Read gransnetters feedback on their road test of McCarthy & Stone retirement apartments

Eloethan like all properties the cost of purchase varies as to where you are in the country, location, size of flat etc. The one we stayed in was £390,950 for a one bedroom one. The maintenance charges and ground rent also vary between developments but they are fixed costs for 15 years so anyone buying one would know exactly how much their fees were going to be for the next 15 years. We found that to be quite reassuring.

As a matter of interest, what area was it in Doodle?

Sorry, I've just checked back on the thread and you did mention that it was in Maidenhead.

I find that interesting because nobody mentioned to me when I asked re the fees that the cost would not change for 15 years. I received a written list of costs and again no mention. I stayed at a Harrow McCarthy & Stone residence in London.

Perhaps it should be highlighted because it would make a big difference. Annual rising costs were putting me off.

The cost of the one bed apartment in Maidenhead certainly does reflect the area.
My friend lives just up the road from me ,3 miles from Stockport and hers cost £175,000.
The site she lives in is the least supporting being classed as Retirement living.

Noooo,! I loved the underfloor heating?

Eglantine read my feedback!

I am 73, and currently live on my own (as a divorcee) in a 4-bedroomed, mid-terrace house near Wokingham.

I travelled by car and had no problem finding the location by SatNav although I had to change the postcode from FF to SS. I understand that I am not alone in this.

I visited McCarthy & Stone at The Clockhouse, Guildford, on my own. I arrived on Tuesday morning, was met at the door by one of the sales staff, and was taken to my apartment to leave my overnight case.

I was then taken to the dining lounge to join in a coffee morning with some of the ladies who live there. They all made me very welcome, although I think they were a little suspicious of why I was there. One in particular asked 'Do you think you could afford to live here?' which I thought was a bit presumptious of her (because I COULD afford it if I really wanted to). The other ladies were less outspoken and very friendly.

I was told that lunch would be served at 12.30pm prompt, so I went to my apartment to unpack and tidy myself up, so that I wasn't late for the meal. I had pre-ordered my 3-course meal, but unfortunately my request had not made its way to the kitchen. However, apart from the starter I ordered, I was able to have the second and third courses as I had wished. The meal was delicious, well-presented and perfectly adequate (although some thought the portions were too large!).

The apartment was absolutely delightful, very stylishly furnished, but far too warm. As each of the rooms had independent thermostats I turned them all down to the minimum, but the apartment remained very warm.

I was disappointed that there was only a shower, and no bath, because I prefer to bath, but was told that this was because of the danger of falling whilst getting out of a bath. I am sure the apartment would be lovely to live in, but as I am very independent (still working part-time) I would need more stimulation than coffee mornings, 'knit and natter', etc, to be able to feel 'at home'.

I was disappointed that there were no amenities or shops near to the development but did walk the 5 minutes or so to the nearest bus stop and took a bus into Guildford, which the residents seem to think was 'very adventurous'. Sadly the development is sited just off a very busy roundabout, with no pedestrian or controlled crossings which made getting across the road quite difficult - thankfully I am fleet of foot!

Inside my apartment there was nothing more than I could need - it was absolutely stunning. However, the view from my lounge and bedroom window was of the local ambulance station - not a pretty sight. I presume the price of the apartment would reflect this. I cannot back this up because at no time was I given any sales literature or pricing structure.

This visit was certainly one that I will remember with pleasure, and maybe in the future when I am less able I would consider moving into something similar - not The Clockhouse, because of its position, but maybe something nearer to my current home in Berkshire.

Thank you for the opportunity to 'test drive' the apartment. I think this process is very sensible so that you can assess what is offered and what you need.

Thank you also to all of the lovely staff - sales, catering, and reception - for making me so welcome.

Thank you Justine.

I believe anyone considering buying a retirement property should do a great deal of research first and obtain legal advice specifically geared to this sort of purchase.

I'm horrified that M& S offer would-be buyers well below the market price for their properties. Sounds like cynical profiteering to me. The design of kitchens seems like an issue to me too: no built- in microwave, in 2018? Underfloor heating that is difficult to control? Apartments with pokey little windows overlooking car parks, no thanks. Difficulties selling?These reviews have thoroughly put me off.

Jaxie I agree about the difficulty selling. My mother moved into a similar place in Canada when she was unable to return to her own home from hospital, but luckily rented. She moved 4 times between 84 and about 88. She is now in the best place which is perfect for her.
The first place was expensive. It was nice at first but they kept cutting services, particularly in the restaurant which had a significant drop in quality. She then moved somewhere which did not have enough support and then finally found her current place. It will be her final home and we will not have the problem of selling it when she dies.
The care seems very good. She had an accident when she forgot to turn off her mobility scooter and it ran over her and they were very quick to get her to hospital.
Getting locked into a property can cause all kinds of problems.
According to Mums Net M&C charge a 1% transfer fee and a 1% contingency fee on a sale.
There is some good information on that site about concerns. For example, is a 24 hour carer becomes necessary would this be precluded by age restrictions.
They advise looking at a site like RightMove to see what such flats are selling on for and how long they have been on the market. The prices seem to be low. They also advise doing a google search of the management company for reviews.
The lack of good rentals is really a problem in the UK at a time when people need flexibility more than ever.

Do not ignore the legal aspect. Much of what has been written above concerns the accommodation and location. Because there is so much to consider that is different to, say, a normal house buying/selling arrangement (which has the advantage of freehold in many cases) the legal side has not been covered. The push from McCarthy and Stone is all on us buying, understandably as they want every appartment sold. That tends to obscure the problems and costs of selling. There is detail there to find but each case needs careful consideration if only because a sale is the last thing you consider. There is a very real financial commitment right up to the date of sale. Empty appartments that do not sell immediately may become more difficult to sell.

I was invited to test out Devonshire Grange in Roundhay, Leeds and went with my husband. We both found the experience very enjoyable. There were two reasons for taking part, one was to see what it was like should my 80 something Mum want to return to the UK and secondly, to find out for ourselves as downsizing is something we will have to do in the not too distant future.

The customer service was brilliant from start to finish, all the staff we met were lovely and couldn't be more helpful. We especially appreciated the food left in the fridge and apartment for us.

This is a brand new development so everything is very new. There is ample parking for all residents and guests (something which is a problem at our local McCarthy and Stone development). It is in an ideal location if you don't have access to a car as there is a bus stop just outside the development, but there are plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants within walking distance. Roundhay Park isn't too far away either, with Tropical World, ideal for grandchildren! Oh, and within a five minute drive you have a Lidl, Aldi and M&S Food. Bit further away is a Waitrose and Sainsburys. The doctor's surgery is also within a stone's throw.

The apartment felt very secure, with the additional feature of being able to watch the entrance via one of the TV channels available. Was also impressed that there are panic cords not only in the apartment but also in the corridors of the complex. What surprised us the most was how quiet the apartment was - soundproofing is excellent as there was no noise from the nearby road or the neighbours.

The one-bedroomed apartment we were staying in was quite spacious with great natural light. There is a large amount of storage space just off the living area, walk-in wardrobe in the bedroom and large cupboard off the hallway where there is a washing machine. The living area is open plan with the kitchen having built in oven, fridge/freezer, hob and microwave. Lots of cubboard space and work surface. There is no dishwasher. The bathroom has a walk-in shower and a minor criticism is that the room isn't huge and doesn't have a great deal of cupboard space. If we were to move in we would like more sockets in all the rooms - things like Wi-Fi routers, radios, pcs, printers and all the paraphernalia of modern living!

The residents we met in the corridors were all very welcoming - the residents' lounge was empty whenever we went through, but there did seem to be quite a few activities posted on the notice board including a knitting club and gentle exercise classes.

Am definitely going to send the information pack to Mum to see if it might persuade her to move back to the UK. It really would be ideal for her with everything on her doorstep. Would we move? Well would definitely consider the retirement complex local to us when we do finally decide to downsize. We will have to do a fair bit of decluttering first. Another consideration to take into account for us is the fact that only one pet is allowed - we currently have two cats, one rabbit and two chickens.

The accounts of those who visited various McCarthy & Stone (Mcc & S) developments have been very interesting. As a flat owner for 5 mths in a Mcc&S development I would agree that their flats are comfortable and meet the needs of those who are on their own, wish to move nearer their family or are no longer able to maintain a larger house and/or garden. The opportunity to meet and socialise with people in the same age group is also welcome.

The weekly service charge is quite high but is known before purchase. What I have now belatedly found out is that Mcc & S can be quite irresponsible in setting the initial prices for their flats and when they do not sell can reduce the market price of remaining flats, not modestly but substantially. It is those who have already bought who will lose.

I purchased a flat in a development which had opened for sale over a year ago. At the end of the first year only 13 out of 39 flats had sold. In Mcc & S words they had to "attempt to re-establish an appropriate sales rate and reinvigorate visitor footfall to ensure the development continues to sell and does not stagnate" This meant that after over a year they decided to look at the the local housing market. This has resulted in the remaining flats being reduced on average by around £60,000 for a two bedroom flat and £40,000 for a one bedded flat. This obviously has huge financial implications for those who had already bought. It is highly unlikely that they or their dependants will ever come near to redeeming the price they paid. It is understood that house prices can fall as well as rise but the extent of these falls is unbelievable.

It could be argued that those who originally bought should all have sought private individual valuations. As the development was a "new build" and as no mortgage was being sought a valuation was seen as being unnecessary. Naively I and my fellow purchasers trusted, believed even, that Mcc& S with their obvious experience in this type of market would have ascertained what was fair prices in the local market.

There is no legal action which can be taken and an appeal which has been made on ethical grounds has fallen on deaf ears. No expression of regret has been extended. All I can now do is to warn other prospective buyers to be more careful. Living in a Mcc & S development is indeed pleasant but for me and those who initially bought into this development it will be a very costly decision.

Very interesting ozzles. I think this probably happens in all developments where sales aren't what the sellers expected. I know lots of local sites where properties have been reduced. It's a bit like going into Marks and Spencer after buying an outfit and finding it much reduced in the sale (I realise your loss is far greater). I suppose the point is that if you buy early on you get the choice of all the apartments but as time goes on the choices are more limited. It's a large sum of money to reduce the prices by though. I'm not surprised you are upset.

I was at another M&S development today doing a talk for the residents social programme. Once again I found a room full of very happy people who were very pleased with their move to this development.
Beautiful grounds, parking, lovely interior and residents lounge. I have no agenda here I'm just very impressed by the places I've visited in the course of my work.

Ozzles...Thanks for that. So good to hear from a flat owner. Unfortunately, you confirm the reservations I expressed in my review

Hi Panache, thanks for your comment. We have the below message from McCarthy & Stone:
"We're really sorry to hear about your experience - thank you for bringing this to our attention. We'd like to get in touch and put you in contact with the Sales Director. We hope that we can work to find a solution you will be happy with, and restore your faith again in McCarthy & Stone. You should have received a message from Gransnet with more details"

Further to the above although I consented Gransnet to allow McCarthy & Stone to have my details,I have not heard a word.

It is some time since Isent a report on my experience in buying a flat in a MC & S development. Doodle was correct in his reply that prices can be reduced and will be if a property does not sell. I certainly would have accepted that it was my bad luck that the had been reduced here by a few thousand.. I could, however, have hoped that in time the price would recover. But I can never believe that the reductions which have been made and still could be made will ever, in my lifetime, recover from the huge reductions here.
Since first writing I have had a detailed letter from the Managing Director (MD) for the area where my flat is. It contained a number of inaccuracies and wrong information. My attempt to correct these has been totally ignored and I have now received what I call a Pontius Pilate response. The MD h,as never attempted to speak with me, nor, as was hoped, meet with those who will be affected by the introduction of what is now being termed as "the new pricing approach"
In his letter the MD does admit that their original marketing and sales approach had been wrong. They had thought that those who would buy in this development would come from outside the area. They had discovered that they were more likely to come from the local area or the town itself, where the development is located. This had caused him to conclude that a rethink was needed on affordability. The logic here in deciding the price of a property somewhat escapes me.
He then went on to say that they were now considering features such as outlook from flat, its location in the building and its size would be taken into consideration. All of these are acceptable factors in pricing, but surely should have been done at the outset. Those who have bought have not had those considerations built in to the price of their flats. Again a visit from the MD would have allowed him to see for himself what each flat offered.

The Customer Charter for McC&S begins with the followingsentence. "For every decision we make we ask ourselves whether it is good enoug for our parents" Surely the MD, and his Directors of Customer Services and Sales & Marketing, who have all had a part to play, forgot that pledge. They certainly did not consider the long term implications to those who have been caught in this debacle. Alright it seems to admit that they got their original pricing wrong as long as the financial loss is not going to be to Mc&S's
As the MD has made it clear to me that he won't even answer the mistakes in his letter then I consider I should warn other elderly people of the unethical/uncaring practices of McC&S.

Dear Corinna

As my husband aged 67 yrs and myself aged 66 yrs are now retired we are now considering moving from our 4 bedroom house to a smaller home with less upkeep and responsibility and to enable us to spend more time doing other activities.
We visited the McCarthy & Stone development at Stamford Bridge and on approach we both noticed how quiet the location is with just the birds singing we both felt the development is welcome and pleasant.

The security which is one of the main considerations was reassuring and gives an all important sense of safety I particularly liked the postman being able to deliver your mail personally as this made you feel you still had your own front door especially with the doorbell, also the access to someone 24 hours if you needed help /advice was a major plus to the feeling of peace of mind.

The entrance lobby was large giving a sense of space with plenty of information on local activities and businesses.

The apartment is well planned giving a sense of space with good storage space.Personal preferences were a bath in the en-suite, the lounge doors opening onto the hall instead of into the lounge would give more space for furniture and the work service/breakfast bar in kitchen/lounge would give more space to dining area if made less wide especially as you could fit small table in kitchen area, I also found the self closing bedroom and bathroom door a nuisance and would have preferred the choice to leave either doors open. the bedroom door seemed particularly heavy.

We found our stay comfortable with high spec appliances and although we do not feel ready for the move yet on staying at the apartment we would certainly consider, possibly the development at Bishophill York.The development offer what you would be looking for to live a good lifestyle in retirement with freedom from worry and more time to enjoy, I would most certainly and already have recommended the properties to a friend.

I would just like to add we found yourself very helpful and Linda very welcoming, well informed and enthusiastic about McCarthy& Stone.
Yours Sincerely

Gransnet....Not sure if this thread is still live...or if the Prize Draw has already taken place?
If it is still live, there was an interesting item on today's Money Box, where Paul Lewis interviewed the CEO of McCarthy and Stone.
The issue concerned how retirement home developers like McCarthy and Stone and Churchill were fighting back against government proposals to do away with the ground rent charge in England and Wales.
The CEO asserted that retirement homes should be exempt on the grounds that these charges funded the cost of communal areas etc.
Paul Lewis challenged this, asserting that "your model is broken".
He also challenged the CEO on the re-sale value of homes being considerably less than originally paid, a statement challenged by the CEO, who stated that 75% rose in value.
I guess it's the same old story: Caveat emptor