Admission Criteria

At St John’s, we welcome those whose lives have followed varied paths and who now seek the peace, community, and dignity of a home in later life.

In line with our charitable purpose, we provide almshouse accommodation to people over the age of 60 who have limited financial means and are not well served by the commercial housing market.

Applicants should be capable of living independently, with the gentle support we offer as part of our community.

Applying for Almshouse Accommodation

We provide high-quality almshouse accommodation for older people who value independent living, community, and a supportive environment.

To be eligible for almshouse accommodation at St John’s Winchester, applicants must:

  • Be aged 60 or over
  • Be capable of living independently, with or without support
  • Have limited financial means
  • Demonstrate a strong local connection to Winchester
  • Show a clear housing, health, or social need
  • Be willing to take part in and contribute to community life

Please note: There is no parking on site, and we operate a no pets policy.

Step 1 – Check you are eligible

Check your eligibility using our online checker. This will give you a good indication as to whether you meet our charitable criteria.

Start form

Step 2 – Register Your Interest

If you’re interested in living at St John’s, the next step is to let us know by completing our Housing Interest Form.

START FORM

Before we confirm your name to our Housing Interest List, we will ask you to complete a short form to ensure that you meet St John’s eligibility criteria. You will receive an email explaining what information we need from you and how to complete the form.

Once we have received and reviewed this information, we will confirm whether your name has been added to the Housing Interest List.

Step 3 – Wait for a Property to become available

You will be contacted when a suitable vacancy arises, along with others on the Housing Interest List, and details of vacancies will also be published on the website.

Please note – your name will stay on our Housing Interest List until you ask for it to be removed.

Step 4 - Once a property is available

We notify you that a property is available, review the property details and consider if the property might be suitable for you.

Step 5 - Complete and submit your application

To apply, you’ll need to complete a full Almshouse Application Form by the deadline in the advert. This helps us understand your housing needs and check if you meet our criteria. Don’t do this until a specific property is available.

Step 6 - We Assess Your Application

To be eligible, you should:

Be 60 or older

Be able to live independently, with support if needed

Have limited income and savings

Have a local connection to Winchester

Have a genuine housing or
social need

Be willing to take part in 
community life

Step 7 - Admissions Panel Reviews Applications

Please note that due to high demand, not everyone who applies will be successful.

Our team carefully reviews each application, prioritising those who best meet our eligibility criteria and have the greatest need.  If we think a property may be a good match for you, we’ll invite you in to meet the panel to discuss your application.  There will be an opportunity to visit the property before a final decision is made. 
If you’re successful, we’ll offer you the property and give you up to six weeks to move in.

Need Help with your application?

If you’d like support completing the Housing Interest Form or the Full Application form, or want to talk things through, we’re here to help.

Please call us on 01962 854 226, or email office@stjohnswinchester.co.uk.