BARNET’S almshouse charities, which provide homes for the poor and elderly, will not be forced to sell properties off by the Government.

It comes after Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers intervened on behalf of Peter White from the Lancelot Hasluck Trust in East Barnet.

The Government plans to roll out Right to Buy, which currently offers council tenants the chance to buy their home at a discounted price, to housing association tenants.

A number of almshouse charities in the borough were worried they would be included in the new scheme.

But Ms Villiers says she has gained assurances from Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, that almshouses would be recognised as separate from the housing associations.

This is because almshouse residents are considered as charitable beneficiaries, and not tenants.

Conservative MP Ms Villiers said: “Almshouse charities have a unique identity and are an important part of our local heritage. Here in Barnet, we have charities that are hundreds of years old are still supporting local residents today, particularly the elderly.

“Incredibly, there are almshouses in the Wood Street area of High Barnet that were first founded in 1672.

“It makes sense for the Government to respect the fact that almshouse charities are not the same as housing associations and I welcome the decision by Greg Clark that they will fall outside the new Right to Buy scheme.”

Britain has around 1,700 almshouse charities, including the Eleanor Palmer, Lancelot Hazluck and Jesus Hospital trusts in Barnet.