Understanding Your Weekly Maintenance Contributions & Service Charges

At Lench’s Trust, we are proud of our 500-year history providing high-quality, safe, and welcoming sheltered accommodation for older people across Birmingham and Walsall.

Because we operate as an almshouse charity, the legal and financial structure of our housing is slightly different from private rentals or traditional social housing. Instead of paying "rent," our residents—whom we refer to as beneficiaries—pay a Weekly Maintenance Contribution (WMC).

How Our Charges Are Set

Our Trustees review our contributions annually. When evaluating these charges, we follow strict guidelines set out by the Almshouse Association and the Regulator of Social Housing.

Our setting process is guided by three core principles:

  • Non-Profit & Cost Recovery: As a charity, we do not make a profit from your housing. WMCs are calculated using an annual budget strictly designed to cover the real cost of running, managing, and maintaining our schemes.

  • Hardship Prevention: We make every effort to keep our accommodation genuinely affordable. Charges are designed to ensure that living in a Lench's Trust property does not cause financial hardship to our residents.

  • Predictable Increases: inflation is set by central government increases are tied strictly to regular inflation metrics (such as CPI plus 1%).  

What Your Contribution Covers

Your Weekly Maintenance Contribution is divided into two parts: the base maintenance upkeep and a communal service charge. Together, these cover the essential day-to-day services required to keep your home and community safe, warm, and well-managed.

Depending on your specific scheme (such as William Lench Court, Lench’s Close, or Tanner’s Close), your charges cover:

  • Repairs & Cyclic Maintenance: Structural maintenance, asbestos safety compliance, lift servicing, and routine building repairs.

  • Safety & Security: Maintenance of communal CCTV systems, fire safety equipment, and emergency alarms.

  • Communal Utilities & Cleaning: Heating, lighting, and upkeep of shared indoor lounges, hallways, and communal spaces.

  • Gardening & External Care: Professional upkeep of our shared gardens, grounds, pathways, and waste disposal management.

  • Housing Management: Professional administration, scheme audit fees, and dedicated housing staff costs.

  • Building Insurance: Comprehensive insurance cover for the building structures.

Note: At William Lench Court, there is an additional mandatory well-being charge of £13 per week to support our night care services.

Financial Support and Eligibility

If your personal financial circumstances change, or if you are on a lower income, you may be fully eligible to claim Housing Benefit or Universal Credit to cover the cost of your WMC.

Our staff can help liaise directly with local council housing teams to arrange for benefits to be paid straight to the Trust, ensuring total peace of mind. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, we strongly encourage you to speak with us as early as possible so we can support you.

Find Out More

Because costs vary depending on the specific location and layout of each scheme, we encourage prospective residents and families to contact our central team.

Please visit our Lench’s Trust Contact Page or call our Head Office directly at 0121 426 0455 for a transparent, up-to-date breakdown of costs for the scheme you are interested in.