- You must have lived in the London Borough of Hounslow for at least the last two years
- You must be in necessitous circumstances
- You must be in a reasonable state of health and capable of looking after yourself in a self-contained flat.
- You must, where applicable, meet the other site-specific criteria, as outlined in the sections on our accommodation page.
- You must have put your name down on Hounslow Council’s housing register.
- A housing register is maintained and normally applicants can join it any time
- Vacancies may be advertised here on the Charity’s website; also other locations as appropriate. Nominations are sought from Hounslow Council
- Applicants and nominees for accommodation that is vacant are required to complete the Charity’s Application Form, including details of income and supply evidence of his or her qualification for appointment.
- A maximum of twelve applicants for a vacancy will be shortlisted and be invited for an interview with the Charity’s Interviewing Panel, which is made of up of three Trustees – exceptionally more – and the Chief Executive Officer
- Applicants are selected on the basis of need.
As its homes have been permanently endowed, Isleworth & Hounslow Charity Ltd cannot grant tenancies or licenses for the occupation of its flats but instead, the Trustees of the Charity appoint the resident as a beneficiary of the Charity. Trustees cannot ask residents to leave unless they
have been appointed without having the necessary qualifications or have provided incorrect information on the application form;
- no longer have the required qualifications;
- suffer from an infirmity that means they are unsuited to remain a resident, for example they cannot any longer live independently and need to move into a care home;
- are in persistent arrears with their weekly maintenance contributions;
- persistently or without reasonable excuse disregard the residents regulations or disturb the quiet occupation of the flats or behave in an aggravating or offensive manner;
- in exceptional circumstances (as determined by the Trustees and including but not limited to violent or threatening behavior or racial or sexual harassment towards other beneficiaries, Charity staff or lawful visitors to the Almshouse Accommodation) a single breach may result in the Trustees terminating an appointment.
Instead of paying rent, residents are charged a weekly maintenance contribution and this amount covers the running costs of the almshouse and the communal areas. Contributions are paid weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
- Contribution towards central staff and administration costs
- Heating and hot water (at one site)
- Maintenance and redecoration
- Cleaning in communal areas
- Lighting in communal areas
- Gardening
- Other services
In addition, residents are responsible for their domestic electricity (lighting, cooking and other appliances), domestic gas (at some sites) telephone, council tax and other living expenses.
Subject to status housing benefit (or universal credit) can be claimed by residents living in the almshouses. It can either be paid to the residents or directly to Isleworth & Hounslow Charity Ltd. Housing benefit (or universal credit) excludes the cost of heating and hot water. If housing benefit is paid directly to Isleworth & Hounslow Charity Ltd then the cost of these items and any shortfall between the weekly maintenance contribution level and the housing benefit level is paid to Isleworth & Hounslow Charity Ltd by the resident.
On allocation of the almshouse residents are provided with one set of keys. Isleworth & Hounslow Charity Ltd staff will only enter an almshouse without invitation if the resident is believed to be in need of assistance or if the resident is not in occupation and there is a problem with services e.g. a water leak. At all other times total privacy is maintained.
The almshouses are provided unfurnished. However some do have carpets, curtains and other items of furniture left by the previous occupant and these are made available to the incoming resident as a gift.