

posted 18 February 2025

We were pleased to see PBC Today’s article on ‘Older people’s housing recommendations supported by the Housing and Ageing Alliance (HAA)’.

The Almshouse Association is on the working party and feeds into the work undertaken by the Alliance which unites individuals from local and national organisations with a shared goal: improving housing and living conditions for older people.

As part of HAA, The Almshouse Association applauds the work the Government are doing to support building more homes across the UK, setting ambitious and measurable objectives outlined in the Plan for Change: Milestones for Mission-Led Government (link).

It is crucial, however, to ensure these initiatives deliver tangible benefits for all members of society and, with the UK’s ageing population growing rapidly, its vital that action is taken immediately. Delays in implementing the Taskforce’s recommendations risk exacerbating pressures on health and social care systems. Such delays affect all family members, who are all too often providing additional support, with significant consequences for their own well-being and quality of life.

We strongly advocate for the prompt enactment of the Taskforce’s comprehensive recommendations, many of which require minimal investment.

The full open letter can be read below.

posted 10 February 2025

19th January 2025 Caroline Nokes Planning and development

In her recent Letter from Westminster, published in the Hampshire Chronicle, The Almshouse Association was pleased to see Caroline Nokes, MP for Romsey and Southampton North, specifically refer to almshouses and their inclusion in the formal definition of affordable housing.

Full letter below:

Caroline Nokes Letter from Westminster: tackling the failings of housing developers

“I WAS pleased to be able to meet the Minister for Housing and Planning this week to talk to him about a number of issues faced by the Romsey and Southampton North residents.

First and foremost on the agenda was the knotty problem of how to compel developers with extant planning permission to complete developments. Of course my focus was very much on the Brewery Site in Romsey, which all these years on remains a largely undeveloped brownfield eye sore in the heart of our town. Although the revised NPPF indicates there will be measures forthcoming to provide local councils with the power to decline further applications made by developers who fail to build out earlier planning applications in the authority’s area, there remains a question about whether that can include developers with a poor track record of completion in a wider area.

I also raised the ongoing challenges many housing developments have with developers and management companies failing to bring roads and public spaces up to adoptable standards. This means local authorities cannot take over responsibility for the areas and leaves residents having to deal with faceless and sometimes disinterested management companies, who are very hard to hold to account. The Minister is pursuing a range of options as to how this can be resolved, but there need to be minimum standards that developers are resolutely held to, so that Councils are not left picking up the bill for the failures of the large housebuilders.

I am very conscious that Romsey has a number of almshouses, which are much loved and a great model of housing. The Minister is looking closely at how almshouses can be included in the formal definition of affordable housing, which was raised during the NPPF consultation process by The Almshouse Association.

I have always said planning is the most contentious of subjects in this constituency, and it is vital that Ministers understand a one size fits all approach to planning policy cannot reflect the special characteristics of areas like ours. That is why I have no plans to stop badgering the Minister and know that this week I gave him a great deal of food for thought.

Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP
Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons
Member of Parliament for Romsey and Southampton North

posted 10 February 2025

The Almshouse Association is expanding its research agenda to further explore the broader charity housing sector, aiming to provide additional compelling evidence of the positive impact of almshouse living on residents and their communities.

This initiative seeks to identify synergies across various charitable housing models, assessing their benefits on residents’ well-being while demonstrating their effectiveness and cost efficiency for the state. The Almshouse Association believes that fostering collaboration across the sector will amplify our collective voice among policymakers, providing a stronger platform for partnership, innovation, and the continued growth of the charitable housing sector.

Last week, our annual research workshop at Skinners’ Hall in London brought together leading academics from institutions such as the University of Bristol, Cardiff University, the University of Suffolk, Oxford University, The Open University, and Universität Liechtenstein.

The event also drew together key figures from the charitable housing sector, including the CEO of Cohousing UK, a founder of Intergenerational England, a representative from an Intentional Living community, the National Housing Federation, as well as prominent housing researchers and policymakers. This gathering served as a catalyst for advancing research, fostering collaboration, and deepening insights into innovative housing solutions.

“The research workshop was an excellent opportunity for people from across the charitable and affordable housing worlds to come together to explore the range of models out there and share best practice. What shone through was the value of partnership working across these different models and how much can be achieved when we share insights and learn lessons from one another.”

Ed Barber, External Affairs Manager, National Housing Federation

Nick Phillips, CEO of The Almshouse Association, stated:

“We firmly believe that collaborating with other charitable housing models will help identify the key strengths of community-led housing, reinforcing its role in society. These models not only provide homes but also foster a strong sense of community, enhancing well-being, reducing loneliness and isolation, and delivering proven financial savings for society. The sector is a hub of innovation, offering effective housing solutions, and by working together, we can amplify our message— for most people, wellbeing is linked to being part of a community and we believe that the charity and co-housing sector have the solution to a good life model.”

“The research workshop was a vital opportunity to bring together leaders and innovators from across the housing sector, fostering collaboration and shared learning. It reinforced the importance of integrating different yet complementary housing models: almshouses, co-housing, intergenerational living, and more, to create communities that are inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to evolving social needs. By working in partnership, we can build housing solutions that not only provide homes but also strengthen connections, wellbeing, and support across generations.”  

Charlotte Miller, Co-Founder of Intergenerational England 

posted 4 February 2025

The Almshouse Association continues to apply pressure to the Government to have almshouses recognised as affordable housing so that S106 funds can be made available to all almshouse charities to build more homes for people in need.

CEO of The Almshouse Association, Nick Phillips and PR & Engagement Manager, Gerry Harmon recently met with our engagement partners, Connect to discuss our political strategy and advance efforts to inform MPs about the value of almshouses.

Beyond addressing the critical need for affordable housing, research highlights the broader benefits of almshouses: community living enhances residents’ quality of life and reduces their reliance on medical services. Additionally, most almshouses are managed by volunteers, creating further cost savings for the Government.

Encouragingly, increasing numbers of MPs in Westminster are lending their support to the campaign. Among them is Labour MP Neil Coyle, whom we thank for raising the issue in Parliament once again. His efforts prompted a response from Matthew Pennycook:

“As part of the recent consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework, the government sought views on whether changes were needed to the definition of ‘affordable housing for rent’ to make it easier for organisations that are not Registered Providers, including almshouses, to develop new affordable homes.

While the government are committed to making it easier for almshouses to develop new affordable homes, we ultimately decided against extending the definition to capture almshouses for the reasons set out in our response to the consultation which can be found on gov.uk here.

Informed by the points raised in the consultation, the government will actively explore options in future changes to national policy related to decision making.

For those landlords who wish to register with the Regulator of Social Housing, there is no bar to registration because of size. Registered providers of social housing must meet standards that ensure tenants live in homes that are good quality and well-maintained and that landlords are well-managed and remain financially viable. The Regulator is operationally independent and has designed a registration process that seeks to ensure providers are able to meet its standards once registered.“

OUR NEXT STEPS

The Almshouse Association has now agreed a programme of communication and engagement with MPs and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Our asks include:

• Including almshouse charities in the definition of affordable housing without the requirement to become Regulated Housing Providers.
• Exempting almshouses from the Selective Licensing charges.
• Working with The Almshouse Association to recognise a Code of Conduct that is appropriate to the almshouse model.

We will be inviting The Charity Commission/MHCLG/Regulator and others to a round table event in Westminster. Date TBC.

We encourage all members to keep reaching out to their local MPs, whether by inviting them to events or arranging a brief visit to meet trustees and enjoy a cup of tea with residents.

posted 9 January 2025