Early 2018, in response to our members telling us that the lack of understanding of what constitutes an almshouse charity (by government bodies, local councils, the media and members of the public alike), the Almshouse Association established and tasked a legal working group to produce both a legal definition of an almshouse charity and an accompanying general description.

This definition and description was presented and approved at the board of trustees meeting on the 19th September and then posted on our website for members to comment on and review. A deadline for feedback was set for 31st October 18.

Thank you to everyone that provided their time, experience and knowledge – we will now be taking the below definition and description forward to government through the appropriate channels and will keep our members updated.

Almshouse Definition and Description

A Legal Definition

An almshouse is a unit of residential accommodation (usually a house or flat) which belongs to a charity and is provided exclusively to meet the charity’s purpose such as but not limited to the relief of financial need or infirmity and is occupied or is available for occupation under a licence by a qualified beneficiary who may be required to contribute a weekly sum towards its maintenance. An almshouse charity is a charity which is established to provide one or more almshouses.

A General Description

  1.  An almshouse charity is a charity for the relief of financial hardship by the provision of housing and associated services or benefits which:
    • is subject to the jurisdiction of the Charity Commission; and
    • must (or is authorised to) provide its primary benefit by the grant of a licence to occupy the accommodation that it owns to its beneficiaries
  2. In addition, an almshouse charity is likely to have one or more of the following features:
    • the origin of the charity is a private gift for the relief of poverty;
    • the beneficiaries are required to pay a weekly maintenance contribution that must not be set at a level that would cause hardship;
    • the nature of the accommodation is such that beneficiaries must show particular consideration for the needs of other residents;
    • a significant proportion of the accommodation is permanent endowment;
    • the beneficial class or the geographical area from which it can be drawn is restricted.