Looking for a property?
We have put together some of the most frequently asked questions for you below; but remember, if these don’t answer your own questions please do not hesitate to get in touch!
We have put together some of the most frequently asked questions for you below; but remember, if these don’t answer your own questions please do not hesitate to get in touch!
Please call the site you are interested in and we’ll take you through your options, from exclusive tours to booking a viewing.
It’s when you agree to buy a property before the development is completed (usually around three months before). This gives you the benefit of the first choice of properties, and plenty of time to prepare. Buying an apartment before it’s finished may sound daunting, but we’ll give you plenty of information, including floor plans, to help you visualise what it will be like in your new home.
We can’t argue that pets aren’t part of the family, and we know you’d never be able to leave them behind when moving. So, if that’s holding you back from your new luxury retirement apartment, worry not for household animals are welcome at Anchor.
Anchor leasehold properties are designed for active independent living. They are not suitable for people with significant care needs like advanced dementia. We do have care homes that can cater to your needs If that is a concern, it’s important that buyers and their families understand the limit of the support Anchor can offer.
If Anchor New Homes is unsure whether a would-be homeowner needs more support than we can offer, a care manager may ask to make a home visit to discuss their concerns or to speak to the customer’s GP. If a homeowner develops dementia while living on our developments, there’s a lot we can do to support them. If they can no longer live safely and independently in a development, we can work with them and their family to help them move to a more specialised setting.
Yes, dependent on our development sites, there are electric car charging facilities. Contact the site you’re interested in to find out if the development has electric charging facilities.
Investing in a new home is a big decision to make. We understand that so, when we can (and please check on each site you’re interested in for variations) we can signpost you to suppliers to make this move worth every penny.
Some of our developments have underfloor heating which is one of a number of sustainability features throughout our apartments that are designed to lower the cost of living and increase efficiency and insulation. Other sustainability features may include low energy LED lighting, solar panels and internal wall insulation.
All internal walls are well insulated, so sound is kept to a minimum.
No. Other than the fully fitted kitchens, the apartments are unfurnished ready for your own furniture
Yes. You may of course decorate your apartment how you like once you have purchased it. We can recommend retailers of curtains and light fittings etc or you can employ your own choice of companies if you would prefer. The walls are painted in cream or white as standard however we can also provide interior design options at an additional charge.
On-site car parking is provided, although arrangements vary between developments so please contact the on-site Sales or Management team for more details. Are there slip resistant floors in the kitchen and bathroom? Yes. All apartments have slip resistant floors in the kitchen and bathroom as standard
Kitchens are fully fitted with oven, hob and extractor which come with a 1-year guarantee. Washing machines are not included at some developments.
Yes, if you own the apartment then smoking is allowed within your apartment, but not within communal areas.
Yes, provided you obtain the landlord’s written permission and use appropriately qualified and insured contractors. Your Estates Services Manager will be able to help you to find a reputable company
No, our apartments are wheelchair accessible, however they are not adapted specifically for wheelchair users.
Within an Anchor development a homeowner’s guest or guests are welcome to stay for as long as the suite is available and paid for. There is a maximum five night stay within developments. Please contact the property for prices.
No. Our on-site guest suites provides you with an alternative option for your guests, but you can invite them to your home if you prefer.
There is a cost per night for use of the guest suite,this will vary depending on the development so please check with your Sales team.
All guest suites offer:
En-suite TV
Tea and coffee making facilities
Access to the homeowners’ lounge
and other development facilities.
Anchor properties are designed for independent living. They are not suitable for people with significant dementia care needs.
That said, if a homeowner develops dementia, there’s a lot we can do to support them. If they can no longer live safely and independently in a development, we can work with them and their family to help them move to a more specialised setting i.e., an Anchor care home.
This depends on how the flood occurred and who is responsible. The buildings insurance included within the service charge generally only covers damage that is caused to the building or communal contents (i.e. not contents owned individually by a homeowner). However, if the landlord of the building is held to be responsible for the flood, then generally damage will be covered by the buildings insurance or the landlord’s public liability insurance policy.
It is recommended that homeowners take out their own contents insurance, as this will usually provide cover in the event of a leak caused by the homeowner (i.e. due to a running tap etc). It is best to take advice from an insurance broker.
The age criteria for occupiers can vary from site to site and are often imposed by council planning departments and are in line with government policy which encourages purpose-built accommodation for older people.
We are so excited you have chosen one of our new homes. We have compiled a list of questions you may find useful on your home buying journey.
Dependent on age, some lenders offer specialist retirement property mortgages. Talk to your sales consultant for more information.
Yes. Family or friends can own the apartment on your behalf, but only people that meet the age requirements and criteria for the development can live there.
Yes, at some of our developments you can rent the apartment provided your tenant(s) meet the criteria for occupiers set out in the lease.
We need advance notice of the proposed rental agreement, and we ask for a reasonable contingency fee to be paid into an account held on trust for repairs to the property. Talk to your sales consultant for more information about which developments in which this is allowed.
Yes. All new Anchor apartments have either NHBC or LABC cover.
Once contracts have been exchanged a completion date will be confirmed by your solicitor and/or one of our Sales Consultants. The completion date is the day the property legally becomes yours.
Usually there is a two-week gap between exchange and completion to allow you time to prepare and book removal services. It is also possible to exchange and complete on the same day if you want to.
The completion date is the day when ownership of the property legally transfers from Anchor to you. Usually there is a two-week gap between exchange and completion to allow you time to prepare and book removal services. It is also possible to exchange and complete on the same day if you want to.
It’s important to remember that our properties are more than simply a financial investment, they are an investment in the quality of life for our residents and their families.
Our customers recognise that they are buying into a lifestyle based around security and companionship, as well as warmth, friendship, ease of maintenance, reduced responsibilities and enhanced wellbeing. As a result, our customers live independently and have healthier, happier and, hopefully, longer lives.
We have an in-house Resales team to support homeowners and their families when they come to resell their apartment. The team has a unique understanding of retirement living, enabling us to communicate all the benefits clearly.
Find more information here, speak to a member of our team resales@anchor.org.uk.
A contribution of the resale price may apply upon resale. This goes into the sinking fund (the contingency fund) for each development, which covers maintenance of that scheme. There is also a small administration fee to cover the costs of checking that the incoming occupier meets the terms of the deed of conditions.
Below you will find a list of questions relating to additional charges on your development. For specific cost details, please speak to your sales advisor.
Our policy is one of complete transparency around costs. We will talk you through all the costs involved in living in an Anchor apartment before you buy. You’ll receive a key facts leaflet and our Sales Consultant will sit down with you to help you fill in the costs, review what’s covered in budget and compare the to day-to-day running costs with your current home.
Our Sales Consultants ensure that customers have a detailed knowledge of ongoing costs before a sale is completed. In many cases, service charges are lower than like-for-like costs in a purchaser’s previous property, so homeowners rarely have difficulties with ongoing costs. Also heating costs are often lower due to our modern construction methods and the more manageable size of the new apartment.
Service charges cover the day-to-day costs of management and maintenance within our developments, such as the heating and cleaning of communal areas, buildings insurance and redecoration. They are tightly regulated by national legislation and must relate to the management services provided within the development, not to construction or repair costs.
Our service charge varies slightly from development to development reflecting their different sizes and facilities, but they are calculated in the same way across the country. For a typical later living apartment (based on The Landings in Kings Hill) the latest service charge is: 1 bed = £112.60 per week 2 bed = £137.63 per week The lease can be terminated if payments are missed or if any of the ‘Tenants’ Covenants’ are breached.
Anchor cannot terminate leases summarily (a court order is required) and will always act reasonably before initiating the termination process (e.g. first seeking through dialogue to resolve any payment problems or breaches of covenants).
That depends on your individual circumstances, but in many cases, service charges are lower than like-for-like costs in a previous property. Heating costs are also often lower due to our modern construction methods and the more manageable size of the new apartment.
The service charge covers the cost of the services provided to each development these can include:
The service charge budgets represent the costs that we expect to incur in a normal year, with a full development.
We believe the service charge provides good value for money.
Yes, but we try to keep annual increases in line with inflation although certain costs like energy prices can have inflationary pressures that are outside of our control.
No. Council tax is not included in the service charge.
The council tax band varies per development. You can find out much you will pay based on the postcode here: gov.uk/council-tax-bands.
Yes. It is important that the service charge continues to be paid to maintain services across the development and for the security of the other homeowners.
But if a homeowner or their family is experiencing difficulties in paying, we are here to help and will do our best to support them.
Some of our leases state that when you sell your property, you pay Anchor a deferred fee. This is usually calculated as a percentage of the price you paid for your property, multiplied by the number of years and part years of ownership, up to a maximum amount.
Your lease agreement will specify the details of how this figure is calculated. This deferred fee is held in a reserve fund which is used to meet future major works/repairs costs.
If you do get into financial difficulties, we will work with you to agree a way forward. We offer all of our customers support to understand what government benefits are available, so they don’t miss out on money they are entitled to through our Be Wise service.
Remember, if you have any questions we have not answered here, our team will be pleased to help.
Care homes typically offer single room accommodation for rent, whereas you own or rent your own private apartment. Care home fees are usually inclusive of personal care. And whilst some of our developments offer extra care, we do not offer personal care and are not suitable for someone with significant medical care needs. A clear difference between care homes and our apartments is that the apartments are available for purchase, meaning that your beautiful new home really is yours.
Retirement villages are typically large-scale out-of-town developments of up to 250 units, providing a range of accommodation and care options.
Alternatively, our developments are typically in well-connected central locations, close or in town centres, and of a manageable size, averaging around 70 apartments.
The safety of our homeowners is our top priority. On all the developments that we manage, we take full responsibility for their robust maintenance and take appropriate action whenever necessary. Read more information about all our fire safety measures.
We take complaints very seriously. If you do have an issue, please do let us know so that we can resolve it. Most problems can be solved quickly and informally by contacting a member of the Anchor New Homes team; for example one our Estate Managers or sales consultants. Speaking to your local manager will often be the quickest way to put things right.
We do however appreciate that sometimes this isn’t possible. If you would prefer to speak to a member of our Customer Relations Team, they can be contacted in any of the following ways
For further information on our complaints policy, please view our full policy here.
Yes. Anchor is a member of The Property Ombudsman, Membership Number: T03635