The Almshouse Association Response to Government Plans to Extend Right to Buy Policy

Almshouses are established by gifts of charity and run by volunteers. The charity is established to provide a home for those in poverty or vulnerable. They have been available to people in need for centuries.

Almshouses rightly enjoy an exemption from the Right to Buy policy. This exemption means that communities across the country do not face the prospect of losing much needed genuinely affordable housing. We are glad that this position does not currently appear to be under threat by the Government’s plans, however, today’s announcement regarding the intention to extend the Right to Buy to housing association tenants, risks threatening the supply of genuinely affordable housing for those who cannot access high private rents.

Without a guarantee to replace each social home that is sold, we risk exacerbating an already untenable environment.

We know the value of a safe, secure and warm home and, that for many, ownership is just not an option. This is why the Association will keep working to ensure that almshouses will continue to benefit from their exemption from Right to Buy so that almshouse charities can continue to carry out the vital services they provide to those most in need in our society.

The Association looks forward to working with our partners in the affordable housing sector to ensure that this policy does not decrease the availability of social housing.   

Posted 9 June 22