Deciding on your retirement accommodation can be an incredibly emotional decision to make. Many retirees find themselves torn between wanting to retain their independence for as long as possible, while at the same time fearing how they will cope as age catches with up with them. For some, an upmarket retirement village with a wide range of facilities and activities ticks all the boxes, while for others the idea of living in an organised retirement village in close proximity with people they have never met is simply unthinkable. In this article, we explore life in a life right’s retirement village as opposed to retiring to your own home, and what financial planning considerations need to be accounted for.
Property title versus life right
If you purchase a unit in a life rights retirement village, you are effectively purchasing the right to use the unit for the remainder of your life or on the death of the last-dying spouse. This right is an inalienable one, with security of tenure forming the foundation of your life rights agreement. Life rights retirement villages are regulated by the Housing Development Schemes for Retirement Persons (HDSRP), and before purchasing a life rights unit, it is essential that you fully understand the terms of the agreement, specifically what happens in the event of your death and what percentage of the purchase price will be paid into your estate. Some contracts include a refund of your initial investment plus a percentage of the profits on resale, while others provide for the repayment of a percentage of the purchase price. Either way, purchasing a life rights unit means that you do not hold title in any property. In the event of your passing, the amount owing in respect of your life rights contract will be paid into your deceased estate and will be distributed amongst your heirs accordingly.
On the other hand, if you hold title to a property – whether freestanding or sectional title – that property will form part of your deceased estate in the event of your passing, and will be distributed to your heirs either in terms of a valid Will or in terms of the laws of intestate succession should you die without a Will. Remember, your heirs and beneficiaries are exempt from paying transfer duty on immoveable property inherited from your deceased estate.
Maintenance and upkeep
One of the potential drawbacks when it comes to owning property is the ongoing responsibility of maintenance and upkeep which, as you age, can become more difficult to physically attend to. In addition, as your property ages, it is reasonable to expect that the maintenance costs will increase, and these costs may be difficult to absorb when living off a fixed retirement income. As a result, many retirees favour the idea of a life rights complex where the onus passes onto the developer to maintain and upkeep the property.
Monthly costs
If you own your own freestanding property, it is likely that your bond will be settled in full by the time you retire which means that you won’t have monthly accommodation costs to account for, although you will need to budget for rates and taxes, ongoing maintenance costs, and other costs associated with home ownership such as building insurance and security. As an owner of a sectional title property, you will be responsible for monthly levies which are set annually by the body corporate. When it comes to life rights schemes, monthly levies and administration costs are generally lower, and developers are obliged by law to provide a two-year cost estimate in respect of levies. Reduced levies and greater levy transparency make it easier for members of a life rights scheme to plan financially for the future.
Meals
Many retirement villages provide a set number of conveniently cooked meals per month, which for many retirees is a major drawcard especially because the costs of these meals are included in the monthly levy so are easy to budget for. The complex’s bars and dining rooms are social areas where residents can enjoy fellowship and share meals together. That said, regular communal dining is not for everyone, and some can find the pre-set meal-times restrictive and annoying. While you are relatively fit and physically strong, grocery shopping and meal preparation will be easy, but may become more challenging as and when you lose physical mobility. However, significant improvements in the ease and accessibility of online grocery shopping and ready-made meal deliveries may have somewhat alleviated this problem for many.
Entertainment and socialising
Remaining socially engaged during your retirement years is critical, especially when it comes to looking after your mental health, keeping your mind stimulated, and maintaining a support system – which is why retirement villages are appealing to many retirees. Many retirement villages have organised systems of networking and fellowship which include bridge clubs, games evenings, book clubs, walking and other interest groups, which make it easy for residents to participate, meet people, and remain socially connected. Living independently, especially if you are single or widowed, can lead to loneliness, boredom and/or depression, and the onus will be on you to ensure that you remain connected with the outside world. Once again, this can be difficult to maintain if you lose physical mobility and/or are unable to drive. You will also need to build the costs of entertainment, clubs and hobbies into your budget, whereas in a retirement village many of these costs will be absorbed as part of your levies.
Security
Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to crime, and the tight security offered by upmarket retirement villages is a massive drawcard for many. Not only is private security at one’s home expensive, it’s also becoming increasingly hi-tech and digitally advanced – leaving many older people feeling unable to keep up with the technology required to operate their security systems. Most upmarket retirement villages protect the safety of their residents using a combination of 24-hour guards, access control gates, electric fencing, cameras, burglar bars and beams, as well as armed response. Independent living will mean budgeting for your ongoing security costs as well as for security enhancements and upgrades as technology changes or as system repairs are required.
Nursing and frail care
Retirement villages that provide onsite nursing, assisted living and frail care facilities are very sought after because they provide retirees with peace of mind that their future healthcare needs will be provided for without the need to uproot later on in retirement. If you choose to continue living in your own home post-retirement, you always carry the risk of illness or injury that requires you to have part- or full-time care, at which point you may be required to make major decisions regarding your future accommodation. While private home nursing is an option, it can come at a hefty price, depending on the level of nursing care required, with specialised nursing as is required in the case of dementia or a terminal illness being particularly expensive. If you’re planning to live independently in retirement, it is essential to budget for the future costs of home care in the event that you should require it. Alternatively, ensure that you put your name down timeously at a frail care facility so that, if necessary, you have this option available to you.
Pets
If you’re an animal lover, keep in mind that many retirement villages have strict ‘no pets allowed’ policies, while other villages allow small pets and service dogs only, so be sure to do your research in advance to avoid heartache. If you’re planning to transition from your own home into a retirement village at some point during retirement, you will need to time this move carefully to ensure that your pet can be accommodated and you are not left in a position where you need to re-home your pet.
Cleaning, gardening and maintenance
For those who don’t enjoy DIY and gardening, the lock-up-and-go aspect of retirement village living may be particularly attractive, especially as one grows older and less physically able. On the other hand, gardening and home DIY are great hobbies for the elderly to engage in and provide ways to keep active, busy and outdoors. Having your own home also means that you can entertain freely, have family and friends over to stay at any stage, and enjoy more privacy. However, with managing a larger property comes added responsibility such as paying domestic wages, contracting cleaning and gardening services, taking out refuse, paying municipal accounts, reporting faults, loading electricity and managing service providers such as fibre and DSTV. Any decline in your mental acuity as a result of aging can affect your ability to competently manage these affairs, and this must be taken into account in your retirement planning.
Forced sale
If your goal is to remain living in your own home throughout retirement, it is always advisable to have a contingency plan in the event that independent living becomes impossible. If you reach a stage where require full-time care but cannot afford private home nursing, you may be forced to consider entering an assisted living or frail care facility – and if you haven’t at least put your name down on a number of waiting lists, you may find yourself without options. A sudden need to move into a retirement care facility may also result in you urgently needing to sell your primary residence which, because of fluctuations in the property market, may result in you not being able to sell your asset at a market-related price.
Whatever your accommodations goals for retirement are, it is advisable to explore all options fully beforehand and to understand how your decision will impact on your overall retirement planning. It is also a good idea to have a set of contingency plans in place to account for the possibility of illness or injury, or significantly changed circumstances that fundamentally shift your retirement accommodation needs.
Have a fabulous day.
Sue
