Retirement Villages in New Zealand

Retirement villages give older New Zealanders a home within a managed community, ranging from independent units to serviced apartments and care suites for those who need more help day to day. Residents trade some maintenance and security worries for shared facilities, social activities plus the option to move up levels of care as needs change.

The contracts work differently to buying a house. Most villages use an occupation right agreement rather than a title, so you are buying the right to live there, not the property itself. Read the deferred management fee closely, ask how the exit payment is calculated and check what weekly fees cover. All villages must register under the Retirement Villages Act 2003 and provide a disclosure statement, so take it to a lawyer before signing.