Has anyone seen any 'over 50's' retirement flats?

[LaurieFairyCake]

I used to see them, now I only see over 55's.

Anywhere

My mum lives in one. She is in her 80s and moved to be nearer me.
It's ideal, she has a group of friends and it's right in the middle of everything.
She however sold her house, put the cash in the bank and is renting it. There is a real over supply round here (south coast) and you can buy them pretty cheap but the service fees of 350 a month are pretty standard. She pays 750 a month all in.
And we won't have to sell it later on.

SlightlugrumpyBettyswaitress

That sounds ideal to me.

I'm 52 and feel illogically angry when I see ads for them. My kid is still a kid. I get piercings. I go to gigs. My mortgage won't be paid off for a decade. Bog off with your retirement flat shizz.

@Squirrelsnut I'm 38 and these adverts make me angry too for some reason. My mums only 59 and can't imagine her wanting to move into one.

To answer OP's question: Norwich.

Elsewhere I've only seen reference to over 50s, but if you read the small print it applies to couples where one partner has to be over 60 and the other over 55.

Typo: I meant when you see over 55s, it means one partner has to be over 60, the other over 55.

My friend inherited one from his father at least two years ago. He can’t sell it. He has to pay council tax, maintenance, service charges etc. it is slowly eroding any inheritance his father wanted him to have. I would never buy one.

my mum lives in one (she is on her 80s) and its conveniently close to where I live- very handy for all amenities, quiet, friendly, some are rented, they seem to have a fast turnover when someone dies (most residents 70+) ...so I don't recognise what people here are saying. No I wouldn't want to live there but then I'm not 80

@Squirrelsnut

I get angry when I see ads for them too, aimed at people over 50! I am in my late 50s, but would rather shit in my hands and clap than live in one of these places. Would never buy OR rent. As some people have said, it's a terrible investment. I feel so insulted and feel a proper fucking rage when shit comes through the door advertising 'OAP' and elderly person stuff. Why assume I want it? I am in my fucking FIFTIES. (And I am 25 in my head.)

I love video games, and pop and rock music, and I enjoy shows and films aimed at 20-30 year olds, (as well as stuff aimed at older adults,) and a few of my adult DC's friends are my friends too (aged 26 to 35.) I have so much more in common with people 20-25 years younger than 20-25 years older, (or even 15 years older.) I can converse with 25-30 year olds (25 years younger than me!) MUCH better than people in their early seventies, who are only 15 years older!

I am young at heart, and watch and listen to the same things as my 20-something DC. I mean, I get on OK with people roughly my age - and have things in common, and my 2 BFFs are 45 to 50... but I'm just saying that as a 50-something person. I get on better with someone in their 30s than someone in their 70s. Fuck off with your retirement homes shit, and your baths with doors, carpet slippers with velcro, beds that have a remote control to make them rise up, and trying to push a fucking retirement village on me!

I also get the rage with the ads for women who pee when they laugh or cough or sneeze, as the women on them are usually about 47. So SOME people assume all women past 45 piss themselves when they cough, laugh, or sneeze. SO rude. I fucking don't!

Yelp. The latest McCarthy and Stone one near me is 70+. So anyone inheriting one of those is going to be in an absolutely impossible situation. It's hard enough finding buyers that are 55+

If I ever have to live in one, that's what I'd do. No way would I land my kids with the bills and hassle of one of these places. My friends had to let her step mum's go for a quarter of its value, after nearby THREE YEARS. She'd basically spent all of its value in the service fees and bills, so ended up with nothing except the stress.

I wouldn't buy one -- but I would possibly rent one if in a good area , sensible price and at least a 2 bedder and I was over 70

My MIL has moved into one at the age of 80 as she still has most of her health and all her marbles but doesn't want the stress of maintenance and upkeep of a home and garden and a retirement property just means that the fabric of the building and the grounds are all Someone Else's Problem which is a huge relief, and it will be much easier to arrange any additional care as and when the time comes.

But it would be hideous to move into such a place at the age of 50. That's a whole generation of age gap between that age and the age when it's really appropriate.

my mom is in a 55+ seniors complex. she rents and seems very happy.
we visited two at the time that she was looking and honestly the rental ones we saw were lovely! pricy in some ways but includes 1 hot meal, electric (heat a/c), tv and basic telephone service, a cleaning lady every two weeks.
the size of her unit with a balcony and view of the river is very nice.
surprisingly she likes the food.
and activity wise: bowling alley, swimming pool, library (maintained by the city).
reception desk is staffed 16hr a day, outdoor space and quiet.
800 units, some people she knew and some new people who all seem friendly.
she was 88 when she moved in and has been there 18 months.
family wise we like the management and gentle supervision.
would i move in? if i was single yes, but i love a quiet peaceful life.

Selling the place when she dies will also be Someone Else’s Problem, unless she rents it.

Ok so the one near me in London, literally 5 minutes walk from my house has a 1 bed flat for £325k - about the same price, maybe a little less than a 1 bed near me.

The cost per month is only £195, I can easily afford to pay that with my normal job and if I sold my flat, downsize a lot, I could buy it outright.

I'm struggling to afford my mortgage payments so I'm considering all options

Im not 55 yet so was looking for an over 50 place

No and there shouldn't be unless there is a disability / care / mental health issue. Save them for 80+.

@PurpleButterflyWings it's not really normal to feel so angry about an advert coming through your door!

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132063257#/?channel=RES_BUY

look in Battersea, Brixton, Clapham postcodes. Don’t limit yourself to retirement flats!

or the NW equivalent.

I could easily find a normal flat in my area but I don't want to move again should I need help in the future - I want this to be my last move

I think thatss more a baby thing than an age thing. I was fine until I popped mine out. I didn't do my kegels!

OP did not mention retirement?

Gosh this has touched a sore spot with some posters.
I love my privacy but I, now i"m in my 70s, can see that others who are now on their own, and there's quite a few around at my age, might choose to live somewhere where they don't have to organise a gardener, maintenance (which imv is a nightmare now as most of the trusted roofers/joiners/electricians have retired), cleaning of a mostly empty house.
And a meal cooked each day - wonderful after 40 years of feeding a family.
Perhaps many of the flat owners are out of the country 50% of the time, gadding about in foreign climes and don't want to risk coming back to burst pipes etc
And of course the risk of burglary etc - something I dread as it would seriously damage my confidence, especially in winter on dark days.

Go for it if you want to.

I've just completed one of these projects and it was like a luxury hotel. It was in an expensive part of London and obviously caters to the wealthy who have money to spend during their retirement as they were on average £1m or £1k per week. It had a library, orangery, spa, cinema, restaurant, cocktail bar etc. Great for the elderly who want the social aspect and the high end care and facilities. I think it catered for 55y/o +

Mind you I've also worked at social centres aimed at the elderly where the age has also been 55+.

Ah - I see. I think (maybe it’s just me) you’re more likely to want to move again if you find the over 50s set up infuriating and it would be much harder.

finding a lovely mortgage free flat without rules that could be sold easily when you’re 80 would probably be less stressful. More options anyway - I’m probably projecting!