Frequently Asked Questions

A retirement living  property is a community of residences and facilities designed for anyone who is over 55 years old and still active enough to live independently in their own home. As a resident of an Ardency property, you will benefit from added security, a community environment and additional features like community facilities and customisable services.

An Ardency property is suitable for a person who is 55 and over, whether retired or still working part-time.

Yes, absolutely. We have many residents who are still actively working while living in an Ardency  property. 

An Ardency property is designed for people over 55 who can live independently in their own home while enjoying the shared facilities and benefits of retirement living. In contrast, residents who live in residential aged care facilities (including nursing homes) require a level of daily care for their health and safety. Entry into government funded aged care is based on an assessment by a government-appointed Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). 

This is your home, so friends and family are most welcome to stay with you. Of course, other residents appreciate the fact that they know who their neighbours are, so for extended stays, residents need to talk to their Ardency Manager and let them know who is staying and for how long. For example, if your visitor is staying more than 14 days, it will need to be documented and discussed with the Ardency Manager.

When you buy into an Ardency property, typically Keyton owns the land and homes. The “right to reside” in the home on a lease or licence is then sold to you, as the resident. The ownership options available range from property to property, so the easiest way to gain clarity is to ask the Sales Manager at the Ardency property you’re thinking of moving to. 

When you choose to move into an Ardency property, you can usually choose from a number of different ways to buy your new residence. These options are the Prepaid Plan, The Deferred Management Fee, and Refundable Contribution.

The cost of living in an Ardency property will vary depending on the contract you choose and the size of residence you choose to live in. There are also several costs associated with living in an Ardency property besides the price of your home. The main costs to consider are service fees, establishment fees, and management fees. When and how you pay these will depend on the contract you choose to take out. 

We want you to be confident that you’ve made the right decision. That’s why if you buy into a leasehold property and decide that independent living is not for you within your first 6 months, you can end your contract, move out, and we guarantee to refund the price you paid plus any upfront fee. All you’ll pay is service fees and fair market rent for the duration of your stay and costs to repair any damage above fair wear and tear. Depending on which state you live in, the Retirement Living Act and your contract will allow you a settling in period during which you may decide to leave the property, without paying a management fee. Should you decide to leave during this time, you will have to pay your maintenance fees (or equivalent “rent”) and you will have to leave your residence in good condition, paying for any damage that may have occurred during your occupancy. You will however not receive any money for your residence until it is re-sold.

Exit fees most commonly refer to the Deferred Management Fee or DMF. A contract with a DMF allows you to defer payment of the Management Fee until after you have left the property, suiting those who wish to buy a residence at a more affordable price and defer part of the cost of living in a property to a later date. The amount of the Deferred Management Fee (or exit fee) is dependent on the price of the residence and how long you live there.

It’s important to know your rights when living in an Ardency property. The Retirement Villages Act is the state-based legislation created to protect your rights. It informs all owners and operators of their obligations to residents and requires them to conduct their business within a strict framework. If you would like a copy of the Retirement Villages Act, please contact the appropriate legislative body in your state or call us on 1800 723 723.

Each state has its own legislative requirements in relation to dispute resolution and complaints handling. A copy of our complaints and internal disputes resolution processes are readily available at each property. In accordance with NSW legislation and regulations, a copy of our complaints and internal disputes resolution processes for our NSW properties is available here. In most Ardency properties, there is also a Resident's Committee which operates on behalf of the residents.

The uniqueness of Ardency properties is they are located within close proximity to public transport, medical facilities and shopping centres. The properties also have a resident bus which has a busy weekly roster of social trips and shopping outings.

Small to medium sized pets are usually welcome at Ardency properties. Each pet must be approved by the Ardency Manager before taking up residency. There are some cases in which pets are not allowed, so check with the Ardency property you’re looking at moving to before you make any decisions.

All Ardency properties offer a concierge service. Keyton has also teamed up with a world-class emergency call system provider to establish in-home emergency call systems. Please check with individual Ardency properties for further details. Not only for emergencies, this system provides residents with immediate connectivity to skilled operators, who can talk through a problem or take action to send assistance. 

Yes, you can. You will just need to have variations or changes approved by the Ardency manager so that all the relevant standards and regulations are met.