Retirement Living & Lifestyle Resorts
Retirement is a period of life when the focus should shift to enjoyment and quality of life. For many older people, this shift involves moving into retirement living where some of the everyday worries of life are taken over by a third party. One of the major attractions of these communities is that there is a communal focus, with assistance on hand. Retirement living comes in many different configurations including single or multi-storey retirement villages, manufactured home parks and age-restricted resort complexes.
Retirement Villages
Most Retirement villages provide opportunities for social engagement and recreational facilities. You can immerse yourself in the activities or not participate at all – the choice is yours. The focus is on the ability to live independently however you are usually permitted to access in-home care and support. Some villages and lifestyle resorts offer personal care and assistance on ‘a user pays’ basis. The documents that you sign when entering the Retirement Village or Lifestyle Resort will detail the rules and obligations regarding:
- Entry to the Village or lifestyle resort;
- Living in the Village or lifestyle resort;
- Exiting the Village or lifestyle resort.
On the Sunshine Coast, the most common structure is to enter into a longterm lease. Some Villages offer licences and in others, you purchase the freehold. There are many different structures and options. A common option is to:
- pay an amount to go in;
- pay regular fees known as general service charges while living there; and
- receive some money back (less an exit fee) when you leave – depending on the chosen option you may even share in the capital gain.
There is a lot to consider. Our experienced solicitors are familiar with the Villages on the greater Sunshine Coast and can:
- help you gain a good understanding of the documents and the practical considerations when entering the retirement village or lifestyle resort – including the disclosure time limits
- answer queries you may have regarding your rights and obligations while living in the retirement village or lifestyle resort
- advise you or your family when exiting the retirement village or lifestyle resort to ensure entitlements are received .
Manufactured Home Parks
Manufactured Home parks have changed a lot over the years. It is common for the homes in these parks to be similar to homes that you may find in the general community with the advantage of communal recreation facilities.
A manufactured home park is often designed to appeal to (and may be restricted to) the over-50s age group. As a home-owner in a manufactured home park, you own the home but do not own the land on which the home rests (known as the site).
When entering a manufactured home park, you will generally:
- enter into a contract to purchase the home from the previous owner
- enter into an agreement with the Park Owner in regard to the Site and use of communal facilities.
There are usually no exit fees.
We have assisted clients to move into or out of most of the manufacture home parks on the greater Sunshine Coast and have a good understanding of the documents and practical consideration to help you make an informed decision. We can:
- help you gain a good understanding of the documents and the practical considerations when entering the manufactured home park – including the disclosure time limits
- answer queries you may have regarding your rights and obligations while living in the manufactured home park
- advise you or your family when exiting the manufactured home park.
Whether it is Retirement Villages, Lifestyle Resorts or Manufactured Home Parks, we will help you understand your legal rights and obligations so you can make an informed decision.