What to Look for When Visiting a Retirement Village — A Practical Checklist

A retirement village visit is a sales event as much as it is an inspection. The environment will be well presented, the staff will be welcoming, and the brochure will be compelling. This checklist helps you look past the presentation and assess what daily life there would actually be like.


View All Guides

Before you visit

  • Check the village’s registration on the Companies Office Retirement Villages Register

  • Look up the village online — are there any reviews, news stories, or complaints?

  • Write down your parent’s specific priorities before you go

  • Book more than one visit if possible — visit at different times of day

The physical environment

  • Is the village well-maintained, or are there signs of deferred maintenance?

  • Is the unit a practical size and layout for your parent’s current and likely future needs?

  • Is the unit accessible — step-free entry, wide doorways, accessible bathroom?

  • Is there adequate heating and are energy costs included in the weekly fee?

  • Is there outdoor space the residents actually use?

  • What is parking like for visitors?

  • How far is the village from shops, medical services, and the things your parent values?

The community

  • Do the residents you observe seem happy and engaged, or quiet and withdrawn?

  • What activities and social opportunities are available and how many residents actually participate?

  • Can you speak to a current resident — ideally not one selected by the village?

  • What is the process when a resident’s social needs are not being met?

The staff

  • What is the staff turnover like? High turnover is a meaningful quality signal.

  • How do staff interact with residents during the visit?

  • Who is available and how quickly can staff be reached for urgent needs?

  • What happens overnight — is there someone on site?

The financials — ask directly

  • What is the full entry cost for this specific unit?

  • What is the current weekly fee and what does it include?

  • What is not included in the weekly fee?

  • What is the exact Deferred Management Fee structure — percentage, basis, and maximum?

  • Does your parent receive any share of capital gains when the unit is resold?

  • How many weeks of fees continue after a resident leaves or passes away?

  • What is the average time to resell a unit and repay the capital?

  • Has the weekly fee increased in the past three years and by how much?

Care — now and in the future

  • Does the village have an on-site rest home or care facility?

  • Is there an automatic right of transfer for existing residents, or is it subject to availability?

  • What happens financially when a resident moves from the village into the care facility?

  • What is the process if care needs increase beyond what the village can provide?

Practical and legal

  • Is there a waiting list and how long is it typically?

  • What is the complaints process and has it been used in the past year?

  • Is there a residents’ committee with genuine input into village decisions?

  • What are the rules about visitors, overnight guests, and pets?

  • What are the restrictions on alterations or modifications to the unit?

AFTER THE VISIT Take notes during the visit and compare them across villages. The financials especially will blur in memory. Before signing anything, an independent review of the ORA by a lawyer experienced in retirement village matters is required by law — and is genuinely worth doing carefully.

→ See our full guide: Understanding retirement village occupation right agreements

Related Guides and Pages