Policy and Governance Update from The Almshouse Association

Recognition as Affordable Housing

Key Messages – In our mission to see the almshouse model recognised as the exemplar form of community housing, we firstly need to have almshouses recognised as proper affordable housing under English Planning guidance (the National Policy Planning Framework (NPPF)).

This recognition would allow almshouse charities (those that are not Registered Social Housing providers) that are restricted by charity legislation to provide housing for those in need:

  • access to Section 106 funds
  • and cease to be charged a S106 levy for developing more affordable homes for those in need.

Our strategy to do this – There is strong local and national support from all parties to see almshouses recognised as affordable housing in the NPPF guidance, however, as charities we may need to provide greater assurance to Government of the provision of warm, safe, secure homes. This may need to take the form of an accreditation/Charity Health Check. We are working with Government and our members to explore this option.

APPG on Almshouses (All Party Parliamentary Groups)

APPGs are currently restarting after standing down during the election. Although our own APPG on Almshouses is set up and a viable option that affords us some voices in the Houses of Parliament, we have been asked to join other APPGs to help influence charity and older peoples housing based on the success of the almshouse model. We are currently exploring all options within our capacity.

Meetings

In the last few months, The Almshouse Association CEO, Nick Phillips has met:

  • The Senior Planning and Housing Team from The Welsh Assembly to discuss
    • access to support for new build and refurbishment of our Welsh member charities, and
    • to confirm that almshouse charities that operate under an Almshouse Letter of Appointment and are registered as almshouses DO NOT fall within the scope of the Rent Smart Wales program.
  • Met the Regulator for Social Housing to
    • request lower fees for those members who are Registed Providers, that better fits with the scale of almshouse charities.
    • ask for guidance on ‘proportionality for returns’ for small scale almshouse charities, and
    • to seek guidance on what form of accreditation would be supported in order for almshouse charities to be recognised by Government as proper affordable housing.
  • Met National Housing Federation to discuss our approach to Government. The NHF supported our approach and made their own supportive request to ministers.
  • The CEO of The Housing Ombudsman Scheme to
    • see support for almshouses to be recognised as affordable housing, and
    • see how the new Complaints Policy could work with the almshouse charity model. Richard Blakeway was very supportive and helpful in both matters.

The Almshouse Association has also requested meetings with:

Our thanks go to all the members who responded to our request to send letters to the local MPs. Since the election, over 100 letters have been sent to MPs supporting the almshouse model, inviting MPs to visit almshouses and seeking proper recognition under S106.

Please contact Nick Phillips on any policy or political matter via email at nickphillips@almshouses.org

posted 11 July 2024