The Charity Commission has put in place restrictions on the finances of a housing charity for vulnerable adults that it is investigating.

The regulator has revealed it has put in place the restrictions on Cumbria Community Homes’ transactions and ability to dispose of property without prior consent as it escalates it investigation from a compliance case to a statutory inquiry.

The compliance case had launched in December 2024 amid concerns around the charity’s management and administration.

As a result of further concerns it has taken the latest action against the charity, which registered with the Commission seven years ago.

“The Commission’s engagement with the charity has highlighted regulatory concerns including the absence of a functioning trustee board and late filing of financial information,” said the regulator.

“As a result, the Commission has now escalated its engagement to a statutory inquiry.”

Being looked at are the lack of trustees, whether funds can be accounted for and any potential concerns around conflicts of interest and connected party transactions.

According to the Charities Register Cumbria Community Homes was more than three months late submitting its latest accounts for the 12 months to June 2025.

This showed that it had an income of £4m, spent £3.8m and is overseen by only one trustee, listed on the Register as Emma Jane Stones.

Its spending has outstripped its income twice in the last five years, the Register shows.

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