St Mungo's Opening doors for homeless people

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a will?

We suggest that you choose a solicitor to write your will. If you don't know any solicitors, we recommend contacting The Law Society, 0870 606 2555.

How much does it cost to make a will?

Solicitors' fees for will writing vary from firm to firm and also according to the complexity of the will.

As a rough guide it could cost around £100 plus VAT for a straightforward single will and £160 plus VAT for a straightforward double will. Comparative costs can be obtained easily by phoning a few solicitors in your area.

Why should I leave a gift to St Mungo's in my will?

The plight of homeless people is always shocking in this day and age. If St Mungo's was not on hand to help, many homeless people would die as they had lived - alone and depressed on the streets. Living rough takes an enormous toll on the mental and physical health of those who endure it, and the longer someone sleeps rough, the harder it is for them to recover. So, it is important that we get to people sleeping rough quickly, get them into a shelter or hostel and begin to work with them to get their lives back on track.

What are the different types of legacy?

A residuary gift is the share of your estate left over once your family and friends has been taken care of. This type of gift is easy to add to an existing will without interfering with any specific sums you may have left to your family or friends. It also has the advantage that it will not be eroded in value by inflation over the years.

A pecuniary gift is a specified amount of money or monies-worth (i.e. shares) left to St Mungo's. With this type of gift it is important to remember that the value of money changes over the years, and you may need to alter your will periodically to keep up with inflation. You may wish to link the gift to the Retail Price Index which will maintain its real value and prevent it from being eroded by inflation.

A reversionary gift allows you to leave your estate to your dependents while they are living, but after they pass away it will revert to St Mungo's.

A specific gift is a particular item left to St Mungo's, which can be sold to support our work. For example, it could be a house, car, piece of jewellery or an antique item.

In memory donations - you may like to specify that if anyone makes a donation in your memory, it should be to St Mungo's. We can send you a special form requesting this, which you can then keep with your will. Please contact us here to request the form.

Why do I need to make a will?

By making a will, you can ensure that your possessions are passed on to the people and charities that you have chosen. If you do not have a will, the state will decide how your assets should be distributed.

I have already made my will. Would I need to have a new will drawn up?

No. Your solicitor can add a codicil (link here to glossary of terms - codicil) to your will that lists all changes you wish to make to your original will.

How will a gift to St Mungo's affect my tax position?

Gifts to charities in your will are tax free. So if the value of your estate is more than the tax threshold it could reduce the Inheritance Tax. Your solicitor or accountant can tell you more.

If I decide to leave a gift to St Mungo's, should I tell you?

We would like you to know if you intend to leave a gift to us in your will as this helps us to plan for the future. But of course this is up to you.

If you have remembered, or intend to remember, St Mungo's in your will, thank you. Knowing that we can expect a gift from you enables us to commit to providing lasting support to homeless and vulnerable men and women in London well into the future.

You can complete and submit the online pledge form . It is also downloadable as an MS Word document if you'd prefer to print it out.

This places you under no obligation and is not binding in any way. Any information supplied will of course be treated confidentially.

Can St Mungo's act as executor of my will?

No. Unfortunately we do not have the capacity or staff available to offer this service.

I'd like to leave a gift to St Mungo's in my will, what information do I need?

Your solicitor can advise you on the correct wording. However, it helps if you can include our full name of St Mungo's Housing Association, and our registered office address of Griffin House, 161 Hammersmith Road, London, W6 8BS. St Mungo's is a charity exempt from registration but you can quote the following numbers: I&P Society No. 20598R and Housing Association No. LH0279.

What should I do if I have any other questions?

Contact Claire Creighton on 020 8762 5677 or legacies@mungos.org