“In the past decade, it’s estimated that nearly 200,000 social rented homes were sold under the Right to Buy scheme in Britain. While these sales might offer some immediate housing aspirations for some, they do little to address the long-term challenges of the affordable housing crisis. There is, however, a model of housing that has remained steadfastly available to those who need it in our communities: the almshouse charity model.
Unlike homes sold under the Right to Buy scheme, almshouses are legally exempt from such sales, ensuring that they remain available for future generations. For over a thousand years, almshouse charities have provided affordable housing in villages, towns, and parishes across England and Wales, standing as pillars of support for local people in need.
The partnership between parish and town councils and almshouse charities has proven to be a vital one, providing the local community with often the only form of affordable housing. Although small in number and scale, (most charities having ten or twelve units) almshouse charities currently provide homes for around 36,000 individuals, creating some of the most welcoming, supportive, and affordable communities across the country. These communities are a rare resource – a resource that cannot be sold off under Right to Buy and thus continue to serve future generations in the communities.
However, despite the enduring value of the almshouse model, many almshouse charities are not classified as providers of affordable housing, being charities first and far too small to qualify as Registered Housing Providers. As a result, they do not qualify for Section 106 affordable housing funds nor eligibility under the Rural Exception Scheme under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This limitation leaves a gap in funding opportunities for these invaluable, community-based charities, even though they provide substantial benefits to both residents and the wider public.
It’s crucial for planners and housing officers to recognise the lasting role almshouse charities play in providing affordable housing options, especially in rural or underfunded areas. These charities not only serve their local communities but also deliver an estimated £46 million in annual savings to the state by reducing the demand for emergency housing services.
We commend the parish and town councils that are supporting almshouse charities and helping to expand their reach through initiatives such as Rural Exception Sites, such as Mole Valley in Surrey. These councils understand the value of supporting a model that offers affordable, sustainable housing for local people while ensuring that these homes remain part of the community for years to come.
By embracing and supporting the almshouse charity model, we can continue the thousand-year-old tradition of providing stable, affordable housing for local people. Let’s work together to ensure that these unique and invaluable housing resources remain available for future generations – housing that can’t be sold off and lost, but instead, will continue to benefit the community in perpetuity.
We encourage local planning and housing officers to explore how they can best integrate almshouse charities into their local housing strategies, ensuring that affordable housing remains available to those who need it most, without the risk of losing these vital homes to the market.”