Walton Charity is a local charity based in Elmbridge, providing almshouse accommodation. Residents will be a beneficiary of the charity, and as an almshouse, the properties will be let on a licence agreement to essential local workers who live in Elmbridge.
Elmbridge Borough Council advertises the properties on behalf of Walton Charity, to ensure they are offered to as wide an audience as possible, but they are outside the council’s allocation policy. The details of those who express an interest in the properties will be passed to Walton Charity. Applicants need to complete the charity’s application form and meet the charity’s eligibility criteria. As an almshouse, the final decision on allocating the property is with Walton Charity.
Almshouses
An almshouse is residential accommodation, which:
- belongs to the charity
- is provided exclusively to meet the charity’s purposes (for example, the relief of financial need)
- is occupied or is available for occupation under a licence agreement by a qualified beneficiary
It is affordable housing, offered to those in need – in this instance, essential local workers.
Essential local workers
Essential local workers are defined as public sector employees who provide frontline services in areas including health, education and community safety – such as NHS staff, teachers, police, firefighters and military personnel, social care and childcare workers, and any other appropriate key worker or other persons commensurate with the charity’s strategic aims and objectives.
There will be an annual assessment to ensure the financial and employment status remains within the eligibility criteria. The criteria are:
- you are still a keyworker
- your income is still below the income cap
If your circumstances have changed, you may become ineligible for the housing.
Almshouses residents' status
Residents occupy an almshouse as beneficiaries of the charity, they are not tenants.
You must qualify as a beneficiary within the terms of the charity in order to be able to occupy the property. The residents occupy the premises under licence, through a Letter of Appointment, as a beneficiary of the charity. The relationship with the resident is that of trustee and beneficiary, not landlord and tenant.
Occupation of an almshouse does not create any form of secure tenancy; the resident is not a tenant. If you currently have a secure or assured tenancy, you should carefully consider your options, as with a licence agreement you will not have security of tenure.
Residents of almshouses do not have the right to request a mutual exchange.
Lambert Place
- Apartment 1, 1 Lambert Place – 3-bed 5-person, ground floor flat
- Apartment 2, 1 Lambert Place – 1-bed 2-person, ground floor flat
- Apartment 3, 1 Lambert Place – 2-bed 4-person, ground floor flat
- Apartment 4, 1 Lambert Place – 3-bed 5-person, 1st floor flat
- Apartment 5, 1 Lambert Place – 1-bed 2-person, 1st floor flat
- Apartment 6, 1 Lambert Place – 2-bed 4-person, 1st floor flat
- Apartment 7, 1 Lambert Place – 1-bed 2-person, 2nd floor flat
- Apartment 8, 1 Lambert Place – 2-bed 4-person, 2nd floor flat
Features
Key features and amenities:
- open plan kitchen lounge diner, bathroom, and ensuite to larger flats
- electric heating and hot water - electric panel / convector heaters with Dimplex
- water heat pumps (including a backup immersion)
- photovoltaic (PV) to ground and 2nd floor flats
- communal garden
- one allocated parking space per property - no additional parking on site
- no pets
- unfurnished
About the area:
- close to local shops and schools
- 0.7 miles from Thames Ditton train station
Monthly charge
Including estate service charge:
- 1-bed: £1,136.86 per month
- 2-bed: £1,416.34 per month
- 3-bed: £1,525.82 per month
As an almshouse, this is called a ‘monthly maintenance contribution’, equivalent to rent.
Criteria
The charity's criteria for these properties are:
- essential local workers only
- income cap: gross household income of less than £60,000 per annum
- capital limit: less than £80,000 capital