The United Reformed Church Retired Ministers’ Housing Society (RMHS) looks after retired or former United Reformed Church (URC) ministers or their widowed partners who, due to age, ill health, disability or financial hardship, are in need of housing or housing assistance.
Our purpose
To offer care and security to eligible persons through housing provision.
Our values
We aim to offer those using our services support which is
- professional;
- timely;
- equitable; and
- suited to people’s changing needs;
while also demonstrating openness, Christian compassion, care and, as far as is feasible, respect for individual requirements.
We purchase houses, manage and maintain them and then sell them once the minister and surviving spouse have passed away or have left the property (moved into residential care etc).
We currently own and manage around 261 properties across England, Wales and Scotland.
The RMHS was established in 1979 by the URC General Assembly. In its previous form, the Society had been registered as the Retired Presbyterian Ministers Housing Society Ltd under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965.
In August 2014, this Act was repealed and replaced by the Cooperative & Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. The RMHS has become a Community Benefit Society (No 15986R), regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Its Registered Office is Church House, 86 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9RT.
The Objects of the Society are for the benefit of the community to advance the Christian religion in accordance with the doctrines, principles and the Scheme of the Union of the URC, in particular (but not limited to) by providing to any retired or former Minister of the URC (or a widow/widower/same-sex spouse/civil partner of any retired or former Minister) who is in need by reason of age, ill-health, disability or financial hardship:
- housing and associated amenities
- assistance to enable such individuals to provide housing and associated amenities for themselves
These are consistent with the URC General Assembly’s declaration in 1979 to provide housing for retired ministers and/or widows/widowers/spouses/partners of any retired or former minister of the URC who is in need by reason of age, ill-health, disability or financial hardship.
The RMHS aims to provide suitable housing for long-term occupation for retired ministers. It owns and manages around 261 properties across England, Wales and Scotland.
