Whether you’re ready to downsize, thinking about moving closer to family or are ready for a whole new retirement lifestyle, there’s much to think about. Our team will be happy to answer your questions, or our FAQs may have the information you are looking for:
Whether you’re ready to downsize, thinking about moving closer to family or are ready for a whole new retirement lifestyle, there’s much to think about. Our team will be happy to answer your questions, or our FAQs may have the information you are looking for:
Retirement Living
Essentially, yes. Both terms are used for housing reserved for older people, able to live independently in their own homes, albeit within a secured community and with a little bit of extra help if needed.
Our communities are exclusively for those aged 60+ and, in the case of couples, at least one householder must be at least 60. (Age 55+ for Lovekin Gate, part of the exclusive Blossomfield Park development in Solihull)
Yes, personal care support can be provided for those with some degree of personal care needs, at extra costs, in our Close Care developments (where the retirement apartments share the same site as a MACC care home). This care will be delivered by our award-wining sister company MACC Care or a carefully selected external provider. Our retirement communities are not suitable for those requiring residential care, or those with significant dementia care needs.
Buying an Apartment
Buying ‘off-plan’ means committing to buy a property before it’s finished being built and it has lots of advantages: you get the pick of all available apartments and can have a say on the fixtures and fittings, making your own choice from the wide array of standard and upgrade options offered for a truly personalised home.
£1000 typically secures your chosen apartment. Reservation fees may vary according to the development – please contact us for details.
No. Buyers must purchase 100%.
No. All apartments will be owner-occupied.
No. All apartments will be owner-occupied.
Yes. Providing the proposed main resident, you, meet current admission criteria.
You are free to use any agent you wish to assist you in the sale of your property, you may sell it yourself or we can assist you with the property sale. Ask us for more details.
No. Unlike many retirement living providers we don’t penalise you or your estate and beneficiaries by charging a percentage of the sale price of your apartment as an event or exit fee.
We follow the Consumer Code for New Homes – please visit www.consumercodefornewhomes.com for details.
We also provide a 10 years structural warranty with Global Home Warranties Ltd.
Communities
Please refer to sales team for the most up to date estimated completion date for your chosen development.
No, none other than minor teething problems if any, as occupancy will only begin once all communal areas are completed.
Yes, subject to a suitability assessment by the management company.
Not necessarily. Our developments are well-located, only a short walk from local amenities and well served by regular public transport. Local taxis can be arranged by the concierge.
Electric scooters can be kept in secure parking areas. Please check with your chosen development for details.
Most developments feature a Guest Suite, with an en-suite, which can be booked via the concierge for a small subsidised fee. Nevertheless, friends or family are free to stay in your apartment with you, for as long as you like, as it is your own home.
Yes, it is your own home, and they may stay as long as you wish.
Non-structural alterations can be made with the permission of the landlord; however, structural alterations cannot be made.
Yes, but not in any communal areas, inside or out.
Service Charge
There are many different costs involved with running and maintaining a building with shared facilities and services as safe, secure and luxurious as those offered at MACC Retirement developments so that’s why all residents contribute to the upkeep of their environment through a service charge fee. However, when these costs are divided among a number of people, they become surprisingly affordable and service charge costs start from as little as £7.50 per day, per apartment, and in many cases work out as less expensive than living a comparable lifestyle independently.
A full breakdown is available from each development’s management company.
Typically, the service charge includes:
- Telecare around the clock so residents are safe 24/7, with help available at the touch of a button
- Maintenance of and utilities to all communal areas inside and out including cleaning, heating and repairs
- Maintenance of safety and security features such as intruder alarms, door entry systems, cameras, sprinklers and other fire protection, regular water safety testing
- Water rates
- Sewerage rates
- Buildings insurance
- Concierge services, 9am to 5pm daily for security and support (where available)
For simplicity and certainty, residents pay just one monthly service charge, in advance.
Service charges are calculated based on the usable floor areas of each apartment.
The service charge will only vary to reflect the costs associated with upkeep and maintenance of the development and therefore will likely rise in line with the Retail Price Index. The budget will be reviewed on an annual basis and we will give a months’ notice of any change in the amount payable.
No council tax is included. Please enquire about council tax bandings for the apartments.
Yes, but it is small at just £250 per year.
Leases range from 250 to 999 years. Consult your agent for details.
Living in Your New Apartment
As a homeowner, you are responsible for general repairs in your new apartment. However, if you think that something is defective it may be covered under warranty. If you are unsure please contact 07581 429817 or email info@maccretirement.co.uk to check.
MACC Retirement follows the Consumer Code for New Homes and provides a 10 years structural warranty on your apartment with Global Home Warranties Ltd.
If a defect falls within the warranty period, we will refer the issue on and manage the repair/replacement on your behalf.
The quickest and easiest way to report a defect is to call us on 07581 429817.
We will be happy to discuss the nature of the problem with you and if necessary, arrange for any relevant work to be carried out, advising on approximately how long it will take.
We strongly recommend that you familiarise yourself with the location of stop-taps, valves, and switches so that in the case of an emergency, you know where they are located.
The water stop-tap will be labelled and is typically located under the kitchen sink or in a utility room cupboard. In some apartments a Surestop valve device enables you to ‘swich off’ water.
Every apartment has its own electricity consumer unit/fuse box, typically located in the entrance hallway or in a cupboard. It contains the trip switches for the rooms in your apartment.
Yes. Many products used in the construction of new build homes, such as concrete and plaster, are mixed with water, so you can expect there to be a ‘drying out’ process during which there are steps you can take to minimise the likelihood of any damage.
Small, hairline cracks are inevitable as timber and plaster dry out and these can be easily dealt with by decorating. If you notice any larger cracks of 5mm thickness or more, please notify us and at the end of the defective period, typically 12 months post-construction, these will be addressed.
Ventilation will help minimise the likelihood of cracking and we recommend that allow your apartment to heat up gradually. Rapid heating and high temperatures can cause the materials to dry out too quickly, often resulting in cracks.
It is not unusual to also experience condensation during the drying out period, as vapour is drawn out from materials. Condensation occurs when moisture in the air meets colder surfaces, usually windows, tiles, and mirrors, resulting in water droplets. It can also occur when there is little movement of air, such as behind furniture, or if there are significant differences in temperature in the rooms of your home.
Ventilation will help moisture escape from your home, rather than condense and potentially lead to damp areas or patches of black mould.
It is advisable to keep your apartment at a constant temperature as the warmer it is, the more moisture it will hold. Reduce moisture production by using extraction fans within bathrooms and kitchens and avoiding drying clothes on radiators.
When the weather is cold, be mindful of over-ventilating your home as the internal temperature will drop leading to more condensation.
Your new apartment is part of a sustainable development. The combination of water, energy efficiency, design and construction measures contribute to the building achieving a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) rating of ‘Very Good’ or above.
Yes, new build is good news when it comes to energy efficiency. Home Builders Federation (HBF) research* reveals that the improved energy efficiency of new build has significant impact on energy use, resulting in lower energy bills.
Your apartment features a modern boiler and energy-saving appliances, designed to help reduce your energy consumption.
You can also take practical steps within the home – such as only heating as much water as you need in a kettle, loading a full dishwasher, using half load or economy settings in your washing machine or taking a quick shower instead of a bath – to reduce your water and energy consumption.
Your apartment has also been fitted with low energy light fittings and bulbs to comply with building regulations standards. These use 20% less energy than conventional light bulbs and according to manufacturers, need replacing less frequently.
*New build houses save homeowners £2,600 in annual energy bills
For the safety of residents, smoke detectors are positioned in communal areas, including hallways and corridors.
Your apartment features a mains-powered smoke detector, with battery back-up in the event a power failure.
It is recommended that you vacuum your detector periodically to remove dust build-up; test it once a week by pressing the ‘test’ button and every year, change your battery or fit a battery with a 10-year life.
Never turn off or disconnect your smoke detector and be sure to familiarize yourself with the location of the nearest exit or fire exit in your block.
Upon completion of your apartment purchase, you will receive the following certificates, verifying that the build of your home and its services meet the requisite quality and safety standards:
- Building Control Certificate – evidence that works have been completed in compliance with building regulations.
- Electrical Test Certificate – proof that electrical installations have been inspected and tested.
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) – An EPC gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (best) to G (worst) and is valid for 10 years.
- NHBC Certificate – documentation that the development has undergone rigorous property inspection and meets the required standards.
To ensure you are entirely satisfied with your new home, we provide two years after sales support.
Prior to moving in, you will be invited to a home demonstration with the site manager – the ideal opportunity to check all is as expected, ask questions and identify where important stop-taps, valves, and switches are located.
Two weeks after moving in, you will have a 14 days visit, during which you need to register major faults, if there are any, for windows, kitchen doors, appliances, sanitary ware, flooring and wardrobes.
Routine visits will then occur at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months intervals and at 24 months you will have a sign off visit.
If you wish to raise a concern or are dissatisfied with our service, please refer to our Complaints Procedure published on our website.