Property charges

Depending on the location and your circumstances, you can:

• Purchase a home outright (homes are offered on a leasehold basis)
• Purchase a shared ownership home (‘shared ownership’ is where you buy a proportion of your home, then pay rent, which is the ‘interest only’ element, on the unpurchased portion).
• Social rent a home via your local authority

In addition to your purchase or rental costs, each home is subject to the following on-going charges (which may vary according to your ExtraCare Scheme or Village and type of tenure):

• Village Facilities Charge: Costs associated with maintaining the communal areas, such as: fire alarms, entry phone system and emergency lighting repair; communal area cleaning; rubbish collection, disposal and pest control; insurances; staff time for organising these services.
• Apartment Maintenance Charge (this is included in rental costs for rented apartments, and will be a separate charge for purchase and shared ownership homes): This covers some tasks associated with the day-to-day maintenance of your home and the management time associated with these tasks. The charge also includes your buildings insurance (but not contents insurance). Full details will be given to you when you make your application.
• Utilities Charge: All heat, light and power to each home; all water and sewage services associated with each home.
• Village Amenities Charge (in some locations): A contribution towards the running of the Well-being Service, activity costs including staffing, a contribution towards the restaurant where applicable, 24-hour access to staff support in an emergency, and costs associated with running the communal areas.
• Ground rent: Ground rent is not payable on properties purchased under leases granted from 1 April 2023.
• Key Facts Documents: Our Key Facts documents for each location provide full details of the charges and additional costs payable for each tenure option. Please ask for further details.

Additional costs which vary between different ExtraCare Schemes and Villages may include:

• Council Tax: Council tax is payable by you directly to the local council. The Council will work out your council tax charge based on the value of your home and its size. Find out more here.
• Care: Care services are charged as required and costs vary according to the amount of care needed. Many residents can receive benefit entitlements to support the cost of their care and we will advise you when you apply.
• Ground Rent: Ground rent is not payable under leases granted from 1 April 2023.
• Stamp Duty (for purchasers only): You are eligible to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) if you buy a property or land over a certain price in the UK. Find out more here.
• Home Contents Insurance: This is to cover the contents of your home. However, your building insurance will be covered in your Management Charge (see above).
• Telephone/Internet/Broadband: If you require these services.
• Satellite/Digital TV: If you require these services.
• TV Licence (depending on your circumstances). Find out more here.
• Maintenance of White Goods: Enhanced properties have integrated appliances (e.g. washer/dryer, fridge/freezer, oven, hob and extractor). You will be responsible for the maintenance of these after their respective warranties expire.

Access to Village Facilities: Whilst access to many of the Village facilities is covered by residents’ charges, membership of specific Village activity clubs and participation in Village entertainment and social outings are usually charged in relation to costs.

If you leave your purchased home, it will normally be purchased by The ExtraCare Charitable Trust which operates a waiting list of potential residents. The original purchase price of your home is guaranteed to be returned to you or your estate, minus a long term maintenance charge, an administration fee and any outstanding weekly charges. The long term maintenance charge supports renewal and replacement of structural and other integral items in the building, as well as anticipated costs of upgrades and improvements to the Village.

Please note, some non-essential services or activities may only be available subject to demand or the availability of staff or volunteer resources. (For example, this might influence the duration of the shop, restaurant and well-being service opening hours, or the availability of some resident activities or specialist/luxury treatments).

Residents are informed in advance of annual reviews of their rental costs or other charges

The following costs associated with your Village residency may be eligible for support through the Welfare Benefits System:

• Housing costs of your shared ownership or rental property.
• The provision of care.
• Your weekly charges.

Our Welfare Benefits Advisors can advise you, in confidence, about your entitlements. In some rare cases, levels of benefit entitlement may be insufficient, but our Welfare Benefits Team is able to complete an affordability assessment with you.