Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,020
There needs to be a mixture.Further along there is social housing both sides of the road .London Road area social housing .Castle street .You must get the mixture.More social housing going up in -#St Radigunds .
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,820
Not that long ago I would have said that mixed age housing was the way forward as it was best for all. Now I realise that the thought of crying babies and shrieking children would annoy me after a relatively short time unlike a few years ago when I would have welcomed such noise nearby.
One of the joys of being a grumpy old lady is having irritation of things you have no control over.
Paul M likes this
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,020
When I said mixture I meant flats to buy for elderly people..Pointing out there is social housing,nearby .
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,865
Yes and as I said Jan(and I'm with you on your thoughts) mc carthy stone are expert on senior citizen housing
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,981
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Pablo- Registered: 21 Mar 2018
- Posts: 614
Keith Sansum1 wrote:Yes and as I said Jan(and I'm with you on your thoughts) mc carthy stone are expert on senior citizen housing
Yes Keith,and from personal experience I can tell you that their business model is to induce retired people into their nice cosy developments, then cut the services while upping the charges year on year. Finally, when you die, the executor of your will has to pay them thousands for permission to transfer the lease to a new buyer. When we sold my mother’s McCarthy and Stone flat after her death, a sale price of £120,000 turned into net proceeds of £111,500. Nice work if you can get it.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Pablo- Registered: 21 Mar 2018
- Posts: 614
At least my mother bought the flat second hand so she wasn’t affected by their sales practices. But they are a dreadful organisation and I would advise anyone contemplating purchasing a new flat to think again. When you buy a new flat you will have to wait many years before anyone will buy it for the same price you paid.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,820
Nothing that has been mentioned previously has put me off the thought of living in one of their flats especially as I would buy for my present needs rather than what would happen after my death.
Most of these kinds of places claw some money back when they are sold on. The one on the corner of Coombe Valley Road does, if I remember correctly when I thought about moving there a few years ago, also the charges were rather high there considering there was no live in warden.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Matey
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 11 Oct 2021
- Posts: 174
We got a leaflet through the door this morning advertising these apartments. They are indeed for the over 70’s. It goes on to say they will pay £2500 towards agents fees and £1000 towards legal fees. But…..wait for it…..buy from £230,000 or rent from £2,705 per month!
They don’t all have balconies though. My mother told me that if you sell one of these McCarthy Stone apartments then you have to pay them a % of the sale price. Phew………too much for us!
Life without a dog is like a salad without lettuce.
ray hutstone- Registered: 1 Apr 2018
- Posts: 2,158
Matey wrote:We got a leaflet through the door this morning advertising these apartments. They are indeed for the over 70’s. It goes on to say they will pay £2500 towards agents fees and £1000 towards legal fees. But…..wait for it…..buy from £230,000 or rent from £2,705 per month!
They don’t all have balconies though. My mother told me that if you sell one of these McCarthy Stone apartments then you have to pay them a % of the sale price. Phew………too much for us!
I got one too. You would need to be either very stupid or carelessly rich to fall into that pit. They lure you in knowing that their profits will accrue as the years roll on and the inevitable approaches.
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Matey- Location: Dover
- Registered: 11 Oct 2021
- Posts: 174
A quarter of a million pounds - for an apartment that you never REALLY own! Ridiculous.
Life without a dog is like a salad without lettuce.
victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,068
I agree with what is said it is all over the top
Andy B
- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,746
Was thinking about one of these flats for my mum,but i,m not so sure now.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,865
Quite a few for over 60s
But also the ground rent fairly high
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Reginald Barrington
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Dec 2014
- Posts: 3,235
Andy B wrote:Was thinking about one of these flats for my mum,but i,m not so sure now.
They are great for the security they provide (resident house manager, safety pull cords etc.), the community aspect, they are already adapted for future needs (wheelchair access etc), there will be no unexpected maintenance costs (roof repair for example).
The service charges are the biggest sticking point in my opinion, you need to seriously consider what You are getting or what might be needed in the future and if the cost is justified for your circumstances.
You would not need to be stupid or carelessly rich to buy one, but would need to fully understand the details and consider if it would be suitable for your circumstances, research is key. Don't dismiss the option for the sake of a few naysayers.
The resale fees have changed since the horror stories of the past and the government are proposing to abolish ground rents for retirement living properties (likely to be a way off yet!)
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Arte et Marte
victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,068
We are going down there to have a look round on the 7th of March in view that at some point we will need to rent one both my wife and myself are getting older like we all do.in our case our health is not at its best and cannot see that is going to get better we are very lucky to live in a very nice cottage and have been here from the day they were build but we are finding it hard to keep it looking nice and I find the same with the garden .but do we have the funds to move to what they have on offer ?that is the hard question.
Button
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 22 Jul 2016
- Posts: 3,033
There are "lifts to all floors" and I notice that "selected apartments feature balconies with views over Dover Castle". The neighbours opposite at St Peter and St Paul are gratifyingly quiet, those at Morrisons less so.
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(Not my real name.)
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,865
It suits some people
But probably resales would be better
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,820
Ideal for those downsizing, if they can afford one while for anyone coming from somewhere like London they will seem cheap.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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