Downsizing to a retirement flat
Retired and finding your present home too big and expensive to heat and run? This is a dilemma for retired people wanting to downsize from the family home. A solution is to rent a retirement apartment and invest your capital against future care requirements. No more hassle with maintenance problems, finding a plumber, keeping the garden tidy or battling with the encroaching cobwebs. What’s available where one can enjoy privacy but have access to 24 hour support?
Gretton Court Ltd. in Girton, just north of the city centre, offers a rental alternative. It has long been favoured by retiring academics from Cambridge University but has lately widened its appeal. With 57 apartments set in three acres of landscaped gardens, it is owned and managed on a not-for-profit basis, and there are no hidden extras – no expensive service charges, which are often typical of commercially operated retirement schemes.
Rents range from £700 pcm for a studio to £1600 pcm for a two bedroom apartment. But, surprisingly, the rent includes water rates, central heating, hot water and all residents’ services, maintenance and cleaning of all public areas, sitting rooms, corridors and gardening are included. There are no hidden extras.
While you have your own front door, there is a range of public sitting rooms, and two conservatories, plus the extensive gardens. Support is provided 24 hours a day, all year round, and residents who need them can arrange their own care arrangements with outside organisations.
All surplus income is ploughed back into the development to maintain the amenities which now include a second purpose built large conservatory which was recently completed. There is a long established, very lively community with many activities organised by the residents’ committee, including, croquet, visits to places of interest, film shows, and charitable events, such as our recent MacMillan’s coffee morning.
While exclusively for people over the age of 55, a number of our residents are still at work.
Gretton Court offers the over 55s the opportunity to rent while preserving their capital to invest for the future. You can find further details on the website www.grettoncourt.co.uk.
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE APARTMENTS CONTACT RECEPTION ON 01223 276266.