Retirement flats

youth_leader

My 83 year old aunt on the Isle of Wight has expressed an interest in moving to a local retirement apartment block.  She is currently living in a one bedroom ground floor flat in a house conversion, she has the front garden.  There doesn't seem to be a website for this retirement block, the flats are sold through local estate agents.  I phoned the estate agent on her behalf as there's a flat for sale there, and  the maintenance charge/ground rent  are within her budget.  Unfortunately it is not possible to view or find out about the 'laundry room, warden' etc without being a proceedable buyer.  I have encouraged my aunt to invite three estate agents round for a no obligation valuation.

I have no knowledge of retirement homes, does anyone know what I should look out for? The length of the lease? Service charges? Should they be a member of any particular organisation? 

hazyjo

Couple of other points. They're usually hard to sell and you often lose money (although that's often more of a problem for others having to sell later on).

There are also many restrictions such as not allowing anyone to stay over etc.

bouicca21

Various friends have had very different experiences with this kind of housing for elderly relatives.  Some are hard to sell. Some have people queuing up for them  - these are the ones that are well located with good public transport connections and local shops. Service charges are high, though that does reflect the quality of services provided. One friend was stuck with one for a year after her mother died and had to pay the full service charge for that whole period.  On the plus side the instant social circle was appreciated by all.

eddddy

Ask about 'Event Fees' in the lease - for example, a fee that's payable when you sell. (It's not necessarily a bad thing - it might be a way of keeping service charges down.)

Also, check what's included in the service charge. With retirement properties, a lot of things might be included in the service charge which wouldn't be included in other properties. For example:

• Emergency cord pulls - which connect to 24/7 monitoring centres
• Warden visits
• Maintenance and repairs inside the flat - e.g. plumbing, heating, electrics
• Maybe communal facilities - like laundry room, lounge etc

You might be able to find out that kind of stuff from the operating companies website. But expect the service charges to be high, because of all the above.

Also, google the operating company - some are OK, but others have very poor reputations.

Finally, make sure that the asking price is sensible. Some people massively overpay, then find they eventually have to re-sell at a loss.

youth_leader

Thanks for your replies, I've noted your points.  I wish she would stay where she was as it's much nicer than these boxy apartments, but she is obviously not coping.  Unbeknown to me until today, her lovely neighbour has not only been doing my aunt's food shopping during lockdown, but also her washing as my aunt's washing machine is on the blink - news to me.   She has her own elderly parents to look after as well, and two jobs. Once my sale has completed I'll do a proper study, she does have to sell her property first.  There isn't a website, fb page or any reviews of this particular retirement block on line.  The flat up for sale as an example of the accommodation is in my personal opinion pretty grim, second floor, kitchen is just like a cupboard without windows.  Assume the others aren't much better as the service charge is low, £322 per quarter, ground rent £25 per quarter.  My aunt doesn't have any children and I am too far away to be of any practical help.  She does have lots of friends but most are of a similar age and struggling too, I think the warden being on hand is a big draw.  @bouicca21 I've never asked her about her will and don't know who the executor is, I do share LPOA with her neighbour, but that ends on her death.   I need to ask her more questions!

hazyjo

Is there any reason this one's been chosen? From what you've said, she doesn't sound the type to be searching rightmove and viewing. Does she know someone there? Perhaps you could do a bit of research and find a nicer one to tempt her? I really doubt any will be allowing viewings (for anyone) if in lockdown.

youth_leader

I think she might have had a friend that lived there in the past .. she also wants to stay very local to where she is because she knows the people at the church, library,  shops etc.  She has actually told a porky pie already about one block I suggested, she said there wasn't a bus - I've just checked and there is.  The estate agent said she definitely could not view until she had an offer on her flat, so I have time to tempt!

eddddy

youth_leader said:

...but she is obviously not coping.  

You need to bear in mind that 'standard' retirement developments don't offer 'care' or assistance with day-to-day tasks - like cooking, cleaning, changing sheets, washing, helping people get out of the bath, paying phone bills, etc.

For that sort of thing, you might want to get carers and/or cleaners visiting. And they could equally visit your aunt's current home, instead of a retirement flat.

Typically, the retirement flat operators will want a meeting with your aunt before she buys. I don't think they can refuse to let your aunt buy - because they're not allowed to discriminate based on age, infirmity, disability etc - but they might strongly advise that carers must visit.

youth_leader

Thank you eddddy.  I'm 63 and don't know when I'll have my vaccinations but plan on going down to see her as soon as I can, she's had her first one.  I think once she sees this beehive cell she won't want to go there, I agree I think she'd be happier sitting outside on her bench in the sunshine at her current place with the support of carers she can rely on.  She has difficulty accepting her age and won't use the walker she bought herself as it makes her 'feel' old - but has fallen with just one stick.  My Mum used to boss her around, I have to be very careful.  

elsien

You might also want to check the criteria for what the complex is willing and able to cope with, in terms of progressive health needs, both mental and physical.

Some of them come with the care tied in so you can’t access your own carers from elsewhere. And once you reach a particular level of need (particularly if dementia related) they are quite keen to get people out. Just something to consider with regards to future proofing. 

AnotherJoe

eddddy said:

youth_leader said:

...but she is obviously not coping.  

You need to bear in mind that 'standard' retirement developments don't offer 'care' or assistance with day-to-day tasks - like cooking, cleaning, changing sheets, washing, helping people get out of the bath, paying phone bills, etc.

For that sort of thing, you might want to get carers and/or cleaners visiting. And they could equally visit your aunt's current home, instead of a retirement flat.

Typically, the retirement flat operators will want a meeting with your aunt before she buys. I don't think they can refuse to let your aunt buy - because they're not allowed to discriminate based on age, infirmity, disability etc - but they might strongly advise that carers must visit.

I was going to wrote exactly that, this doesn't sound like the right place for OPs mum, if she is starting to need care then spend the money on carers or going into a care home. These retirement flats, in general dont offers those sort of services and the warden is mostly there for emergencies but bot to act as a carer or shopper etc.

OP if your mother isnt able to arrange something simple  like getting a washing machine fixed it sounds like she does need some sort of care provided and thye flat you mention obviously isn't geared up for that.

The retirement complex my mum lived in had a woman move in with mild dementia and she had to move out after a few months, she was unable to cope and the complex itself didnt provide those kind of services. I think the relatives were in denial about her condition and needs and didnt understand what services were provided, which were very limited, basically a warden to help with calling emergency services and to be fair organise getting things fixed, but payment was down to the individual it wasnt part of the service and at the price you mentioned it wont be for that flat either.