Strange question!! Sorry!

ilovecheese

We are in a rented flat at the moment, and might be in a position to buy 12-18 months time. At that time my hubby will be 50 and I will be 37, we have been talking about the possibility of buying a retirement flat, as they seem to be much cheaper than normal flats, a plus point being our neighbours will be quiet! Does anyone know if both halves of a marriage need to be over 50 to buy one? Any plus or negative points anyone can think off?

Thanks very much

lostinrates

A friend of my mothers lived for some years with her much older husband in a retirement development. I imagine the rules might vary according to the development, but it would raise the question of agism now the law has changed over that wouldn't it?

AMILLIONDOLLARS

I don't think he'll be old enough!! I think you have to be 60+ to qualify (could be wrong )if so, could some one steer me in the right direction:D

AMD

Just found this on a website Churchillretirement site

"The Apartment Owner or at least one of the people living in the Apartment must be aged over 60 with the partner being 55+. However, local councils are usually very flexible when it comes to considering those with disabilities".

http://churchillretirement.co.uk/questions.php

chickmug

ilovecheese wrote: »

We are in a rented flat at the moment, and might be in a position to buy 12-18 months time. At that time my hubby will be 50 and I will be 37, we have been talking about the possibility of buying a retirement flat, as they seem to be much cheaper than normal flats, a plus point being our neighbours will be quiet! Does anyone know if both halves of a marriage need to be over 50 to buy one? Any plus or negative points anyone can think off?

Thanks very much

The usual age is 60 with an odd one being 55 for one half of a couple but with the other half sometimes able to be younger. However younger is still over 55 for either.

I know of a man who lost his wife and went into one of these at 55 as he felt his life was over. Big mistake for him as he realised the others in the scheme were mainly widows, with one widower and one couple out of about 30 flats with an average age of mid 70's

Elsewhere

Negative point re noise - We looked into a retirement flat for my inlaws, however my MIL is very deaf and even with her hearing aid has to have the telly up very loud. We were advised that the flats in the block we were interested in were not well insulated against sound, and that deaf residents had unwittingly been a nuisance to their neighbours in the past.

chickmug

Just thought of one other very negative point. Those that manage these schemes even where people have bought, often treat the occupants as tenants.

joshiesaunt

hi
I manage a retirement home (not a residential unit and therefore not staffed 24 hours) and I think it would be difficult for you to be eligible at 37 years old even as part of a couple where the partner is older. Normally 55 plus is an acceptable 'start' age unless you are buying in a difficult to sell block. Also we have quite a few problems with noise, particularly with deaf/hearing impaired people as neighbours (loud tv, conversations etc). The flats are usually fairly flimsily constructed and you will be able to hear your neighbours and they you. You will hear doors banging at night as people come and go etc. We also have several alcoholics, dementia and all of the other ailments that ageing people get even though they may have been very independant and healthy when they first moved in - you will be sharing communal areas with these people ie. probably entering through a main front door to get to your flat - you would have to ask yourself how you would feel about living amongst the very varied scenarios you would find as you enter your home (we occasionally have 'naked wanderers') and what it would be like for your friends to visit you. Also, it can be a very 'stifling' environment, particularly for couples. People tend to know your business and it is hard to keep things private. Service charges can be high as you will need to pay towards maintenance and service manager costs each year and these flats do not appreciate much in value hence the 'cheap' buying costs you mention. There are quite a lot of 'rules and regulations'.
On the plus side these blocks are usually near to shops/transport and can feel secure because of the prescence of the on site manager. You can also join in with the social side of things (although 'bingo' may not be your thing!)
Personally I would look for a self contained flat in a 'quiet' area without all of the restrictions of being in a 'retirement' complex. hope this helps

lincroft1710

At 37, would you really want to be in a complex with most of your neighbours 70 plus? I'm older than your husband and although quite a few of my neighbours are that age, there are more younger than me giving a good age spread.