Retirement apartments

Wait for the lectures on how you don't understand that not everyone has a chance to save .

I understand your frustration, but what is the answer? It seems to me that there are three options. We go back to workhouses and Cathy Come Home, with everyone expected to fund themselves. We carry on as we are and people get more and more resentful. Or we take contributions from everyone who is capable of contributing and have allowances for all (eg free education, health, child benefit, social care, pension etc).

If we go for the third option, anyone who felt they 'didn't need' the allowances should be able to opt out or anonymously give the money to charity, from where it can be redistributed to those they feel need it more than they do.

You made your choices.

If she has paid rent all her life then it was far more than you would have paid for your mortgage, you now have an asset she does not.

Presumably buying your retirement apartment was your choice and your solicitor advised you on the potential future costs.
There is no evidence about charging for prescriptions or implementing NI for pensioners, so that’s one less thing to worry about for the time being.
Many of us pay tax on our pensions, that’s life!
Getting yourself so angry, as indicated by your post won’t do you any good. Also there will always be people better and worse than you. We all make choices and have to live our lives accordingly.

In your post, OP, you state that the person living in the alternative accommodation pays £800 per month. S/he does not receive "everything for NOTHING"
This does not mean that I am not in agreement with you about how the management and upkeep of private retirement flats are funded. The firms which operate them seem do particularly well. Perhaps these organisations should be the subject of your ire.

Do places like the one in the old sitcom 'Waiting For God' still exist? I'm not sure what they would be called - retirement homes, as opposed to care homes, I suppose. Places for communal living where the residents can come and go, with more of a hotel feel than a hospital.

Doodledog was right. Totally as expected responses on here.

Sorry you’re finding life difficult at the moment. Let’s hope free prescriptions for pensioners isn’t targeted in the budget. My opinion is that would be immoral.

If you work hard and save your money the government won’t help you. If you never work,they will. Go figure. It is the same here. We get zilch from the government, not even a measly pension because ours are means tested. Oh, but the poor things were disadvantaged and that’s why they never worked. You must remember that. When we were working several jobs, feeling exhausted, we were just privileged people so we don’t deserve anything. Remember that.

It is totally unfair. I have heard horror stories about privately owned retirement complexes and all the costs. I really fancied the idea, but on reflection I’m not so sure.

When you say “all inclusive” I assume you mean no service charge?

Exactly nanna8 …..you get NOTHING for helping your self !!! I have several charity donations. …. These are going to have to go sadly !….. oh and the lady in question in the council retirement flat HAD her own house which she sold to give her children an inheritance BUT because it was longer than the seven years prior, she was allowed to move into the council property ….. lesson for us all!!

Cosy …. Yes her rent covers everything!! Only thing she pays for is specific meals for her relatives when they visit ! No
Management charges!

I think it's true that having worked hard all our lives, struggled to save, done without holidays or luxuries, rarely bought anything until saved up for it, travelled miles each day for work we get penalised one way or another. I accept that some people have not had the resources (mental or physical) to 'progress but there are many others who just never bothered to try and relied on the state ie us to fund their lifestyle. With a labour government they may well fare very well indeed!

I can understand how you feel ALANaV. I was brought up to work hard and save as much as I could. We did without things other people thought they needed and eventually started to reap the rewards but would be in a similar situation to you if I had bought a retirement flat.
I'm glad we made the choice to save and do without as we were able to buy the things we really wanted later.
I have no resentment towards those who chose differently. As adults we are responsible for our own decisions. Resentment only hurts you in the end.

Theexwife

If she has paid rent all her life then it was far more than you would have paid for your mortgage, you now have an asset she does not.

ALANaV has explained, the person in question bought her own house, but sold it to give her children an inheritance.
So if she needs social care, that will be paid for by the state too.

knspol

I think it's true that having worked hard all our lives, struggled to save, done without holidays or luxuries, rarely bought anything until saved up for it, travelled miles each day for work we get penalised one way or another. I accept that some people have not had the resources (mental or physical) to 'progress but there are many others who just never bothered to try and relied on the state ie us to fund their lifestyle. With a labour government they may well fare very well indeed!

I understand your feelings, but what is the government to do? They cut the WFP and are criticised, but are also criticised for being perceived to be going to make life easier for people. I suspect there will be more cuts to come. Not as targeted on the disadvantaged as those made by the Tories/coalition governments, but cuts all the same. It will be interesting to see the reactions from people who cheered on the Tory cuts when this government do it.

I would be more than surprised if political researchers don't read boards like this and Mumsnet to gauge public opinion. Maybe they saw all the previous threads about how people 'didn't need' the WFP and how things like free prescriptions and bus passes weren't necessary, and assumed that the policy would go down well?

I think this issue with covering the cost of a new lift could be a case of mismanagement of funds by the board of directors or the company that runs your complex. If you are charged a monthly or annual ‘fee’ paid to this company or group to manage the day to day costs of maintenance and upkeep of the building and the property in general such as landscaping, small repairs, staffing/management costs etc., a certain percentage of these fees should be kept in a separate account to accumulate in what is called a Reserve Fund specifically set up to cover major expenses such as the cost of new lifts, new roof etc., and only accessed for major expenses - not month to month running costs. Because these major expenses don’t occur regularly, the Reserve Fund - if managed properly - can grow over time to cope with big expenditures like this. It still amounts to the same thing - the occupants of the complex are bearing the cost, because a percentage of the fees they have paid over time will have contributed to the growth of the Reserve Fund so it can be accessed to cover these major expenditures. A healthy Reserve Fund is a true indicator of a well managed complex!

Theexwife

If she has paid rent all her life then it was far more than you would have paid for your mortgage, you now have an asset she does not.

....and your point is?

Your friend isn't getting anything for nothing !

Maintenance costs can be challenged if they are excessive. Have you thought of getting together with fellow residenrs and forming a pressure group?

When I lived in a tower block back in the early 90s there were building works with jackhammers (to alter a major underpass) which went on overnight. I helped to organise a pressure group with residents of several blocks and we won an injunction to stop night time work.

Ive also collaborated with neighbours to stop and HMO being located opposite.

Not the same thing but you have more clout when you get together with others.

Residents can take over the management and maintenance of these places, I think.

Then there is the various issues that entails to deal with.

If its any consolation, i live in a council block, and it is almost a slum.

Oh dear, ALANaV I can understand why you're unhappy.

I'm really surprised the residents are having to fund the new lift; surely that is what these extortionate annual charges are for? Maintenance of the buildings eg repairs of roof, gutters, stairways, new lift, decorating of the outside and public spaces should be down to the company running the apartments even if you pay for decoration and maintenance of your individual cars.

Instead of getting cross on GN, why not organise a meeting of residents and see how they feel then seek advice?

Good luck.

Ps your post is a good wakeup call for anyone considering buying a retirement apartment or a Park Home.

cars.
Not sure where thst came from! flats

GrauntyHelen

Your friend isn't getting anything for nothing !

No, but she is getting significant discounts, because someone has decided that she is in need where people like Alan are not.

Means-testing is iniquitous, and targets the majority who are neither rich nor poor. If you have less than what is 'needed' you get given. If you have significantly more, it doesn't matter as you don't 'need' allowances. If, on the other hand, you have tried to save and be self-sufficient, you are deemed unworthy, and have to keep paying out to support those who have not. Not only that, but you are assumed to be too dim to realise that life is not fair, and too uncaring to want to see this without means to save to be helped.

Take a contribution from everyone (weighted according to income), and give allowances to everyone at the life stages where they need it - eg childhood, maternity, illness, old age - the stronger should support the weaker, and expect support in their turn. This only fails when people are allowed to opt out, and the scales don't balance.

maddyone

Theexwife

If she has paid rent all her life then it was far more than you would have paid for your mortgage, you now have an asset she does not.

ALANaV has explained, the person in question bought her own house, but sold it to give her children an inheritance.
So if she needs social care, that will be paid for by the state too.

That is deprivation of assets and she may find she will not be funded if she needs care.
Perhaps her children will cough up.