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Your Questions, Answered

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about the lifestyle, community, and peace of mind waiting for you at Melbourne Retirement Living at our Hastings Cove and Westernport Gardens retirement villages.

Buying & Selling Process

Can we resell our unit?

Of course – it’s your property and you can sell it at any time. On the sale of a home by a resident or executor the purchaser will be guaranteed a new lease or transfer of the lease. 

A deferred rental contribution is payable on a change of occupancy.

 

You may sell your home privately or through a real estate agency. Most people use our office as the selling agent because the advantages are many.

Our marketing methods have been developed and refined over many years and produce the best results in an efficient timeframe.

When it comes to selling your present home, our extensive contacts in the real estate field will ensure you get the best price. We will also ensure that the settlement date of your present home coincides with the purchase/completion of your new home.

 
 

We do not have a refurbishment clause as we consider it an unnecessary and unwarranted imposition.

At the point of sale, we will use our experience and expertise regarding any necessary preparation for sale.

There is a Deferred Rental amount payable only upon sale.

It is the amount of rent paid during your residency.

Please note it is not based on the purchase price or resale price.

That’s Okay. You may place a $500 holding deposit and when you sell we will arrange the settlement date to coincide.

Costs & Financials

How does the lease work?

Our leasing arrangement – saving you money and protecting your interests

Your home site is secured by a 99-year lease that is registered on title – providing you with the peace of mind you deserve. The home always remains your property or the property of your transferee – in other words, you can bequeath it to your spouse or family. The rental charge covers all rates on the land equivalent to the concessional council rates payable by a pensioner. It also covers all property taxes, village landscape maintenance and full use of all facilities. For the convenience of residents, bore water is supplied for garden maintenance free of charge.

Additionally, there is no stamp duty payable on the transfer of a residential lease, a factor that has saved many people thousands of dollars. There is no Owners Corporation and no associated fees, and our leasing arrangements are not subject to the Retirement Village Act.

Annual increases in rental are limited to one half of the increase in the married rate pension in any one year. If you purchase an established home at Hastings Cove, rental is not payable during the selling period of your existing home. If you require a period of time to sell your existing home, we can reserve a home for you on the payment of a small deposit that is refundable if you do not proceed. 

Fortnightly in advance. Deposit books are available, or you may use the direct debit facility at your bank. Rent is increased yearly in accordance with pension increases.

It covers the lease of land, use of the community centre, Emergency Call service, public liability for common areas, public lighting, maintenance, use of the village bus and Men’s Shed.

Our Emergency Call system is a great service. Just the press of a button on your phone (pendant or wrist band) and the telephone automatically dials the emergency call service that has all your medical details. Our residents reckon it’s as good as sliced bread

You are responsible for the rear garden, or you can have it mown or have minor gardening jobs taken care of by our maintenance staff for a small cost. 

The Village is responsible for front lawns.

 

Maintenance items covered by the Lease:

  • Roads, fencing, reticulation of services, landscaping and lawn mowing of common areas. (Common land is land outside the fencing of each unit.)
  • Maintaining of the facilities in the Community Centre.
  • Provision and maintenance of the emergency call system.


Maintenance items not covered by the Lease but often provided to help you live more independently:

  • Green and hard waste collection.
  • External painting of fascia and eaves as required.
  • Cleaning of roof gutters.
  • Changing of tap washers and light globes, if you are unable to do so.
  • Help with rubbish bins.
  • Help with small handyman jobs – either to repair if possible or help find an appropriate external contractor/tradesperson.
  • Special requests – subject to approval.


Please Note – Residents are responsible for their own garden beds. With respect to the care of the building, it is your home and you may repaint or redecorate the interior as you wish.

If you are on an aged pension, you are eligible for rent assistance.

Village Life & Facilities

Are pets allowed?

Yes! You can have a cat a dog a bird. No horses, pigs or cows though! If at the time of moving into the village you have two pets you may bring both of them with you and you may replace your pets if you wish.

Yes – subject to availability.

Yes – at no cost.

We have a fully qualified chef who cooks a 2-course lunch in the community centre once a fortnight for a small cost.

Yes, as long as it blends in with the fence and surrounds.

Children are welcome in the community centre as long as they are supervised at all times by an adult.

Health, Safety & Everyday Services

Do we have to use your emergency phone? Can we use our own emergency system?

You can use your own emergency phone or you may decide you do not require such a thing at that point in time.

Yes – it is up to the individual to organise delivery with the news agency.

Yes – you choose your own provider.

You do not have to let us know, but if we are aware of your absence from the village, we can collect your mail for you and look after your property.

Yes, you have several to choose from.

A hairdresser and podiatrist visit our salon on a regular basis.​

Additional Information

  • Lawn Care: If you do not wish to have a front lawn you may replace it with landscaping or flower beds to maintain yourself.
  • Library Access: Friends and family visiting may have full use of our library as long as they use the check-in/out procedure.
  • Guest Stays: Your friends or family may stay in your unit if you are away, the time limit is no longer than 3 months, unless authorised.
  • Emergency Phone: You do not have to have a home phone if you prefer, but you cannot have the emergency phone service without one.
  • Solar Energy: You may install solar panels on your roof.
  • Television: You can have Foxtel installed, but please note we have free Foxtel in our Community Centre.
  • Communal Garden: Anyone can grow vegetables in our communal garden, but we do prefer it to be shared.
  • Prescriptions: Both local pharmacies collect and deliver prescriptions to the village Monday – Friday 9 am – 5 pm (Except Public Holidays).
  • Mail Services: You may post your personal letters in the Post Box in the Community Centre which is cleared daily (Monday – Friday).
  • Newspapers: Local papers are delivered to the Community Centre for you to collect. It is up to the individual to organise the local news agency to deliver the daily paper.
  • Business Centre: Computers with Internet facility are provided in the Community Centre free of charge. You may also use our photocopier if needed.

Have more questions?

These are some of the questions we get asked often. If you have a question that hasn’t been covered, just give us a call on (03) 5979 8812 or fill out the form below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.