This is an old thread, I thought I might have contributed to it but seems I haven't
My mother, after she became widowed really wanted to downsize and move into sheltered accommodation. I helped her sell her home and look for a suitable place. We did find a really nice block facing the sea, in the town my parents had retired to. She was very happy there, she had quite a good social life one way and another, not only through the activities on site but also from the circle she had built up around her church.
My God the charges though were steep, I can see where some of the money was spent everything was replaced promptly and the lift, which is essential for the elderly and often infirm was only ever out of order for a couple of hours maximum. When she died, as it is for all those left selling their relative's property, the greedy management company took a percentage of the sale price, can't remember how much that was now, certainly over a £1,000 but money for old rope as far as they were concerned, they did nothing for that, but it was written into the contract. I do remember my mum consulting me on that point of purchase saying that as a seller those charges would apply, but as far as I was concerned I just wanted her to have her desired lifestyle and home of her choice and anyway it was her money to spend as she wished so didn't take any of that on board. She was annoyed about that clause in the contract, but there wasn't anything that she could do about it.
I have heard, since she died, increasingly there are some feisty residents who have bought this type of property around the country and have subsequently got together and overthrown their management companies, taking over the running of the property themselves, thus saving the residents shed loads of money. Good for them!
