FAQs

All properties at The Court are sold on a long leasehold basis and when a property is re-sold the lease has to be “assigned” to the new owner. This transfer in legal terms is known as “Assignment”.

All properties at The Court attract a fee of 1% of the purchase price to be paid by both the seller and the buyer. The fee is paid on each occasion a property is sold as part of the sales process.

If you want to sell your property you can place it on the market using any Estate Agent of your choosing. Whilst the Court Management cannot recommend any particular Estate Agent they can advise of local estate agents who regularly sell properties at The Court if necessary.

A company, HICA Ltd is appointed by the Landlords / Estate Owners for the management of the estate and buildings at Buckshaw Retirement Village comprising The Court, The Grange, The Lodge and The Grange Care Suite.

The Service Charge covers:

• Staff salaries and National Insurance – Administration, maintenance, catering /hospitality. Domestic and Emergency response of all staff employed to support the operation of The Court
• Insurance of the buildings, public liability, employers liability but NOT contents of individual properties. It is the responsibility of owners to ensure that they have contents insurance for their property under the terms of the lease
• Communal Rates
• Communal Energy
• Repairs and Maintenance to external and communal areas
• Office Supplies / Telephone
• Accountancy and Legal
• Management Fees
• Window Cleaning, cleaning materials, garden supplies and maintenance
• Staff uniforms, recruitment and advertising
• interest, bank charges

The service charge varies according to the size of the property – the current rates are set out in this booklet

Service charges are calculated and discussed with the Association Committee and advised to residents prior to the commencement of the Financial Year.
The Charge is calculated using actual expenditure to date, estimates of expenditure for the rest of the year and any known increase for the coming 12 month period.

The Service Charge is variable and operates on a strictly “not for profit” basis in accordance with the Housing Acts and therefore any future increases will only reflect any actual increase in costs for the provision of the services. Residents will be given at least 28 days’ notice in advance of any change.

It is not possible to give predictions, but the Managing Agents have considerable experience and are very conscious of the need to keep costs under control whilst providing a quality service.

There is a programme of planned maintenance and a replacement programme for essential equipment, (e.g. lifts, boilers, kitchen equipment). The Reserve Fund, known as the Sinking Fund, is designed to allow for these expenses as and when they occur. The fund is also for any unexpected maintenance issues arising during the year.

The Service Charge Fund and Reserve Maintenance Fund are held in separate Trust Accounts and are regularly considered by the Association Committee and Managing Agents.

Ground Rent is payable quarterly, and the current rates are shown in this booklet.

External decoration is the responsibility of the management company within a planned maintenance cycle. This is paid for from the Service Charge Fund

Internal decoration is the responsibility of the owner. The lease will specify any time scales for when redecoration is required.

The property owner is responsible for the maintenance of equipment, furnishings and fittings within a property.

Subject to obtaining prior consent from the landlord, usually provided by the managing agents or local management team, minor internal alterations and improvements may be made provided they do not have any impact or interfere with communal services or services to other apartments.

The landlord retains the right to restore the property to its original condition / specification at the expense of the outgoing tenant if alterations render the property readily unsalable on the open market.

Within the terms of the lease visitors may stay in your property for a maximum of 28 days at any one time and need to meet the criteria for Independent living.

In addition to staying in your property visitors may use the guest suite in The Grange on a ‘first come’ basis on payment of an appropriate nightly rate determined by the local management team.

Yes, if you require assistance please contact our onsite HICA Homecare office through reception and they will be happy to discuss this with you.

Free car parking is available within the grounds of The Court and the remainder of Buckshaw Retirement Village on a ‘first come’ basis.

Spaces marked for disabled use may only be used by persons holding a current disabled parking permit which must be displayed at all times.

Owners are not permitted to keep pets of any sort in their property and, whilst visitors with dogs are welcome in the grounds provided they are always kept under control, not allowed to cause a nuisance to other residents, are kept on a lead and all waste is disposed of properly. Dogs are not generally allowed inside any of the buildings with the exception of approved and registered assistance dogs.

Other than approved and registered assistance dogs, whose presence has been approved by local management, dogs are not permitted at any time in the Bar/Bistro or communal lounge areas under any circumstances.

The local management team retain the right to refuse permission for visitors to bring a dog onto the property at their sole discretion.

Residents are permitted to sub – let their property with the written permission of the landlord provided all conditions of the lease and all rules and regulations imposed the Management Company and / or the Local Management, including age restrictions and the ability to live independently, are adhered to.

Buckshaw Retirement Village does not discriminate on the grounds of age (unless determined by the terms of the lease), marital status, race, religion, sexual orientation or disability and is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and diversity.

Buckshaw Retirement Village is unique in that it offers a progression route from Independent Living (The Court), to Assisted Living (The Grange) to full nursing care (The Lodge) on one site. It is should be noted that apartments in The Court are only available to purchase, unless being sub-let by an owner, whilst apartments in The Grange and The Lodge are only available on a rental basis.

The Court is designed to provide an enjoyable and supported environment for people over 55 years living independently. As far as we are able we will endeavour to accommodate residents in line with Buckshaw Village diversity policy.

Prospective purchasers will be asked to confirm that they are generally in good health and capable of living independent lives without long term care provision. Whilst recognising that a residents needs may change when in occupation, domiciliary care packages provided at a cost, are intended to address emergency and short term needs and not be permanent or long term provision.

The residents are supplied with a pendant and if you feel you need support, we do recommend that you wear it. This is linked into your mandatory line rental charge of £3.41 per month (As of 1st January 2024). Charges subject to change following annual pay review) In the event of an emergency the Team Manager and Senior Support Worker onsite will offer help and support as required and will contact 111and the ambulance service and your next of kin. If you have a ‘Do Not Resuscitate Order’ in place, we ask you put the original behind your apartment door and provide a copy to our reception team to keep it with your emergency form.

The concept of The Court is “independence in retirement”. However, the Management Company and Local Management are able to assist in arranging personal domiciliary care packages when necessary on a private basis at an additional cost. Where possible, residents may, of course, make their own arrangements with a private domiciliary care provider or through Social Services.

In the rare circumstances where a situation deteriorates and independence diminishes to the point where permanent nursing, permanent care or more specialist care is needed, or where a residents’ health and wellbeing becomes detrimental to other residents and/or staff, the local management team will work in a sensible and sympathetic manner with all parties, and external agencies where appropriate, to address the matter.

Prospective owners should ensure that their families, dependents or powers of attorney are aware of their health condition and needs and raise issues at an early stage in the event of any cause for concern.

Where a couple occupy a property and one of them becomes unable to look after themselves there is no need for alternative arrangements to be made, as long as the other party remains able to cope, with the assistance of outside agencies, if appropriate.

Where a property is sublet the owner is responsible for ensuring that the local management team is made aware of any health issues which may affect their tenant’s occupation of the property and for ensuring all conditions to residency applicable to an owner occupying the property are complied with.

HICA, are sensitive to these situations and in line with the lease would act in a reasonable manner on a case-by-case basis. The service charge and ground rent remains payable until the property is sold and is a charge against the estate.

If you or your partner passes away the survivor may continue living in the property on the same basis subject only to a change of details in respect of ownership with the landlord and a re-registration of the property with HM Land Registry. In such circumstances it is recommended that you discuss with a suitably qualified family member / relative and / or take advise from your normal legal advisor as, depending upon the nature of the estate, some issues may be more complicated or have wider implications.

These are explained in this booklet but briefly the Court offers extensive facilities including, a bar/bistro, communal lounges with large screen TV’s, Library with computer and wifi, gym, bowling green and extensive grounds.

The Court has two hospitality co-ordinators who work closely with the Association Committee to ensure a full and varied programme of activities including themed dining events, entertainers, quiz nights, games nights film nights, knit & natter and occasional external trips.

All residents are encouraged to join in activities and events and to put forward suggestions for future activities and events.

The Management Company has an annual meeting to which all residents are invited and provides all residents with written information at various times of the year

Additionally, the management company meet with the full Association Committee once a year and the Association Finance Committee three times a year.

The local management team attend all meetings of the Association Committee and the Local Management Team also hold regular sessions to which all residents are invited and at which issues of relevance to residents can be raised and discussed.

The Association Committee keep all residents appraised of dealings with the Managing Agents and Local Management by displaying information on the Association Notice Board.

The Court Association is the residents association and whilst membership is voluntary, all residents are entitled, and encouraged, to join. The Association has a detailed constitution by which it operates, available to view in the library, and has officers and a committee appointed by the members, as set out in this booklet.

The Committee meets on a monthly basis and minutes of all committee meetings are displayed on the Association Notice Board shortly after the date of a meeting and are also available in the library.

The Association year runs from 1st January – 31st December and a membership fee of £10 per aprtment is charged (for 2024). This fee is reduced by 50% for membership after 1st
July.

The Association arranges a range of activities and events throughout the year in co-ordination with the two hospitality co-ordinators and details are displayed on the Association notice boards in the main corridor and in the families and friends entrance foyer.

Some events incur an additional charge and in some cases differential rates may be applied for residents who are association members, and residents who are non-members or guests.