Oak Tree Lifestyle Villages FAQ's

Who is Oak Tree Retirement Villages?
The Oak Tree Group is a privately owned, family company which was founded in 2004 by the De Pasquale and Bindon families to service the growing need for affordable, and quality accommodation options for Australia’s ageing population. Prior to establishing Oak Tree Retirement Villages, the families’ work history was within the child care industry as developers and centre operators. This, together with the individual careers of each of the three Directors in their various fields of law, economics and marketing, presents a team of expert leaders who steer their staff to become not the biggest, but the best village operators in Australia.

Is Oak Tree an experienced provider of Lifestyle/Retirement Villages?
Yes. Oak Tree has grown their village port-folio to include villages in Goodna and Boronia Heights in Brisbane, Warwick on the South West of Brisbane, Rockhampton, Yeppoon and Cairns in North Queensland, Skye in Frankston Victoria and, over the coming years, will complete villages in Kingston Tasmania, Orange, Armidale, Inverell and Cardiff in New South Wales.

Who can become a resident of Oak Tree Retirement Villages?
Oak Tree residents are required to be over the age of 55 and can join a village either as a couple or on their own.  If you are part of a couple, it is a requirement that only one of you must be over the age of 55.  As Oak Tree Retirement Villages are independent living villages, it is also a requirement that you be able-bodied and of satisfactory health so you can manage your own villa.

Will I/we own our villa?
As is the case with most retirement/lifestyle villages throughout Australia, Oak Tree operates under the licence to occupy or deferred management fee scheme. This means that you purchase a licence to occupy your villa for life, rather than own the title. The amount you purchase your villa for is referred to as your ingoing contribution. This ingoing contribution allows you to live at our villages, and enjoy the village community facilities, for as long as you wish. Your rights are the same as if you owned freehold title of your villa.

What is the deferred management fee scheme?
The deferred management fee (DMF) scheme is the most commonly applied model used in villages throughout Australia. It provides an affordable accommodation option to the average senior without escalating property costs putting prices out of reach. Under the DMF model property developers/village operators reduce the ingoing contribution, or purchase price, by deferring their development margins until the villa is resold at a later date. At this time, a deferred management fee, or exit fee as it is more commonly known, is due. Whilst operating under the DMF model, Oak Tree offers flexible purchase options for those who wish to avoid DMF/Exit fees. It is also important to note residents do not pay Stamp Duty or GST on their purchase.

Other than the purchase price, what other costs are involved when buying into a village?
The main cost you will need to consider when moving into an Oak Tree Retirement Village is the General Weekly Service Fee. Similar to a body corporate fee, the weekly service fee that Oak Tree residents pay covers expenditures such as council rates, village manager and management support team wages, building insurance (but not content insurance), the upkeep of the village infrastructure, lawn and garden maintenance, and administration.  Depending upon the chosen purchase option, some residents may also need to pay an exit fee when leaving the village. 

How often can you increase the weekly service fee and by what amount?
All Oak Tree Villages operate under the Retirement Village Act pertaining to the state in which they are located. Under these regulations Oak Tree is obliged to hold an Annual General Meeting with the residents at each village to discuss and review the village operational budget. Financials are shown to advise what the village has spent for the year, as well as forecast what expenditure the village is likely to incur within the next financial year. It is at this time that the General Weekly Service Fee is reviewed, with resident consent, and it typically only increases in line with CPI. However, some costs, such as increasing council rates, are outside of Oak Tree’s control and must be passed on to the residents.

What other expenses am I responsible for?
You will be responsible for your own telephone, electricity, personal contents insurance, and other chosen services you may wish to connect to your villa such as Foxtel, Internet etc.

Can I secure a bank loan to purchase a villa in a Village?
No. Unfortunately banks cannot register a security charge against a villa as you are purchasing a license to occupy a villa for life, as opposed to a title.

Who is responsible for the sale of my villa?
You are. However, we can help you sell your villa if you prefer. Normally, once a village is sold down and is established, we begin to collate a waiting list of people who would like to move into the village. Once you decide you would like to sell your villa, we can agree on a sale price for your villa and go through our waiting list to see if we have any possible buyers. If we can not agree on a suitable price for your villa, an independent valuer is engaged to provide an assessment based on the local market. Alternatively, you may choose to sell your villa via a real estate agent, however, you will be responsible for the agent commission costs and any other selling costs.

Can I pass my villa onto a family member when I die?
No. Your villa must be re-sold to a new incoming resident over the age of 55. The proceeds from the sale of your villa can then be passed on to your estate.

What is the first step to take if I want to purchase a Villa?
Make an appointment with our Village Manager. Operators of retirement villages are required to provide intending residents with a Public Information Document (as it is known in Queensland although documentation varies by State) that contains information about the facilities, fees and charges, maintenance reserve fund and capital replacement fund information, residents rights and obligations, resale process, and village and accommodation information. In Queensland you are required to sign a PID as part of your sales contract.

Do I need to sell my home first before entering into a contract with Oak Tree?
No.  If you have a house to sell, your contract with Oak Tree may be signed subject to the sale of your home – we normally allow 2-3 months.  If you do not sell your home within this time frame then you, or Oak Tree, may terminate the contract. Conversely, if both parties agree, you may be able to get an extension.

What upfront deposits are required when I sign up to purchase a villa at Oak Tree?
Once you decide to purchase a villa at Oak Tree, and you have signed the relevant documentation, you will need to pay Oak Tree a $1000 deposit. This deposit is fully refundable should you change your mind.

What happens to my villa if Oak Tree Group enters administration?
A statutory charge is held over the villages, which means should Oak Tree go into administration, the bank, or an alternative operator as elected by the bank, will take over the running of the village. The village within which you live will always be a village, operated in accordance with the Retirement Villages Act, and your tenure will always be protected.

What is the role of the Village Manager and onsite Management support team?
The Village Manager is responsible for the day to day running of the village. In a brand new village they also oversee the “sell down” of the village and ensure villas are ready for residents to move in. They oversee all maintenance issues, ensure the village is running on budget, and look after the general wellbeing of the village residents.

The Management Support team typically lives on site and is there to assist the Village Manager by providing general maintenance services, assisting with organising social activities, and can be there afterhours to coordinate any urgent maintenance issues or provide assistance in the case of an emergency. Oak Tree staff hold current first aid certificates, but are not registered care givers.

Are pets allowed?
Yes. We welcome small pets. However, there are a few rules about keeping control of your pet to protect the safety and comfort of other residents and local wildlife. We ask that you seek approval from the Village Manager before bringing a pet into the village. Pets must comply with the Oak Tree Pet Policy. 

Can I have family and friends stay?
Yes.  Guests are welcome to stay in your villa, however,  for security reasons, we ask that you please let  the Village Manager know just so that they are aware that some “new faces” may be around the village.

Can my grand children join me in the Enjoyment Centre?
Yes. Providing your grandchildren are under adult supervision at all times they are welcome to join you and use the village recreational facilities. We ask that you/they be respectful of the other village residents so as to not cause any disturbances.

What happens when I go on holidays?
You can rest assured that your home and garden will be looked after and your mail is secure. It is a good idea to notify the Village Manager how long you will be away so that appropriate arrangments can be made.

Are there any health care services available and what costs are involved?
Oak Tree Retirement Villages do not offer any form of care. In some villages, independent care providers do visit the village usually only at the request of a resident. Oak Tree has relationships with several registered care providers including Centracare, Stanhope and Spiritus.

Are the villas furnished?
No. Most people prefer to furnish their own villas and add their own sense of style.

What changes can I make to the internals of my villa?
Common changes people make to the internals of their villa are tiling instead of carpet, mirrored robes, additional air conditioning, and aesthetic changes such as feature walls, lighting etc. Most changes can be made within reason, however, there are building regulations that need to be adhered to. If you do wish to make certain changes it is best to share these with the Village Manager who will do their best to accommodate you.

External changes that can affect the overall look and/or value of your villa, such as awnings, and patio enclosures, do need approval from the Village Manager. Council approval may also be required for some works.

Am I responsible for the maintenance and repair of inclusions in my villa – such as my dishwasher and stove etc?
Yes. Just as you would be responsible for these items in your current home, you are responsible for them in your villa. Residents in a new village will have the benefit of standard appliance warranties.

Can I get Foxtel/Cable TV connected?
Yes at your cost.  Simply contact the relevant providers once you have moved into the village and they will arrange, or please seek Village Manager approval as a connection may already exist in the villa.

Can I garden around my villa?
Yes. If you are a keen gardener, please speak to your Village Manager about helping to take care of the garden outside of your villa. Otherwise all lawn and garden maintenance is the responsibility of the village.

Is there 24 hour emergency assistance available?
An emergency call system can be connected to your villa at your choosing. Oak Tree has sourced INS LifeGuard systems which comprise of:

• A HP3 Help phone - This unit plugs into an existing telephone socket and operates from normal household power
• A Personal Transmitter – Watch like in appearance these transmitters can be worn as a pendant or wrist alarm.

When activated, the alarm will be answered by the INS control centre and a nurse will respond, assess the situation, and provide the required help.