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Villas and units
If you’re considering a move into a retirement village, there are many housing options to choose from to suit your lifestyle and needs. Villas and units can be spacious, yet low-maintenance options that many retirees are delighted to call home.
Often featuring open-plan spaces, courtyards or gardens and surrounded by village amenities, villas and units can be perfect for a vibrant and comfortable lifestyle. You could be spending your days as you please, with little maintenance and the added security and sense of belonging of a retirement community.
Benefits of units and villas
When choosing a retirement home, you’ll want to think about your ideal lifestyle. You'll also need to find a home that suits your needs, now and into the future.
Consider what's important to you. How much space and storage do you need? Do you want your own small garden or courtyard? Is your pet coming with you? Do you need car parking? Do you need rooms for visitors to stay?
One, two or three bedroom units and villas are a great option for those wanting more space and extra amenities to enjoy. Units and villas often provide the more traditional feel of a smaller, single level home with a small garden or courtyard to match. They’re also easy to lock up and leave when life calls for a holiday or weekend away.
Unit and villa options
Designed and built to suit your lifestyle, these spacious one, two or three bedroom homes provide you with more space to do what you love across an accessible single level of living. Often featuring a modern kitchen, bathroom, and courtyards, small lawns or outdoor spaces for those with a green thumb, these are homes for a life well lived.
Villas and units usually feature an open-plan layout, modern finishes and shared facilities. They're often decorated with a neutral colour palette, giving you the flexibility to decorate to your personal tastes.
These housing options are likely to come with a designated parking space. Sometimes, retirement villages will also offer additional parking space for boats and caravans too, providing you with the freedom to take off on a weekend getaway with family or friends.
With plenty of space to store your treasures, explore your hobbies, entertain your family or enjoy your pet, villas and units can offer you a vibrant and comfortable retirement.
Renovations and updates
You'll often have the flexibility to renovate your retirement unit or villa, but you’ll likely need to seek approval from your retirement community manager first.
There are often policies in place to protect the safety and comfort of all residents and to safeguard the aesthetic qualities and structural integrity of the buildings.
If you’ve been given approval for a renovation, you’ll find that work must be carried out by qualified, registered tradespeople holding appropriate licences and insurances.
Always speak with your retirement community about its renovation policy.
Getting help at your unit or villa
If you need a little more support to stay living at home, you can apply for a government-subsidised Home Care Package. You may be able to access services to visit your unit or villa and help you with things like cleaning, grocery shopping, dressing and showering, in addition to health care and other needs. Find out more about Home Care Packages.
Property features
While units and villas vary, they will often feature:
- Single-level living
- Modern kitchen, bathroom and living area
- Thoughtfully designed bedroom/bedrooms
- Quality fixtures and finishes
- Built-in wardrobes and storage
- Air conditioning
- Outdoor area.
Maintenance inclusions
These will vary depending on the retirement village, but may include:
- Mowing your lawn
- Cleaning your gutters
- Upkeep of grounds & community gardens
- Cleaning & maintenance of shared facilities.
Care and support services
These will vary depending on the retirement village, but may include:
- 24/7 emergency call system
- On-site staff
- Help at home - care and support services available.
Insurance and utilities
These will vary depending on the retirement village, but your property may include:
- Building insurance
- Council rates
- Other service charges.
Speak with your retirement village about electricity, water, internet and other connections. You may be in an embedded network, but they will be able to let you know.