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Charity number 1009780
PEARSON’S AND ST ELIZABETH’S COTTAGE HOMES
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the year ended 31 March 2025
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| Pearson’s and St Elizabeth’s Cottage Homes | |
|---|---|
| Financial statements 2025 | |
| Contents | Page |
| Trust information | 3 |
| Trustee report | 4 |
| Independent auditor’s report | 11 |
| Statement of income and reserves | 15 |
| Statement of financial position | 16 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 17 |
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Trust information
| The Trustee | Worthing Homes Ltd |
|---|---|
| Davison House | |
| North Street | |
| Worthing | |
| West Sussex, BN11 1ER | |
| Auditors | Sumer Audit |
| Amelia House | |
| Crescent Road | |
| Worthing | |
| West Sussex, BN11 1RL | |
| Principal solicitors | Capsticks Solicitors LLP |
| 1 St George’s House East | |
| St George’s Road | |
| Wimbledon | |
| London SW19 4DR | |
| Devonshires | |
| 30 Finsbury Circus | |
| London EC2M 7DT | |
| Bankers | Lloyds Bank Plc |
| 3rdFloor, 25 Gresham Street | |
| London EC2V 7HN | |
| Legal Status | Registered charity number 1009780 |
| Regulator of Social Housing number A1348 | |
| Registered Office | Davison House |
| North Street | |
| Worthing | |
| West Sussex | |
| BN11 1ER |
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Trustee report
The Trust and its principal activities
The Trust is an amalgamation of the former Pearson’s Retreat Cottage Homes regulated by deed dated 26 July 1920 as affected by a Scheme of the Charity Commissioners of 19 April 1978, and St Elizabeth’s Almshouses regulated by a scheme of the Charity Commissioners of 11 May 1966. Approval for the aforementioned amalgamation was granted by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales under seal dated 24 June 1991. Worthing Homes Limited acts as corporate Trustee of the charity.
The Trust is also registered with the Regulator of Social Housing. Throughout the year the Trust complied with the Regulator of Social Housing’s Governance and Financial Viability Standard.
The main activity of the Trust is the provision of social housing. The principal aim is to provide affordable housing to meet the needs of people over 50 years of age within the borough of Worthing. The Trust will ensure that properties are managed and maintained to the highest standards.
The Trust has a total of 74 units of accommodation as follows: -
1 – 14 Coronation Homelets: Small cottages converted to 8 studio bungalows and 6 one bed bungalows, scheme completed during 1991.
1 – 20 Pearson’s Retreat: A block of one bedroom flats built in 1977. 21– 48 Pearson’s Retreat: Pre-war cottages,
1 – 4 St. Elizabeth’s Almshouses: A major refurbishment programme including conversion into 4 self-contained flats was completed during 1993.
1 - 6 Pendle. A block of 6 general needs flats purchased during 2016.
Public Benefit Disclosure
The current activities of the charitable Registered Social Landlord are detailed in the Trustee report. The Trustee confirms that it has had regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charitable Registered Social Landlord’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities.
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Trustee report (continued)
Trustee
Worthing Homes Ltd was the sole corporate Trustee of Pearson’s and St Elizabeth’s Cottage Homes during the year.
The members of the board of Worthing Homes Ltd during the year were:
Chris Simpson (Chair) Simon Brown Michael Burke Donna Cezair Simon Chatfield (from 19 March 2025) Peju Fabunmi (to 8 November 2024) Colin Goodwin Vivien Knibbs Emily Martin Eloise Parry (Co-Optee Board member from 1 October 2024) Nigel Perryman Helen Rice Chongo Shula Bernard Yeboah (from 14 November 2024)
Secretary to the Trustee
Julian Pitcher
Performance for the year
The Trustee is reporting a surplus on ordinary activities of £109,000 (2024: £166,000).
During the year, we have seen a continuing increase in the number and type of responsive repairs which has led to a significant increase in expenditure on these works- £73,000 compared to £41,000 in 2024. This is partly due to the pressures created through works to tackle damp and mould, exacerbated by the increasing costs of works and supplies.
The Trust’s reserves at 31 March 2025 total £3,137,000 (2024: £3,037,000) which represented a total recognised surplus for the year of £99,000 (2024: £190,000). Of this surplus there was a realised gain on listed investments of £7,000 (2024: £4,000) and unrealised loss on listed investments of £19,000 (2024: £21,000 gain) additions of £79,000 and disposals of £76,000 (2024: £6,000). The balance being the surplus on ordinary activities of £109,000 (2024: £166,000).
Turnover during the year of £503,000 represented an increase of 5.2% over 2024 (£478,000).
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Trustee report (continued)
The investment in planned maintenance totalled £332,000 during the year (2024: £190,000):
| Boiler Replacements Kitchen & Bathroom Modernisations Fire Safety Works Communal Improvements Window & Door Replacements Service Agreements and Associated Work Total |
£3,000 £136,000 £6,000 £86,000 £74,000 £27,000 £332,000 |
|---|---|
Of this, £293,000 was capitalised under the component accounting rules (2024: £177,000).
Future plans
The Trust provides low-cost housing in Worthing and maintains its existing stock through its annual maintenance programme. In the coming year, the planned investment includes:
| Kitchen and Bathroom Modernisations EPC Upgrades Window & Door Replacements Replace Gas Boilers Service Agreements and Associated Work Total |
£41,000 £50,000 £135,000 £18,000 £44,000 £297,000 |
|---|---|
Fixed assets
The Trustee is of the opinion that the market value of the housing properties are in excess of the net book value. Details of changes in fixed assets are shown in notes 10 and 11 to the financial statements.
Value for money
Value for money means obtaining the best social outcomes using the resources available.
Obtaining value for money from our resources is essential to ensure we can continue to invest in the Trust and meet its aims of ensuring that properties are managed and maintained to the highest standards.
Securing value for money is embedded in our culture. We are focussed on providing an efficient and highly cost effective service to all our customers. The setting and performance against the Trust’s targets, service standards targets, and budget are monitored by the Trustee.
The following tables detail the Trust’s performance against our targets. Customer satisfaction is measured using annual surveys on the anniversary of the start of their licence and feedback surveys after repairs
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----- Start of picture text -----
Excellent Customer Experience Actual Target
2025 2025
Overall customer satisfaction with service from Worthing 81% 82%
Homes as landlord on behalf of Pearson's
Likely to recommend to family and/or friends (Net Promoter
+69 +36
Score)
% of customers that feel they are treated with respect 86% 85%
Satisfaction that your views are being listened to and acted
82% 70%
upon
Satisfaction that you are kept informed about things that
74% 75%
matter to you
Satisfaction with major repairs / planned maintenance 100% 96%
Satisfaction with time taken to complete most recent repair 84% 76%
Satisfaction with repairs over last 12 months 84% 79%
% repairs completed within target timescale 82% 90%
Percentage of complaints resolved within agreed timescale 100% 100%
Satisfaction with our approach to handling complaints 27% 65%
Satisfaction with our approach to handling anti-social
89% 65%
behaviour (perception survey)
Place shaping Actual Target
2025 2025
Satisfaction that the landlord makes a positive contribution
85% 73%
to the neighbourhood
Gas servicing - overall % of properties with a valid gas
100% 100%
certificate
Fire safety - % of blocks with a valid / in-date fire risk
100% 100%
assessment
Asbestos - % of homes in buildings that have valid asbestos
100% 100%
survey
Water safety - % of homes that have had legionella risk
100% 100%
assessment
% of homes with ‘C’ energy efficiency rating 68% 80%
Satisfaction that the home is well maintained 90% 85%
Satisfaction the home is safe to live in 85% 85%
Satisfaction that communal areas are clean and well-
85% 85%
maintained
Homes that do not meet the Decent Homes Standard 0% 0%
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The satisfaction scores record the responses to our annual survey which had a 91% response rate which is an improvement on 2023-24 (61%). We now complete satisfaction surveys in person which has led to an improved response rate and allows us to collect additional comments.
Satisfaction with complaint handling approach is based on a perception survey with responses based on the customer perception of our process, whether they have raised a formal complaint or not. There were two formal complaints raised during the year.
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Pearson’s and St Elizabeth’s Cottage Homes Financial statements 2025
Our EPC C upgrade works are to be carried out as part of our Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund programme which has been delayed into 2025-26. The performance here will improve as the works are carried out and we have allocated £50,000 to these works.
Our performance against the value for money metrics is:
----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024 2023 2022 2021
Reinvestment % 9.0% 6.0% 3.3% 11.1% 10.8%
New supply delivered % (social 0% 0% 0% 0% 1.4%
housing units)
Gearing % N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
EBITDA interest cover % N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
(Earnings Before Interest, Tax,
Depreciation, Amortisation, Major
Repairs Included)
Social housing costs per unit £8,263 £5,628 £5,062 £7,440 £3,622
Operating Margin (social housing 20.8% 33.9% 22.3% 29.8% 37.6%
lettings only)
Operating Margin (overall) 21.1% 33.8% 22.3% 29.8% 33.7%
Return on capital employed 3.0% 5.0% 3.3% 4.3% 5.2%
(ROCE)
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The Trust has no loans, borrowings, or interest payable. So, the gearing and interest cover calculations are not meaningful for the Trust.
The increase in cost per unit is largely driven by an increase in responsive repair costs which have also impacted operating margin.
These financial statements demonstrate our track record in improving our operating efficiency and financial results. The Trust continues to maintain a strong financial position with a surplus in 2025 of £109,000. (2024: £166,000).
Statement of Trustee responsibilities
The Trust is governed by Worthing Homes Limited (the Trustee). The Trustee has responsibilities for managing the affairs of the Trust and holds meetings four times a year. Members of the board of Worthing Homes Limited, the sole Trustee, are drawn from a wide background bringing together technical, professional and community skills. Board members are eligible for remuneration in accordance with the guidelines set by the Regulator of Social Housing.
Charity law and registered social landlord legislation requires the Trustee to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Trust and of the surplus or deficit for that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the Trustee is required to:
- Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
-
Follow applicable United Kingdom accounting standards and the Housing SORP 2022: Statement of Recommended Practice for Registered Social Housing Providers, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
-
Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Trust will continue in business.
The Trustee is responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Trust and enable it to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 and the Accounting Direction for Private Registered Providers of Social Housing 2019. The Trustee is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Trust and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Reserves policy
It is the Registered Social Landlord’s policy to retain sufficient reserves to enable ongoing maintenance of the properties, with a minimum of at least £300,000. The budget is managed monthly to ensure reserves are adequate for both planned and unplanned maintenance. The reserves readily available for these purposes are regarded as the net current assets balance plus investments held at 31 March 2025 of £565,000. (2024: £678,000)
We will utilise these reserves to fund planned maintenance works and sustainability works and a future development programme once suitable development opportunities arise.
Going concern
The Trustee, after reviewing the Trust’s budget for 2025-26, has a reasonable expectation that the Trust has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, being a period of at least twelve months after the date on which the audit report is signed. The Trustee has concluded that there is no material uncertainty in relation the appropriateness of continuing to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and accounts.
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Statement of disclosure to auditor
-
(a) so far as the Trustee is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Trust’s auditors are unaware, and
-
(b) they have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as Trustee in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Trust’s auditors are aware of that information.
Independent auditor
Sumer Audit have expressed their willingness to continue in office as the Trust’s auditors and a resolution to reappoint them will be proposed at the Trustee Meeting.
By order of the Trustee 20 August 2025
DocuSigned by: Chair – Chris Simpson _______ [GuDD996641AE99497... —
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Independent auditor’s report to the Trustee of Pearson’s and St. Elizabeth’s Cottage Homes
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Pearson’s and St Elizabeth’s Cottage Homes (the 'charity') for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the statement of comprehensive income and reserves, the statement of financial position and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
-
give a true and fair view of the state of the charity’s affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, for the year then ended;
-
have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
-
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 and the Accounting Direction for private registered providers of social housing in England 2022
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustee's use of the going concern basis of
accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustee with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustee is responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
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Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustee Report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:
-
the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the trustee’s report; or
-
sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
-
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or
-
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Responsibilities of the Trustee
As explained more fully in the statement of responsibilities, the Trustee is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustee determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the Trustee is responsible for assessing the charity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustee either intend to cease operations or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material
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misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
Audit response to the risk of irregularities including fraud
In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following:
-
Obtaining an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework in which the charity operates, focusing on those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the financial statements and operations;
-
Obtaining an understanding of the charity's policies and procedures on fraud risks, including knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud; and
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Discussing among the engagement team how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any potential indicators of fraud through our knowledge and understanding of the charity and our sector specific experience.
As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the charity for fraud. We are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override. As a result of performing the above, we identified the following areas as those most likely to have an impact on the financial statements: compliance with the Charities SORP (FRS102).
In addition to the above, our procedures to respond to risks identified included the following:
-
Making enquiries of management, about any known or suspected instances of noncompliance with laws and regulations and fraud;
-
Reviewing minutes of meetings of the board and senior management; and
-
Reading correspondence with regulators;
-
Challenging assumptions and judgements made by management in their significant accounting estimates
-
Auditing the risk of management override of controls, including through testing journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness.
Conclusions regarding the risks of irregularities including fraud
Due to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that some material misstatements in the financial statements may not be detected, even though the audit is properly planed and performed in accordance with the ISAs (UK). For instance, the further removed non-compliance is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely the auditor is to become aware of it or to recognise the noncompliance.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
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Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustee, as a body, in accordance with part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's Trustee those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustee as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Robin Evans BA FCA CTA DChA (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Sumer Audit
......................... 4E3F1527A5C3499...
Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditor Worthing
Sumer Audit is the trading name of Sumer Auditco Limited
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Statement of income and reserves for the year ended 31 March 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Notes | |||
| Turnover | 4 | 503,122 | 477,518 |
| Operating costs | 4 | (397,295) | (315,868) |
| Loss on disposal of fixed assets | (4,130) | (164) | |
| Operating surplus | 101,697 | 161,486 | |
| Interest receivable | 9 | 8,338 | 4,700 |
| Surplus for the financial year | 110,035 | 166,186 | |
| Unrealised surplus / (deficit) on investments | 12 | (17,503) | 18,967 |
| Realised surplus on investments | 6,802 | 4,964 | |
| Total comprehensive income for the year | 99,334 | 190,117 | |
| Reserves brought forward | 3,037,240 | 2,847,123 | |
| Reserves carried forward | 3,136,574 | 3,037,240 |
The Trust’s results relate wholly to continuing activities. The accompanying notes on pages 17 to 28 form part of these financial statements. The financial statements were approved by the Trustee on 20 August 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
Member of the board of Worthing Homes Limited (sole Trustee):
DocuSigned by: Chair – Chris Simpson ______ [GuDD996641AE99497... —
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Statement of financial position for the year ended 31 March 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | £ | £ | |
| Fixed assets | |||
| Tangible fixed assets - housing properties | 10 | 2,587,643 | 2,365,501 |
| Tangible fixed assets – other | 11 | 188,709 | 201,598 |
| Investments | 12 | 411,212 | 420,799 |
| Total fixed assets | 3,187,564 2,987,898 | 2,987,898 | |
| Current assets | |||
| Debtors | 13 | 11,026 | 5,677 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 226,552 | 376,443 | |
| 237,578 | 382,120 | ||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one | |||
| year | 14 | (83,304) | (124,700) |
| Net current assets | 154,274 | 257,418 | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | 3,341,838 | 3,245,318 | |
| Creditors: amounts falling due after more | |||
| than one year | 15 | (205,264) | (208,077) |
| Net assets | 3,136,574 | 3,037,240 | |
| Reserves | |||
| Income and expenditure reserve | 3,136,574 | 3,037,240 | |
| Total reserves | 3,136,574 3,037,240 | 3,037,240 |
The financial statements were approved by the Trustee on 20 August 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
Members of the board of Worthing Homes Limited (sole corporate Trustee):
Chair – Chris Simpson ___ (G-—DD996641AE99497... by:[bulbs] Board member – Vivien Knibbs ___ |[Uniew] Signed89C9E869DFOE4DO... by:[Pitder] |[Juliaw] DocuSigned by: Secretary to the Trustee – Julian Pitcher ______ 833C43051CA44A5...
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Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 March 2025
1) Legal status
Pearson’s and St Elizabeth’s Cottage Homes is a Trust, a registered charity with the Charity Commission and is registered with the Homes and Communities Agency as a social housing provider. The housing Trust is a public benefit entity. The nature of the Trust’s operations and principal activities are the provision of social housing.
2) Accounting policies
Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable law and UK accounting standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) which for Pearson’s and St Elizabeth’s Cottage Homes includes the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008, FRS 102 “the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland”, the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) for Registered Social Housing Providers 2018, the Accounting Direction for Private Registered Providers of Social Housing 2022.
The accounts are prepared under the historic cost basis, modified to include certain items at fair value.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the Registered Provider, and are rounded to the nearest £1.
The preparation of financial statements in compliance with FRS 102 requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates (note 3). It also requires the Trust’s management to exercise judgement in applying the Trust’s accounting policies.
The following principal accounting policies have been applied:
Going concern
The Trustee, after reviewing the Trust’s budget for 2025-26 and considering other expected future activities of the Trust, has a reasonable expectation that the Trust has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, being a period of at least twelve months after the date on which the audit report is signed. The Trustee has concluded that there is no material uncertainty in relation the appropriateness of continuing to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and accounts.
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Notes to the financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
2) Accounting policies (continued)
Income
Income is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable. The Trust generates the following material income streams:
-
Rental income receivable (after deducting lost rent from void properties available for letting)
-
Service charges receivable
Tangible fixed assets – Housing properties
Housing properties are properties held for the provision of social housing or to otherwise provide social benefit. Housing properties are stated at cost less depreciation.
The cost of housing land and property includes the cost of acquiring land and buildings, development costs, interest capitalised during the development period, directly attributable administration costs and expenditure incurred in respect of improvements which comprise the modernisation and extension of existing properties.
Expenditure on major refurbishment to properties is capitalised where the works increase the net rental stream over the life of the property. An increase in the net rental stream may arise through an increase in the net rental income, a reduction in future maintenance costs, or a subsequent extension in the life of the property. All other repair and replacement expenditure is charged to the statement of comprehensive income.
Depreciation of housing properties
Housing land and property is split between land, structure and other major components that are expected to require replacement over time with substantially different economic lives.
Land is not depreciated on account of its indefinite useful economic life.
Housing properties are split between the structure and the major components which require periodic replacement. The costs of replacement or restoration of these components are capitalised and depreciated over the determined average useful economic life on a straight line basis as follows:
| Land | not depreciated | Roof - pitched | 60 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 100 years | Roof - flat | 30 years |
| Windows | 30 years | Boiler | 15 years |
| Kitchen | 30 years | Lift | 25 years |
| Bathroom | 30 years | Electrics | 40 years |
| Heating | 30 years | Doors | 30 years |
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Notes to the financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
2) Accounting policies (continued) Tangible fixed assets – other
Other tangible fixed assets are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation which is calculated on a straight-line basis over 20 years.
Listed investments
Listed investments are shown at market value. Any realised or unrealised surplus or deficit is recognised in the statement of income and reserves.
Government grants
The grant received in relation to newly acquired or existing housing properties is accounted for using the accrual model set out in FRS 102 and the Housing SORP 2018. The grant is carried as deferred income in the statement of financial position and released to the statement of comprehensive income on a systematic basis over the useful economic lives of the asset for which it was received. The useful economic life of the housing property structure has been selected in accordance with the Housing SORP 2022.
Debtors and creditors
Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year qualify as basic financial instruments and are recorded initially at transaction price less attributable transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition they are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method, less any impairment losses. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in the income statement in other operating expenses.
Creditors are recognised when there is a present obligation resulting from a past event that will result in the transfer of funds to a third party as the amount due to settle can be measured reliably.
Recoverable amount of rental and other trade receivables
The Trust estimates the recoverable value of rental and other receivables and impairs the debtor by appropriate amounts.
Rent and service charge agreements
The Trust has made arrangements with individuals and households for arrears payments of rent and service charges. These arrangements are effectively loans granted at nil interest rate.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 09B38B66-04E3-4FBF-B67F-565937D03FC1
Pearson’s and St Elizabeth’s Cottage Homes Financial statements 2025
Notes to the financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
2) Accounting policies (continued)
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents in the Trust’s statement of financial position consists of cash at bank, in hand, deposits and short term investments with an original maturity of three months or less.
Apportionment of management expenses
The income and expenditure account has been charged with a sum of management expenses based on the time spent by Worthing Homes Limited staff on the Trust’s activities. A separate allocation relating to maintenance supervision and overheads has also been made on the same basis.
Cash flow statement
The Trust has taken advantage of the exemption for a cash flow statement as permitted by section 3.10 of SORP 2018.
Reserves
The revenue reserve reflects the historic realised surpluses of the Trust as well as the unrealised surpluses and deficits of the investments. The reserves will be utilised to further the aims of the Trust with Trustee approval.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 09B38B66-04E3-4FBF-B67F-565937D03FC1
Pearson’s and St Elizabeth’s Cottage Homes Financial statements 2025
Notes to the financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
3) Judgements in applying accounting policies and key sources of estimation uncertainty
In preparing these financial statements, the key judgements have been made in respect of the following:
Useful lives of depreciable assets
Management reviews its estimate of the useful lives of depreciable assets at each reporting date based on the expected utility of the assets. Uncertainties in these estimates relate to changes to decent homes standards which may require more frequent replacement of key components. Accumulated depreciation at 31 March 2025 was £664,497 (2024 - £603,337).
Impairment
Annually housing properties are assessed for impairment indicators. Where indicators are identified an assessment for impairment is undertaken comparing the housing property’s carrying amount to its recoverable amount. Where the carrying amount of a scheme is deemed to exceed its recoverable amount, the housing property is written down to its recoverable amount. The resulting impairment loss is recognised as operating expenditure. Where a housing property is currently deemed not to be providing service potential to the association, its recoverable amount is its fair value less costs to sell.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 09B38B66-04E3-4FBF-B67F-565937D03FC1
Pearson’s and St Elizabeth’s Cottage Homes Financial statements 2025
Notes to the financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
4) Income and expenditure from social housing lettings
| Income from social housing lettings Maintenance contributions from licensees net of identifiable service charges Service charge income Amortised government grants Turnover from social housing lettings Expenditure on letting activities Management Service charge costs Responsive maintenance Planned maintenance Bad debts Depreciation of housing properties Depreciation of other fixed assets Operating expenditure on social housing lettings Loss on disposal of fixed assets Operating surplus on social housing lettings Void losses 5) Units of housing stock |
2024 £ 392,475 107,833 2,814 503,122 88,690 116,134 73,832 38,845 309 66,597 12,888 397,295 (4,130) 101,697 (3,268) |
2024 £ 366,275 108,429 2,814 477,518 90,947 90,451 45,243 13,107 2,621 60,611 12,888 315,868 (164) 161,486 (3,687) |
|---|---|---|
| Homes owned but managed by other landlords General needs housing Housing for older people Total |
2025 Number 10 64 74 |
2024 Number 10 64 |
|---|---|---|
| 74 |
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Docusign Envelope ID: 09B38B66-04E3-4FBF-B67F-565937D03FC1
Pearson’s and St Elizabeth’s Cottage Homes Financial statements 2025
Notes to the financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2024
6) Operating surplus
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Operating surplus is stated after charging: | ||
| Fees payable to the auditors for the audit of | 11,120 | 12,765 |
| the financial statements |
7) Employee information
The Trust has no employees. Time spent by Worthing Homes Limited’s employees on the Trust’s activities are recharged in accordance with the accounting policy.
8) Key management personnel
Worthing Homes Limited is the sole Trustee of Pearson’s and St Elizabeth’s Cottage Homes. The key management personnel are the board members and executive directors of Worthing Homes Limited.
No key management personnel received any emoluments or expenses from Pearson’s and St Elizabeth’s Cottage Homes during the year (2024 – nil). Remuneration was paid by Worthing Homes Limited and is disclosed in those financial statements.
9) Interest receivable
| Investment interest Interest Receivable and similar income Total |
2025 £ 2024 £ 6,712 3,107 1,626 1,593 |
|---|---|
| 8,338 4,700 |
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Docusign Envelope ID: 09B38B66-04E3-4FBF-B67F-565937D03FC1
Pearson’s and St Elizabeth’s Cottage Homes Financial statements 2025
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
10) Tangible fixed assets – housing properties
| Cost At 1 April 2024 Additions: - Replaced components - Assets under construction - Disposals At 31 March 2025 Depreciation At 1 April 2024 Charge for the year Disposals – Replaced components At 31 March 2025 Net book value At 31 March 2025 At 31 March 2024 The housing properties are freehold. Works to properties Improvements to existing properties capitalised Major repairs expenditure to income and expenditure account Total cost of major repairs and improvements works to existing properties |
Social housing properties held for letting £ 2,968,838 292,867 (9,565) 3,252,140 603,337 66,596 (5,436) 664,497 2,587,643 2,365,501 2025 £ 2024 £ 292,867 176,749 11,627 13,107 304,494 189,856 |
|---|---|
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Docusign Envelope ID: 09B38B66-04E3-4FBF-B67F-565937D03FC1
Pearson’s and St Elizabeth’s Cottage Homes Financial statements 2025
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
10) Tangible fixed assets – housing properties (continued)
Total social housing grant
| Total accumulated social housing grant received or receivable at 31 March: Recognised in the statement of comprehensive income Held as deferred income 11) Tangible fixed assets – other Cost At 1 April 2024 At 31 March 2025 Depreciation At 1 April 2024 Charge for the year At 31 March 2025 Net book value At 31 March 2025 At 31 March 2024 |
2025 £ 2,814 208,077 210,891 |
2024 £ 2,814 210,891 213,705 Equipment £ 272,605 272,605 71,008 12,888 83,896 188,709 201,598 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
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Docusign Envelope ID: 09B38B66-04E3-4FBF-B67F-565937D03FC1
Pearson’s and St Elizabeth’s Cottage Homes Financial statements 2025
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
12) Investments
| 2025 £ As at 1 April 420,799 Additions 77,116 Disposals (76,002) Unrealised (deficit) / surplus (17,503) Realised (deficit) / surplus 6,802 As at 31 March 411,212 Details Brookes MacDonald Portfolio 411,212 Listed Investments (Fixed Assets) 411,212 The Brookes MacDonald portfolio mainly consists of UK and overseas Cost at 31 March 400,000 Market value at 31 March 411,212 13) Debtors 2025 £ Due within one year Rent and service charges receivable 12,951 Less: provision for doubtful debts (1,925) 11,026 |
2024 £ 402,565 418,115 (423,812) 18,967 4,964 420,799 420,799 420,799 bonds and equities. 392,922 420,799 2024 £ 8,976 (3,299) 5,677 |
|---|---|
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Docusign Envelope ID: 09B38B66-04E3-4FBF-B67F-565937D03FC1
Pearson’s and St Elizabeth’s Cottage Homes Financial statements 2025
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
| 14) Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Licensees maintenance contributions, support charges and amenity charges received in advance Other creditors Deferred capital grant 15) Deferred capital grant At 1 April Released to income in the year At 31 March Amounts to be released within one year Amounts to be released in more than one year |
2025 £ 4,808 75,683 2,813 83,304 2025 £ 210,891 (2,814) 208,077 2,813 205,265 208,077 |
2024 £ 6,981 114,906 2,814 124,700 2024 £ 213,705 (2,814) 210,891 2,814 208,077 210,891 |
|---|---|---|
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Docusign Envelope ID: 09B38B66-04E3-4FBF-B67F-565937D03FC1
Pearson’s and St Elizabeth’s Cottage Homes Financial statements 2025
Notes to the financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
16) Related party transactions
The Trust had the following related party transactions in the year:
During the course of its business, Worthing Homes has collected maintenance contribution income on behalf of Pearson’s and St Elizabeth’s Cottage Homes and forwarded such monies to them, Where expenditure is invoiced to Worthing Homes Limited and the Trust jointly, the element relating to the Trust is recharged. Worthing Homes Limited is the sole Trustee. The outstanding net balance at 31 March 2025 was a £300 debtor balance (2024: £19,600 creditor balance). This balance comprises £52,200 receivable in respect of maintenance contribution income collected by Worthing Homes (2024: £21,600), and £51,900 payable in respect of recharged costs (2024: £41,200).
The Trust incurred management charges of £56,600 (2024: £53,900), Caretaking £20,800 (2024: £21,900), recharged service and support costs of £15,300 (2024: £31,500), and gardening costs of £10,100 (2024: £12,200) from Worthing Homes Limited during the year.
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