Advancing almshouse and charity housing research

Reflections from The Almshouse Association Annual Research Symposium

The Almshouse Association Annual Research Symposium took place at the Ironmongers’ Hall in London on Tuesday 3 February 202. Attendees came from universities in England, Wales and Holland and it was a pleasure to see such a full room of inspiring and highly commended leading experts, funders and researchers, almshouse charities, and advocates of the almshouse movement from both the UK and abroad.

There is a growing awareness of the value of research informing best practice in management and architecture of almshouses and it is always inspiring to hear academics and leaders in the charity housing sector share their research and discuss areas for future investigation.

This year, we explored how complex “loneliness” is, how many place-based factors influence the feelings of loneliness, and how architecture, planning and community relations can influence loneliness and social isolation. This gathering provided a vital platform to share the latest findings, exchange knowledge, and foster collaboration across the sector.

Different perspectives

The programme highlighted both historical and contemporary perspectives. International speakers showcased approaches from the Netherlands and Liechtenstein, demonstrating how design and community structures have both impacted and long been used to address loneliness. UK-based research presentations explored people-centred design, health and wellbeing, and insights from recent studies in Suffolk and the private rented sector, underlining how evidence can inform better housing solutions.

The event also shone a light on the practical impact of design in the built environment. Presentations included lessons from Morden College’s comprehensive resident engagement strategy; initiatives to create age-friendly communities in Bath, and examples of innovative award-winning architectural practice emphasising relationships, community, and collaborative design in Bermondsey.

A strong emphasis was placed on translating complex research into actionable strategies. Expert speakers discussed how findings can inform public policy, improve housing provision, and foster healthier, more connected communities.

The event featured multiple panel discussions, facilitating dialogue between guests to identify future priorities and opportunities for collaboration, as well as building on Housing LIN’s HAPPI principles – generous space standards, abundant natural light, balconies/outdoor spaces, adaptable “care-ready” design, and communal, socially-active environments, aiming to promote independence, health, and community integration – and TAPPI principles – a £3m (revenue) programme to promote age-inclusive homes and communities. Representatives from Dutch almshouses brought historic reports of loneliness to the group and led to great debate.

Collaboration

Overall, the event underlined the critical role of convening the sector, enabling stakeholders to stay informed of emerging research, share best practice, and collectively explore innovative ways to tackle loneliness and social isolation through thoughtful architectural design. It reinforced the value of cross-disciplinary collaboration in progressing housing and community solutions that genuinely enhance social connection and well-being.

Quotes from attendees and speakers

“Thoroughly enjoyed yesterday and to see old friends, new friends and make new ones!”
Jeremy Porteus, CEO, Housing LIN

“I just wanted to congratulate you on providing us with such a wonderful day of talks and networking opportunities. In my 32 years of academia, it’s hard to think of a research day which I have found more interesting!”
Professor Ben Rickayzen PhD FIA  C.Act,  Faculty of Actuarial Science and Insurance, Bayes Business School (formerly Cass), City St George’s, University of London

“Thank you for inviting me to be part of the workshop today. A fantastic line up of speakers and research/projects!”
Alison Benzimra, Head of Research and Influence, United St Saviours Charity

“Thank you so much for inviting me. It was fantastic to hear about all of the different projects going on and the future of almshouses, I found it very inspirational.”
Faye Sanders, Doctoral Researcher in Housing and Health, Co-Chair of Healthy Homes Research Network, Housing Studies Association

A huge thank you to all who attended and contributed to making the day so inspiring, insightful, and full of meaningful discussion. Your engagement truly brought the event to life!

If you would like to attend future annual research events, please contact gerryharmon@almshouses.org

posted 10 February 2026

Policy and Governance update: February 2026

FEBRUARY 2026: A summary of the latest UK Government policy changes and news.

1. Warm Homes Plan

The Government has recently published their new Warm Homes Plan. It includes significant grants and support aimed at reducing fuel poverty and improving energy efficiency, which can be applied for by members.  

The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund will provide over £1 billion in grants to help social housing landlords upgrade homes with insulation, heat pumps and other measures, lowering energy costs for residents.

In addition, the Government’s broader support includes the existing Warm Home Discount scheme – a bill rebate (around £150) for residents on low incomes or certain benefits each winter – as part of the package of measures to help vulnerable families with energy costs. The Warm Home Discount is automatically applied to a resident’s bill, so individuals are not required to apply for it.

2. ECO (Energy Company Obligation) Ends

As part of the new Warm Homes Plan, the Government has also published its response to a consultation into the ECO4 scheme. As a result:

  • ECO4 will be extended by nine months, ending on 31 December 2026, to allow suppliers additional time to meet existing targets and remediate non-compliant installations.
  • The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) will end as planned on 31 March 2026.
  • No carry-over mechanism will be introduced because there will be no successor obligation after ECO4 to carry-over into. 
  • Solid wall and EFG minimum requirements will remain at current levels and must be achieved by the new ECO4 end date.

This means that the schemes will no longer be available to almshouse charities, however those that are currently engaged in the process of refurbishment using ECO4 funding will be able to complete their projects.

3. Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime

The Government has published a partial response to the consultation on reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) regime.

Whilst the consultation for EPCs in social rented homes has yet to be published, it is likely that almshouse charities will need to ensure their properties achieve an EPC rating of C or above.

For domestic EPCs, the Government will replace the existing single cost metric with four new headline metrics:

  •  energy cost
  • fabric performance
  • heating system
  • smart readiness

The response also suggests that there will be flexibility for heritage buildings. The Almshouse Association will continue to monitor the situation.

NOTE: There is a new, related consultation out now: Home Energy Model: Energy Performance Certificates, which closes on 18 March 2026.

4. New Decent Home Standard

The Government has confirmed the details of the new Decent homes Standard (DHS), which will come into force from 2035.

This will apply to all social and private landlords – including almshouse charities that are registered providers. The Almshouse Association recommends that all almshouse charities comply with the guidance.

As an overview, the new DHS will require:

  • Criterion A – A home must be free of the most dangerous hazards.

To meet this criterion, properties must be free of ‘category 1’ hazards, as assessed under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).

  • Criterion B – A home must be in a reasonable state of repair.

Homes will fail against this criterion if:

  • one or more key building components is not in a reasonable state of repair, or
  • two or more other building components are not in a reasonable state of repair
  • Criterion C – A home must provide core facilities and services.

To meet this criterion, flats must provide at least 3 of the following facilities:

  • a kitchen with adequate space and layout
  • an appropriately located bathroom and WC
  • adequate external noise insulation
  • adequate size and layout of common entrance areas for blocks of flats

To meet this criterion, houses must provide at least 2 of the following facilities:

  • a kitchen with adequate space and layout
  • an appropriately located bathroom and WC
  • adequate external noise insulation

Homes must also be equipped with child-resistant window restrictors, which can be overridden by an adult, on all windows which present a fall risk for children.

  • Criterion D – A home must provide thermal comfort.

To meet this criterion, homes must provide a reasonable degree of thermal comfort. This includes ensuring homes meet Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards.

  • Criterion E – A home should be free of damp and mould.

Homes will be non-decent if a landlord has not remedied damp and mould.

More information will be published in ‘due course’ on the following areas:

  • detailed guidance on the new DHS (including MEES)
  • bring forward the legislation and regulation to bring the new DHS into force within the SRS and PRS by 2035
  • publish the SRS MEES government response and associated Impact Assessment shortly

5. MHCLG Social Housing Policy Progress Update

At the end of January 2026, the Government published a progress update to its social housing policy.

The policy will have implications for both registered and non-registered social housing providers, such as almshouse charities. As part of this, the Government has also published a new Direction on the Rent Standard (2026) for registered providers. It permits annual rent increases of up to CPI+1% on social rent and affordable rent homes from 1 April 2026

It also reflects introduces a rent convergence mechanism from April 2027, where registered providers will be able to increase weekly rents for social rent homes that are below formula rent by up to an additional £1 on weekly rents each year over and above CPI+1% from 1 April 2027, and by up to an additional £2 on weekly rents each year over and above CPI+1% from 1 April 2028, until formula rent is reached.

6. National Planning Policy Framework

Reminder: National Planning Policy Framework consultation deadline of 10 March 2026.

Our work to secure recognition of almshouses as affordable housing therefore continues. The Association is asking Members to respond to the NPPF consultation and/or write to their MPs to support our campaign to have almshouses recognised as affordable in the National Planning Policy Framework.

Please see

  • Nick Phillips talking about the NPPF in a short video
  • our NPPF campaign post which includes our consultation response and a template letter to MPs here.

posted 9 February 2026

Competition winners enjoy afternoon tea!

Erica Duckworth, Resident Services Manager, has shared this lovely update following our recent photo competition.

Almshouse residents, Mary and Brenda, whose winning photograph celebrated the joy, connection and sense of community at the heart of almshouse life, enjoyed an afternoon tea at the beautiful Chilston Park as their prize. The winning entry, titled “Tea with neighbours”, was submitted by Cutbush and Corrall Charity in Kent.

The photograph above shows Mary and Brenda alongside Darren, one of the resident service coordinators, who took the original winning photo (below).

We are delighted to hear that they all had a wonderful afternoon and thank everyone involved for sharing this special moment.

posted 3 February 2026

Happy 100th Peggy!

Almshouse resident Peggy, celebrated an incredible milestone on Saturday 24 January 2026, marking her 100th birthday with family, friends and fellow residents.

The celebration was kindly organised by Peggy’s daughter, Sharon, who hosted a party in Chesterfeld United Charity’s communal lounge to honour the special occasion.

Jennette Estevez, General Manager of the Charity, said: “Peggy had a wonderful day and is truly an inspiration to us all.”

Peggy has lived in her almshouse home for over 20 years and we were delighted to receive these gorgeous photos of Peggy celebrating her life and personal milestone.

posted 2 February 2026

Serving our members for 80 years

Celebrating 80 years of community, heritage and hope

The Almshouse Association was founded 80 years ago by you, our members. Born out of the austerity and uncertainty of wartime Britain, and at a moment when new legislation and emerging models of social housing were placing intense pressure on almshouse trustees, the early leaders of the almshouse movement recognised a vital truth: to survive and to flourish, almshouses needed a collective voice. They needed to come together as a network.

Our predecessors showed remarkable foresight

They understood that the almshouse model was not becoming obsolete; on the contrary, it was becoming more necessary than ever. They recognised that housing provision alone, as envisaged by the new Welfare State, was not enough. People in need required more than a roof over their heads –  they needed community. Almshouse trustees, too, needed a community beyond their individual charities, and Government needed to understand that this great national asset had enduring value for both today’s residents and future generations.

We will be using our 80th anniversary to highlight the unique value of almshouse charities, to raise funds to support existing charities, encourage the building of new almshouses, help new charities form, and uphold the founding principle that no resident should ever be lonely in an almshouse.

None of this would be possible without the outstanding leadership and commitment of trustees, clerks, wardens and volunteers across 1,600 almshouse charities throughout the UK.

We look forward to sharing our 80th anniversary with you.

The Almshouse Association team

posted 22 January 2025

Guildhall Feoffment hosts MP Visit

On 23 January 2026, almshouse charity, Guildhall Feoffment welcomed their local MP, Peter Prinsley, for a visit focused on the challenges facing almshouse charities.

Discussions centred on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the ongoing failure to recognise almshouses as affordable housing. As a result, almshouse charities can be subject to Selective Licensing, face Section 106 (S106) charges when developing, and are often unable to access Homes England funding or S106 funding. In addition, almshouses are typically excluded from designated planning routes such as Rural Exception Sites.

These barriers create significant obstacles for charities seeking to provide much-needed housing for older people and those in housing need.

Nick Phillips, CEO of The Almshouse Association, commented:

“It is good to see charities raising the issue of the proposed NPPF. It is so valuable for MPs to hear directly from trustees and clerks about the real-world impact of this uneven policy. Simply put, without change we face a future with fewer almshouses being built and more older people experiencing homelessness and loneliness. It is time to fix this anomaly in legislation.”

posted 28 January 2025

Support our campaign

The Association is asking Members to respond to the NPPF consultation and/or write to their MPs to support our campaign to have almshouses recognised as affordable in the National Planning Policy Framework.

Dear Members,

We are pleased to share with you a copy of The Almshouse Association’s draft consultation response to the Government’s proposals for the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Our response aims to ensure that the unique role of almshouses and other charitable housing providers is recognised in national planning policy.

Charitable housing organisations provide essential, long-term, affordable homes to older people, vulnerable households and local communities, often in ways that differ from commercial or mainstream housing delivery.

We have chosen to focus on Chapter 6: Delivering a Sufficient Supply of Homes (of the consultation) only, as this section contains the policies with the most direct impact on almshouses, charitable housing providers and the delivery of specialist and affordable housing for older and vulnerable people.

In particular, the response highlights:

  • The need for planning definitions of affordable housing to explicitly include almshouses and charitable providers.
  • Concerns about delivery targets, housing land supply policies, and housing mix requirements, and how these affect small-scale, community-led, and charitable housing schemes.
  • Support for policies that enhance the provision of specialist housing for older people, adaptable homes, and social and affordable housing, with safeguards to ensure proportionate and sustainable delivery by charities.
  • Recommendations for ensuring that commuted sums, off-site delivery, and large-scale development frameworks do not disadvantage smaller charitable providers.

Our NPPF consultation response has been drafted to inform Government consultation and to advocate for policy changes that enable charitable housing providers to continue delivering high-quality, affordable homes. Members are encouraged to review the document to understand the Association’s position and the rationale behind our responses. We have also drafted a letter that you may wish to tailor and send to your local MP.

Click to download NPPF Consultation Response
Click to download template letter to MPs

We hope these will also serve as a useful reference for members engaging in the consultation or discussing the impact of planning policy on charitable housing provision. The deadline for the consultation is the 10 March 2026.

Call to Action

  • Respond to Chapter 6 of the NPPF consultation, calling on the Government to properly acknowledge and support almshouses and other charitable housing providers by including them within the NPPF’s Affordable Housing definition.
  • Write to your MP urging the Government to make a fair and necessary change to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), so that the vital role of charity-led housing, particularly almshouses, is fully recognised within the definition of Affordable Housing.

Thank you for your continued support in championing the role of almshouses and charitable housing in the wider housing sector.

posted 28 January 2026

Small Charity Week: Big Impact

NCVO has announced that they have once again partnered with Big Give and Global’s Make Some Noise to deliver the Small Charity Week 2026 match funding campaign – with applications now open and closing at 17.00 on 11 February 2026.

Find out more and submit your application

What’s the campaign about?
The campaign helps small charities maximise donations through match funding, providing vital unrestricted income. Thanks to match funding from Champion funders, including players of People’s Postcode Lottery, public donations made during the campaign will once again be doubled.

Plus, this year, it will expand to support more charities than ever before, including – for the first time – UK-based organisations working internationally, with increased funding also available for eligible charities in Scotland and Wales.

When does the campaign run?
The Small Charity Week 2026 match funding campaign will run from 22–29 June 2026, aligning with Small Charity Week – our national awareness week celebrating the essential role of small charities across the UK.

Who can apply?
Small charities with an annual income between £5,000 and £1 million across the UK, including those working internationally, are encouraged to apply.

How did the campaign perform last year?
In just seven days, the 2025 campaign raised £1.84 million, supporting 189 small charities through 9,208 donations. Through match funding, most charities received higher-value donations and connected with new supporters.

Apply by 11 February 2026

NCVO encourages small charities to take advantage of this opportunity and apply today. Please share with others in your network who may benefit

Leigh Brimicombe, Chief Influencing Officer, NCVO
Registered Charity No. 225922

posted 22 January 2026

Ellen Barnes Charitable Trust, Oswestry, Shropshire

Accommodation

We have a one-bedroom property available. It is set within large, shared private grounds with parking, managed by Trustees.

Criteria

Applicants should demonstrate ‘financial or social need’ and live locally to Weston Rhyn

Contact details

Anyone interested should contact Rentals@rogerparry.net, 01743 343343