Cheryl Bissett from McCarthy and Stone has answered your questions about retirement living and planning

It seems unfair that on the sale of your flat McCarthy and Stone take a percentage of the sale. That put me off

How many years NI contributions to qualify for a full old age state pension?

Do you recommend Premium Bonds?

Do I own the retirement property and can I include it in my will?

What's the maximum number of bedrooms in your properties? We often have people to stay.

In Australia they have complexes for all stages of elderly life, all adjoining. Independent living, sheltered accommodation and a nursing home. You move on as you become less able to cope.
There is also a shop, hairdresser, doctor’s surgery and a cafe-bar where you can meet for a drink or snack. There is a swimming pool, bowling green, social area and a huge hobby shed with tools and materials supplied. Do you have anything similar?

I think retirement villages etc. always look so attractive until you consider the cost of living there.
Also, I currently live in a bungalow in a mixed generation close with really lovely neighbours. It is nice to see the children playing in the street & neighbours tending to their gardens.

I love my gardening. Are there any developments that let you have a little patch of your own or encourage communal gardening

Do any developments have private gardens for residents?

Is the age of new residents increasing or decreasing?

We looked at a retirement development built by a company called Platinum Skies. We viewed several apartments and even picked out the one we wanted but when we sat down and looked at the fees we realised we could in no way afford it. The salesperson was incredibly pushy and insisted we book an appointment with their finance person who would visit us and look into our situation. We booked the appointment (under duress) but then rang and cancelled it. They were not best pleased!
We do like the idea of retirement living but we are rather reluctant to look at anywhere else as we don’t want to get into that kind of situation again.
My question is why are the fees hidden away in the small print?

Are there any totally no smoking blocks within a development? I hate cigarette (and cigar) smoke, and I'm worried that if a smoker lived in the apartment below me , the smoke from his/her property could drift upwards through my windows, particularly when smokers got together on the balcony of a property on a summer evening.

What about pets? We have a beloved dog who I would be very reluctant to rehome as he's part of our family, having lived with us since he was a pup, could he live with us there?

My friend has moved into one but feels like an outsider as she is a widow and everyone else is in a couple is this typical? I too am a widow.
She feels many of the people living there are better off than her and there is a slight tension again is this typical?

She also feels pressured to join activities I wouldn’t like this.

I would never want to live anywhere my grandkids cannot come for a sleep over from time to time and I have heard this is a no no is that the case?

With interest rates so low is it worth withdrawing pensions, or leaving them

I would not like it. Variety is the spice of life in all things.

Sorry wrong thread

I'm worried about what I'm going to do when I retire, financially. How will I go from getting a salary every month to then just living on a small and not enough pension. So scared about that would appreciate any advice. Thank you.

Do you take a percentage of the sale?

I am a renter with no property to sell - are there renting options and how do the prices and fees compare to the market generally?

Have seen McCarthy + Stone locations at their on-line site. As was looking for a friend's mither . My question is - Can you purchase to an apartment that has the Orange pull cords in every room or is that not possible. As know sheltered flats have these as a regular feature.

Have McCarthy and Stone got lists of approved tradespeople for their developments? I'm currently trying to find a couple of trades for jobs on my property and I'm finding the process of actually getting tradesmen to quote then assessing really drawn out and a little stressful. I don't expect to get any more relaxed about this when I get older!

If I bought somewhere, what has to happen to it after I've gone on to a better place? (If you get what I mean)

What is the level of soundproofing in MacCarthy & Stone properties? Those who are hard of hearing sometimes turn the sound up to unacceptable levels on TV & radio, which could disconcert close neighbours.

How much do you charge each resident for things such as maintenance of grounds, building repairs etc? Also, is it possible to re-sell on the open market? Or do you have to go via a particular Mc Carthy and Stone agent?