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Important documents to review
It's important to review the right documents when researching retirement villages to give you a fuller picture of what you're possibly signing up for.
You should receive comprehensive information sheets to help compare your favourite villages. Information sheets can be different depending on the state you’re in. They might come in the form of a Village Comparison Document or VCD, a fact sheet, or a disclosure statement, or maybe other paperwork held by the village. They can be complicated, so it’s a good idea to seek independent advice to help navigate these documents.
Once you've decided on the village or villages you're interested in, ask the community manager to provide them to you.
These might include the following:
Village comparison information documents
Each state has its own version of this document, each with a different name. For example, in Queensland this is called a Village Comparison Document, In New South Wales it is a General Inquiry Document and in Victoria, it is called a Factsheet.
No matter their name, these comparison sheets are comprehensive documents that include a range of details about the village, including the amount of homes and apartments, facilities, and if any redevelopments are planned. Services on offer are outlined, as are costs and other important financial information.
See an example Village Comparison Document here
Cost disclosure documents
Depending on the state you are in, you may receive another document that provides further detail about the costs of moving into, living in, and leaving the village. Again, this is called different things in different states, for example, a Prospective Costs Document (Queensland) or a Disclosure Statement (Victoria).
Generally, a retirement village will charge residents an ‘ingoing contribution’ that residents must pay before moving in, an ongoing monthly cost for services throughout your stay, and an outgoing fee when you leave, which is generally calculated based on the length of your stay. This document will help make sure you’re fully across all the costs and financial implications before signing the contract with the village.
See an example Pre-contract disclosure statement here
Additional documents
You can also ask for additional documents the village or its operator has created. This could include, for example, the village site plan, operator annual reports, or any contract relating to services that may be provided to you and the rules of the village.
The contract The retirement village owner, or the owner’s agent, must give you a copy of the contract at least 21 days before you sign it. However, you can take more time to consider your decision.
You can ask the village you’re interested in to provide you with a copy of their contract or contracts during your decision making process.
See an example Contract here