Posted by Declan Davey
Retirement Living: How to search for retirement villages & communities near me
UK retirement living has never been so diverse.
Having a safe, affordable and comfortable space to live is so important as you grow older. But how do you maintain the lifestyle you want alongside customised support, and opportunities to mix with others?
The increased popularity of retirement communities has led to a range of property being available which can suit most people's needs.
But this doesn't help if you don't know how to find the perfect retirement development for you! So, if you’ve ever found yourself wondering “how do I find a retirement village near me?” or “can I rent a retirement property rather than buy it?” then you’ll want to read today’s blog.
Here’s a preview of what we’ll discuss:
What are retirement villages and retirement communities?
How do retirement communities differ from care homes?
Retirement village property: rental or purchase?
How to search for retirement communities and villages near me
How to look for retirement developments by lifestyle, facilities and price
What are retirement villages and retirement communities?
Retirement villages and communities are designed with the “young-at-heart” retiree in mind although the average age of resident is around 80 years old.
There are two main ways that these larger property developments excel compared to other retirement living options:
- Size: Retirement villages typically have more than 100 units on-site. Retirement communities usually have less.
- Lifestyle: Retirement villages will usually have facilities such as restaurants, spas, libraries and swimming pools. Retirement communities may have communal areas but not necessarily as many facilities available as in a retirement village. Retirement villages are often situated in a more rural environment and are more likely to have the space to incorporate more lifestyle facilities.
How do retirement communities differ from care homes?
There is a huge difference between a retirement community and a care home.
This graphic from Arco UK breaks down the key differences:
Retirement communities are generally for more active or able residents. They provide self-contained homes, which may have two, three, or even four bedrooms. Daily life is lived independently with care only being introduced when it is needed. A retirement community enables you to downsize to a more manageable sized house and not have to worry about how you are going to manage the garden, the gutters etc.
A care home by contrast, provides a single room with an en-suite bathroom. The environment is more akin to living in a hotel. There is a communal lounge and dining room and care and support is available 24/7.
Gardens and lounges are typical across all types of accommodation, but retirement communities go a step further with facilities such as gyms, hairdressers, and wellness hubs.
It goes without saying when you purchase a retirement property it is important to treat it as you would any other property purchase. Ensuring all building regulations are appropriate and you fully understand any of the extra charges that might be incurred to ensure the development is maintained to a high standard.
Retirement village rentals vs. buying
The balance between purchasing or renting a retirement property is changing. Historically, purchase was the only option and this in the majority of cases is on a Leasehold basis. However during 2022 and 2023 there are a growing number of operators who provide both a purchase and a rental option. This can be seen in particular in the McCarthy Stone developments, the largest builders of retirement property in the UK. Many other operators are following suit.
Autumna research of the operators in the sector shows a growing trend to offer a purchase or rental option on the terms that suit potential purchasers. Some of these options include exit fees and it is important to understand what this entails for the property you are interested in. There is no doubt a retirement village rental can serve as the smart option for those who prefer the “enjoy now, pay later” model.
Renters will need to pay for service costs, maintenance fees, and ground rent, but they can avoid the stress of buying and managing a property.
Where can I find a retirement community near me?
Searching on Google for 'Retirement Communities near me' might not provide the results you might want. This is primarily because there are currently 23 different terms being used by operators for retirement communities!
Our team at Autumna has therefore created a tool for you to be able to make specific searches for retirement living accommodation in your area.
We have also simplified how we categorise a retirement living development into:
Retirement village = large
Retirement community = medium
Retirement housing = small
Within these categories a provider can offer all or none of the available services we list.
To start a search, head over to this web page. Type in your preferred location. Then, press enter to begin the search.
Notice the orange buttons at the top?
Click on any of the buttons to view their respective drop-down menus, where you can place specific filters on your search.
For “Living Type,” the options are retirement housing, retirement villages, and retirement communities.
“Housing” includes 1-3 bed apartments, 2-4 bed houses, bungalows, and studios.
“Support” shows you properties with domestic help, personal care, and/or companionship - increasingly referred to as Integrated Retirement Communities.
Look out too for the ARCO badge on your search results. ARCO stands for Associated Retirement Community Operators an accreditation organisation that is setting the standards for retirement communities offering support on site.
Finally, “Price” lets you filter by purchase or monthly rental fee, as shown in the image below:
We realise that seniors will have different retirement living preferences, which is why we’ve worked hard to build this search tool.
With the likes of Adlington, Anchor, Audley, Beechcroft, Churchill, Enterprise, ExtraCare Charitable Trust, McCarthy Stone, Pegasus, Rangeford, Renaissance, Retirement Villages, Richmond Villages, and Westward Care all working with Autumna, you will have a wide range of developments from which to compare and contrast.
Why not fill out this short questionnaire to establish exactly what it is you are looking for in a retirement living development.
As always though, please feel free to get in touch with the Autumna team for advice. THey're a lovely bunch and they'll be more than happy to guide you on how to find the right retirement communities and villages for you.
The best way to contact them is via phone or email:
Phone: 01892 335 330
The line is open Monday to Sunday (8:30am - 5:30pm Mon-Fri, 10am - 5pm Sat, 10am - 4pm Sun).
Email: info@autumna.co.uk
One final thing. You can find out much more about the benefits of retirement villages, retirement communities and retirement housing in this Autumna YouTube Live presentation.
Thanks go to Declan Davey (Health Copywriter) for co-authoring this article.
