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Retirement villages

To join a retirement village, you should be over 55 years of age or have retired from full-time employment.

Retirement villages may suit a variety of people, but it’s worth knowing that they’re not a simple, unified product. You’ll find that they operate under a wide range of legal structures, often with fees that are difficult to understand (including a payment when you vacate the premises).

It can be hard to compare retirement villages, but the Seniors Portal may be able to help out. You’ll find information on what retirement villages are, what they offer, and their various different legal structures, as well as some helpful tips to choose one that suits. You’ll also find links to useful websites which have directories of retirement villages across the country, as well as a fee calculator to help you estimate costs.

Downsizing is another option for you, which you can also find out about on the Seniors Portal. Moving into a townhouse or another type of smaller housing option would reduce the amount of time that you would need to spend on the up-keep of the house and garden, leaving you more time to enjoy leisure activities.

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This page was last updated on: 02 August 2006