McCarthy & Stone: want to road test a retirement apartment and report back for Gransnet? You could win £200! NOW CLOSED

Lazigirl - I forgot to mention the laundry, not sure whether the washers and driers were separate. Visitors can stay overnight in a guest apartment. I heard that some current residents have small dogs, I didn't see them. I think you'd like the balconies!

I've just enjoyed an overnight stay in a McCarthy and Stone Retirement Living Plus development, Bilberry Place in Bromsgrove. I went as a Gransnet tester and there was NO pressure to buy or sales spiel whatsoever.

Extras on offer include help with downsizing such as removal, and disposal of surplus furniture. I think those moving in would have to make some thoughtful decisions regarding how much of their current possessions they really needed to keep with them. But, of course, that's what downsizing is about.

I saw 1 and 2 bedroom apartments both furnished and unfurnished. I thought them spacious and well equipped. There is a wet room with basin and loo and a separate loo with basin. All internal doors are wide enough for wheelchairs, there is a large storage cupboard in the hallway, other cupboards and also a built in wardrobe in the bedroom. The fully fitted kitchen was practical and had plenty of cupboards, some shelves were out of reach for 4'10''' me but I use a stool for higher cupboards in my own kitchen anyway! There is room to have a dishwasher fitted if required.

Although it would be possible to be completely selfcatering there is an onsite restaurant where I enjoyed a substantial and well cooked three course lunch. The menu provided a good choice of alternatives for each course.
Happily all electrical sockets were about waist height - no more scrabbling at floor level to plug in the vacuum cleaner! Key light switches are illuminated which is useful at night. The doors to the wide carpeted corridors are normally light enough to push easily but should there be a fire alarm become heavy. Don't ask me how this magic is achieved!

One hour's domestic help a week is included in the package, it can be used for cleaning or other tasks such as ironing.
Every apartment has a spacious balcony with room for both garden furniture and container gardening. Some overlook playing fields, others a park. Nearby facilities include a library, doctor's and dentist's surgeries, and a pharmacy. Within a few minutes walk is a bus station, a large supermarket and a church. The main shopping area is also close but the railway station is 2 miles away. I had a taxi and the driver spoke very well of Bilberry Place and said the residents he'd met were very happy there.

The large comfortable lounge is available all day with tea and coffee making facilities and biscuits. The gardens would have been pleasant had it not been pouring with rain. Although the residents keep busy with their own lives and activities, one gentleman being at a local gym and pool at 6.30 most mornings, there are opportunities to join in activities in the lounge too. Recent films are shown, groups listen to music together, play bridge or other games and there was a jigsaw out on a side table. Organised outings included a dinner cruise on the River Severn, a trip to Hereford and the Cathedral, and a coach to see a musical.

The general ambience was relaxed and friendly. I spoke to several residents who were happy with both their apartments and the facilities. There are always staff on duty whom I found to be courteous, cheerful and unstressed.

In short I honestly feel I've had a pre-Easter minibreak in a luxurious hotel where I chatted to some very active and friendly over 70s. Would I be willing to move in? Most probably, but not yet!

We have some of these newly built places here overlooking Asda car park! I think there is a lot of money to be made in the retirement market as people downsize. Personally if I moved into a flat (or apartment if posh), would have a list of requirements to make it viable. A fair not inflated market price, and no restrictions on visitors or pets. No restricted clauses on selling or overpriced maintenance and housekeeping schemes. Effective soundproofing, elderly are sometimes deaf and have loud TVs. Large balcony for eating out, sunbathing & plants. 3 beds for GCs and visitors. A storage room in a basement for bikes, and my own laundry/drying room. I don't like washer dryers. A gym, swimming pool, bar and restaurant on site - and that's just for starters! I don't think Mc&Stone can provide somehow so guess we won't be moving any time soon!

McCarthy and Stone bought land to build on in Hexham several years ago. They have recently begun building on it. When the development is complete I will not be buying one of the apartments. The site looks on to the Tesco store and car park, and behind it is another retirement development, also flats. There will be nowhere for a garden or outside space.

One night? Simply not long enough to determine a lifestyle. And a £50 token? "Big, fat, hairy deal", to quote Garfield the Cat......

Was thinking about 'trying local site out' but MUST be able to have a dog.
Comments are not encouraging.

Nowhere close by ( Cumbria) for me to test. Although near to me a land acquired by ............ sign has just gone up so I'll keep watching !

There are some luxury top end ones near us. It is a Richmond village. Prices start at £600,000. If you just downsize, to a bungalow or ordinary flat near a community centre, the rest of the £600,000 will pay for a heck of a lot of care and assistance, not to mention maintenance and service charges.

There are some lovely luxury apartments near us. Swimming pool, spa, library, dining room, bar, private parking, etc. all beautifully decorated. If you can afford to pay for luxury then it’s probabky worth it at the top end of the market.

Yes, it seems that the pets things is hit or miss. Depending on what the house manager thinks. The resale value of these properties is a lot less than the purchase price.

They sell in the NW for around 90,000, although the price new is in access of £100,000. The fact that they are asking for people to trial them shows that they are not selling fast.

It is a pity that the Church does not do retirement housing like the Almshouses they used to do.

I used to make home visits for a charity for older people and I never visited a retirement flat I would want to live in. All of them, built by a range of companies and some built by councils or housing associations were far too small and as ChristalBee points out, the older you get the more time you are likely to stay in and the lack of space - especially for a couple- would soon drive me to drink or suicide (or even possibly murder).

Try it by all means, but don't bye unless you do lots of research. We looked at a flat and whilst being shown around were told about a gentlemen who reluctantly agreed to move if he could take his little dog, once he moved in it was made clear that his dog would not be welcome! My husband has a guid dog and it was obvious the manager was not aware of disability law, she made comments such as “of corse you wont take your dog into the public areas” having explained that a guid dog was necessary for him to get around she thought she could find a “corner in the lounge and there was table in an out of the way place in the restaurant.” Needless to say we did not return and still enjoy living in our large house and garden, and in fact spend the money we would have spent on the service charge on a home help and a gardener!

GNHQ

I note that the taster visit must be taken in March _2017_
Is this an old offer or a date error?.

My Mum lived in one of these until she passed away. It was so small you couldn't swing a cat round, and no gardens much to speak of. Not for me, I like to wander around in my house, especially when I can't get out. Fancy being cooped up in a small space all day. The public rooms are nearly always empty during the day and cold, not very welcoming. Also you don't usually want to sit with strangers!!

I suspect that the main reason they cannot sell their flats at present is because the housing market has slowed down and potential buyers cannot sell their houses.

I live in South Oxfordshire, where new jobs are being created daily, many well paid, but there are houses in our village, newly renovated, that have been on the market for a year or more.

GUESS WHAT

they are having problems selling their flats.

The company went from being in-home to being bought out by others who saw equity in the company. This would no doubt enhance the equity buyers.

I would not touch it with a barge pole. BEWARE

So this company is looking for someone who might be thinking of buying/leasing one such property and giving them a chance to try it out first OR are they just looking for someone in the right age range to test it out and simply report back.

If it’s the latter I might be willing to test out (Morton-in-Marsh) and report back but I’m not prepared to be put under any pressure to buy.

In 2012 the channel 4 programme exposed the problems prople have with McCarthy & Stone retirement homes. See for yourself at:-

www.leaseholdknowledge.com/mccarthyandstone

Personally I would advise anyone to think most carefully about buying leasehold. They should check the fees for grounds maintenance and the building care and insurance charges plus costs like, heating window cleaning and so forth. These, I know have built up with folk I've met to the point that they have become desperate. Add to this, the fact that apartments cannot be readily sold at the end of ownership makes these ventures dangerous for the unwary. Anyone without relatives who can look into all the figurework with them should seek guidance from
Citizens' Advice:- www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Best of luck!

JustineB Swifthouse in Maidenhead is not in Kent it is in Maidenhead Berkshire. I know because I pass it most weeks.

Re pets M&S need to be clear about this. I friend of mine bought an apartment, she had been living with an elderly relative who had died. She had to move quickly as house was sold. She had a new small yorkie, she was told she could bring it with her. Later she was informed that there had been a committe meeting of the residents who had objected to the dog coming. It was too late for her to change her mind as all the paper work had been done. She had to look for a home for her dearly loved pet. I would never use M&S for that reason. Although I am looking to downsize as I have no close family.

Hi
Am interested but there does not seem to be anything in Kent.
Thanks