Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to move into our retirement villages?

Churches of Christ Care accepts older people 60 years of age and over.

What will I actually own?

You will be purchasing your new home on a Licence to Occupy. The decision to move to any of our retirement villages is so that you do not have to worry about all the chores or maintenance associated with owning your own home.

In addition, maintenance and repairs of the village’s capital items are managed for you. A contribution to the maintenance reserve fund is included in the weekly general service charge while replacement of the village’s capital items is the responsibility of Churches of Christ Care.

For your security, all our villages are registered Retirement Villages which are governed under the Retirement Villages Act 1999 (Qld).

What about stamp duty?

You are not required to pay any stamp duty when purchasing your new home on a Licence to Occupy basis. This represents a large saving to all new residents.

Can you explain the exit fee?

This fee is payable when you leave your unit. The fee is calculated at a percentage of the ingoing contribution or new selling price, depending on what option you choose when entering any of our villages.

What is the general service charge?

The general service charge is the amount a resident may be charged for general services as set out in the Residence Contract. A budget is prepared each financial year for charges for general services and is calculated according to the ‘actual cost’ of operating the community.

Can I make changes to my home?

Yes. If you wish to make changes to your home, contact the Retirement Living Coordinator who will provide you with a unit modifcation form. All changes/additions require the approval of management. This approval will be subject to our policy.

What does the weekly general service charge include?

The weekly charge includes all rates and taxes, insurance in respect of the village assets and buildings, together with their fittings and fixtures; utility and water costs, for example, community electricity and phone; management and administration as well as accounting costs for the management of the community.

The general service charge also includes all costs in relation to the day-to-day maintenance, upkeep and cleaning of the village and its buildings, including the costs of gardening and maintenance. The cost of complying with the requirements of any government or statutory authority, and the provision of the emergency response system, security, costs of contractors, salaries and wages for staff responsible for the provision of services to residents, are included as well as all other costs as outlined in the Residence Contract and PID (Public Information Document).

Can I do the gardens around my home?

Yes. We encourage this, however, there are restrictions applying to any flora that you might wish to plant and you need prior permission from management to put in plants that may grow higher than two metres. Gardens created or changed by residents will need to be maintained by them.

Can I retain my current medical care arrangements?

Yes. You can continue to use the same care service providers or family support that you currently use.

Do you have 24-hour emergency response?

Yes. We have an emergency response system in place which is externally monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Alarm activation points are in your home and details will be provided to you when you move in. You are also provided with a personal alarm pendant.

Generally, will my home increase in value?

Our retirement villages can enjoy capital growth in-line with general residential property market conditions. In fact there are cases where the growth in some communities has been much higher. This may occur as the demand grows. A resident’s right to share in capital gain depends on the terms of the contract they sign

There may be times when the capital growth falls, but this would generally be due to residential property market conditions. This has not historically been the case.

Remember, your decision to live at one of our villages is not a real estate decision but rather a decision to live your life independently for as long as you wish.

Do I need to sell my current home first?

Generally yes, and we can assist with the sale of your home. We understand the difficulties you face when you have been living in your home for a long period of time. Keeping pace with the value and best methods of sale is a specialised area. We can assist with finding the appropriate professionals to help you with this task, if you so choose. Through our exclusive expression of interest program, you are able to secure your preferred unit for a limited time (subject to availability) while you make arrangements to sell your home.

Do you offer assistance with moving?

Yes. When the time comes, this can be a big task but it is manageable. We can assist by helping you to make arrangements for your packing up, the move and then unpacking in your new home. Simply discuss this with our staff who are happy to help with arranging removalists.

When I leave, who will arrange the reinstatement and sale of my home?

When you leave we arrange reinstatement and sale of your home.

Can my family/friends stay?

This is your home and your family and friends are more than welcome to stay with you in your home up to and including 30 days in a continuous period. If you wish to have guests for longer periods you are asked to discuss this with management.

Can I go on holidays leaving my home empty?

Yes. However, it is a good idea to advise management that you will be away so that they can keep an eye on your home for you while you are gone.