Frequently Asked Questions
Retirement Living is about independence, freedom and community.
At this time in your life, you may be considering a Lifestyle change, you maybe wanting to simplify your life by reducing the workload around home, it maybe the security of living in a community that you are looking for, or the ability to lock up and leave and travel without the worries of who will look after your home.
Whatever the reason there is no shortage of available high standard living choices throughout Western Australia, many of which can be found right here on our website.
This publication answers some commonly asked questions about the 3 key periods for residents and their families when considering entering a retirement village, Looking, Living and Leaving.
Retirement Villages and Over 55s Villas
Most people who move into a retirement village live in independent units. These villages can be structured a few different ways, licence, long term lease ‘lease for life’, strata title and company share. Retirement villages are regulated by the Retirement Villages Act 1992 (the Act) and the Current Code of Practice for Retirement Villages.
Developments for over 55s are different from retirement villages, they are usually smaller strata titled villa developments with age restrictions, operating under the Strata Titles Act 1985.
Lifestyle Villages for Over 45s
Lifestyle communities generally offer units for sale to people over 45, The Act does not apply to these communities even though the average age of residents is over 55.
Many retired people chose to live permanently in a caravan or park home in a residential park. The Residential Parks (Long-Stay Tenants) Act 2006 aims to provide greater contractual certainty to park residents however this is not specific to over 55s and is not covered by the Act.
Whatever your choice
Our best advice is not to leave it too long to make the move. Give yourself time to enjoy your new lifestyle, establish new friendships and make use of what your new home and community has to offer.
We Recommend Using Seniors Own to Sell Your Home
If your retirement villa purchase depends on the sale of your current home, choosing the right selling agent can be just as important as choosing the right villa.
At Seniors Own Real Estate, we specialise in coordinating both sides of the transition. Because we understand the requirements, timelines and expectations of retirement village transactions, we are often able to facilitate a smoother pathway from your current home into your new villa.
Greater Confidence for All Parties
When the sale of your home and the purchase of your villa are being coordinated by the same specialist team:
- Communication is streamlined
- Progress can be monitored closely
- Potential issues are identified earlier
- Timeframes can be managed more effectively
- All parties have greater confidence that the transaction is progressing as planned
Protecting Your Chosen Villa
Many retirement village purchases are dependent on the successful sale of the buyer's existing home. Delays, poor communication or unrealistic pricing strategies can place additional pressure on these transactions.
By appointing Seniors Own Real Estate, you benefit from a team whose focus is not simply selling a house, but successfully completing your entire move into retirement living.
A Team Invested in Your Success
Unlike a traditional selling agent whose involvement ends when your home is sold, our objective is to help you successfully transition into your chosen retirement villa. Every step of the process is managed with that outcome in mind.
If your retirement villa purchase depends on selling your current home, we strongly recommend discussing your sale with Seniors Own Real Estate before appointing another agent.