New Applicants Information

Please read the following information to find out more about living in an Almshouse and our application process

BEING AN ALMSHOUSE RESIDENT

Resident not tenant

Almshouses are occupied under a licence agreement not a tenancy agreement. As an almshouse resident with a licence to occupy, a resident has the right to use and enjoy the property as specified in their licence agreement. However, this arrangement does not grant the resident exclusive possession or tenancy rights.

Monthly maintenance contribution not rent

As the Almshouses are occupied by a licence agreement, there is no tenancy so there is no “rent”. However, we do charge a monthly maintenance contribution (MMC) which is approximately equal to 80% of the open market rent.

Community living

Almshouse residents must be able to live as part of a community. We provide shared lounge and laundry facilities free for all residents to use. We encourage residents to socialise with other almshouse residents. Each year a Summer party and a Christmas event is organised by the charity. As community living is at the heart of our charity, we do not tolerate anti-social behaviour towards other residents or our staff .

Ceasing to be eligible

If, at any point after becoming a resident, a person no longer meets all the eligibility requirements as described in the application process section below, the charity reserves the right to terminate their licence to occupy. This ensures that our accommodation remains available to those who need it most and who meet the criteria set out by our charity.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify as a resident of one of our almshouses a person must have resided within 20 miles of St. Mary’s Church, St. Mary’s Butts, Reading for at least three years at some point in their life. Each person must also be:-

Over 18 years old, applying as a single applicant or couple.
In need, for example due to harassment, overcrowding, medical, social, or financial reasons.
Of good character.
Able to live independently.

If applying as a couple, both parties must meet the above criteria.

We charge a monthly maintenance contribution which is approximately 80% of the market rent.

Application Process

Please click here for the dedicated page with details of the application process and for the application form