OWCH (Older womens communal housing)

[womaninatightspot]

Only in my 40's and DC are primary school age so this is a future plan but I quite like the idea of having a small place within a female based cooperative. Neighbours helping each others out etc.

I can't imagine moving to London (the cost!) but do you think these schemes will become more popular as time goes on. Is there anything like this in your area?

I am very keen on this idea too. DP is 12 years older then me so very likely to die first. His mum lives in an old fashioned almshouse which is very similar- small 1 bed units, communal space and allotments. You can join in or not as you like. It is mixed sex, but in practice mainly women. And I've got a relative who lives in a co housing scheme so I'd kind of like to merge the two.

I'd be happy living in a retirement community like where my dad lives in florida. He has a 1 bedroom apartment that he bought for about £80k and then he pays a monthly fee of around £300. So not expensive and for that he gets access to the pool and tennis courts and they also have a community library, allotment, gym, restaurant, and lots of clubs like a book club, etc. They have a monthly newsletter, movie nights, and lots of other stuff. You're not under any obligation to take part in any of it- you can just ignore it all and live like you're in a regular apartment complex. That sort of place would suit me much better than a community where you have to help organise things and be social with people you may not like.

@Juliecanter

This is only possible with women buying their flat and paying a service fee for the shared space. So what happens when they need to sell their flat? Is it legal to say it can only be sold to a woman? What about if someone says they identify as a woman?

I think you'd have to have a carefully worded restrictive covenant and give the other residents voting rights over who moves in.