We understand that it can be difficult to know where to start when exploring your retirement living options.
A retirement village is a community of people aged 55 years and over living in villas, units or apartments specifically designed to make life easier and more enjoyable. You live independently in your own home while enjoying the benefits of community living. Site maintenance and landscaping is taken care of, there are a range of communal areas and you can usually access support such as home care services.
There are a few common signs that you may need to downsize and consider a retirement village:
A retirement village is a community designed for people aged 55 and over, where residents live independently in their own homes, with the added benefit of communal living. The homes are specifically designed to make life easier and more enjoyable, with maintenance, landscaping, and some support services like home care available. Retirement villages are ideal for those who are still able to live independently but wish to enjoy the benefits of a supportive community.
Aged care centres (also known as nursing homes or residential aged care homes) are facilities for older people who can no longer live independently and require a higher level of care. Residents in aged care centres receive personalised, 24/7 care based on their individual needs as assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team. Aged care centres are best suited for individuals who need assistance with daily living or require specialised care.
You can choose from a range of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom villas or apartments in a variety of communities. Every IRT retirement village offers something different, but most villas and apartments offer open-plan living, outdoor spaces (either a balcony our courtyard) and provide modern comfort and convenience.
IRT villages no longer involve waitlists for potential residents, instead you can simply join a free expression of interest list and we’ll keep you up-to-date with available homes and events such as open days. To join, simply fill out our form or call us on 134 478 and one of our friendly team members will help you get all the info about the village and we’ll keep you updated as homes become available.
No, IRT grants you a lease or licence to occupy your home. This gives you a variety of options to better suit your financial circumstances. These options may vary from village to village (and even state to state), so speak to your sales consultant to find the option that works best for you.
No, your home is generally not furnished. Villas, apartments and units are usually sold unfurnished, but we do sometimes show furnished pictures on our website or in our sales materials to help give you a sense of what it can look like with furniture and decor.
The majority of our homes come pre-installed with whitegoods! This may include a fridge, washing machine or dryer, but it varies from site to site and home to home so check with your Retirement Village team to find out more.
Yes, you can. You just need to ensure you obtain written approval from the village manager before going ahead.
Yes! You’re welcome to have guests stay with you. If it’s for a duration longer than 6 weeks, please advise your Village Manager.
Many villages allow you to have small pets, but they need to be approved before you move in. What’s allowed varies from village to village, and in some cases pets aren’t allowed at all, so it’s always best to check with the specific village you’re considering before moving in.
Our communities are designed with your comfort and enjoyment in mind. Every IRT retirement village is different, but facilities may include:
If your needs change, you can choose to receive additional support through IRT’s home care services. You can also take advantage of our trusted network of allied health providers, and other service providers.
Unlike most family homes, our villas and apartments feature age friendly design. This means there’s plenty of room for mobility aids, and easy-grip door knobs and taps, for when your needs change.
Some of our retirement villages also have a co-located residential aged care centre, which supports people with high care needs. An assessment by the Aged Care Assessment Team, or ACAT, is required to move into an aged care centre. If you’d like more information about one of our aged care centres, get in touch with your Retirement Village Manager and theyll be able to answer any questions you might have.
No, you are not required to use IRT Home Care Services if you already use another provider. However, we would love to assist you if you do need a little help with home care services. As part of your move-in, we offer an introductory 20 hours of free home care services, which you can use at any time within the first 12 months of becoming a resident.
The cost of moving into an IRT retirement village will vary depending on the payment option and community you choose. Generally, you will pay an ingoing contribution before moving in, which represents the purchase price of your new home. Once you’re living in your IRT village, you’ll pay ongoing contributions, or recurrent charges, to cover the cost of operating and maintaining the village. Then when you permanently leave the IRT village, depending on the original purchase option you chose, you may pay an outgoing contribution, or departure fee. The departure fee amount will depend upon the pricing option you chose when you entered the village. For more specific information on your preferred IRT retirement village, give our friendly Customer Service Team a call on 134 478, or find out more here.
Recurrent charges are essentially service fees that village residents pay to cover the cost of operating and maintaining the village. They’re paid either fortnightly or monthly, depending upon the village, and cover things such as:
Providers are not legally allowed to make a profit from these contributions and they are calculated based on actual day-to-day operating costs required to run the village.
No, IRT retirement villages are exempt from stamp duty.
You don’t need to pay water and land rates. You do however, pay for your own gas, electricity, phone and internet.
If you’re not happy after moving in to your new community, we’ll refund your ingoing contribution within 90 days, minus rent for the time you stayed in the village.
Should you choose to leave the retirement village, you will not be required to cover any costs related to refurbishment, marketing, or the sale of your home. We will manage the entire process on your behalf, ensuring that you do not need to worry about any arrangements or details.
