Retirement complexes

fishergelic

I have been doing a lot of research into retirement flats lately. Visited a nice one today, with a lot of younger residents. I have learnt that service charges are high, and you get different things for your money. Some include water, laundry, window cleaning as well as services of a manager. One development had just had to contribute £1500 towards replacement windows even though they were paying a service charge. So good to check all that out. They all seem to have a different feel, so it is a case of knowing what you do/don't want. Good luck!

Swanlander

Thats a good point - I never thought about having to pay for things like replacement windows.
On the subject of deaf neighbours playing loud TVs - surely there are limits that the warden controls.
I must admit I like the thought of the security and safety these complexes offer.

missile

There are pros and cons no matter where you buy.

Before an important purchase, I find it best to write down and try to prioritise my requirements. .................................................




Then I tear it up and buy with my heart rather than my head.

Savvy_Sue

missile wrote: »

Each to their own, but what is the issue with golden oldies next door?

I would prefer that to living next door to a family with 2.4 screaming kids, students having wild parties every weekend or a dope dealer with a rottweiler.

You can't be sure that everyone in such a complex will be 'nice'. You also have to remember that some of your neighbours will start to suffer from dementia, and it won't necessarily be easy to manage in a flat with a (probably non-residential) warden.

Swanlander wrote: »

On the subject of deaf neighbours playing loud TVs - surely there are limits that the warden controls.

Again, it's not always so simple: the warden asks the resident to keep the noise down, the resident complies for 5 minutes and then turns it up again ... the resident doesn't agree that the TV is very loud ... the resident refuses to answer the door when the warden calls to ask them to turn the TV down ...

Swanlander wrote: »

I must admit I like the thought of the security and safety these complexes offer.

You do still have to check out the location and environment, especially with flats on the ground floor.

namecheck

Also - you would (as a "young" male) be very in demand with the majority of (female) residents... Although you would be able to retain your anonymity more easily if it was a very large development with several lifts and staircases.

Savvy_Sue

namecheck wrote: »

Also - you would (as a "young" male) be very in demand with the majority of (female) residents... Although you would be able to retain your anonymity more easily if it was a very large development with several lifts and staircases.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: not a point I would have thought of!!!

Mojisola

namecheck wrote: »

Also - you would (as a "young" male) be very in demand with the majority of (female) residents... Although you would be able to retain your anonymity more easily if it was a very large development with several lifts and staircases.

This can be a problem. A neighbour's father - a fit and attractive chap - used to come down and stay with her for a week every so often. Apart from wanting to visit his relatives, he also needed a regular break from the constant attention he got from a lot of the ladies where he lived. At first thought, it might seem a nice thing but it really got on his nerves because he couldn't go out without being pounced on by several ladies, vying for his attention!

Swanlander

Well I do have a partner - we just don't live together so I am taken! The complex I am looking at has a live in warden and I would never choose ground floor.
Thanks for all comments - two years to decide really but I am really in favour of a complex flat I think. I like the security of knowing there is someone there (warden) if you fall ill in the night and so on.

seven-day-weekend

Swanlander wrote: »

I would like to retire at 60 in 2 years time. The only way it is feasible is to take my 42 years employers pension and supplement this by selling my house and using the surplus to live on after buying a flat in something like a McArthur Stone complex.
I have no interest in my garden since my wife died and so would not miss that. Friends say at 60 (and I will be a young 60) I would be too young and be surrounded by lots of 75+ people.
I have seen a flat a relative took and I like them.
Any thoughts?

I agree. it will make you old before your time and will be depressing. Why not buy a flat in a mixed development? This is what we will do when we are ready. (However we are not ready ar nearly 63 and nearly 64).

Swanlander

Yes a possiblity - I have found a development for the over 55s and that has an alarm system. The problem is although the service charge is less than a complex the cost of the flats is much higher and I would have to perhaps defer retirement to 62. Also they do not come uo for sale much ( a good sign of course that they are safe and popular.