Frequently asked questions

Find out more with our FAQs

Our communities

How do Platinum Skies retirement communities differ?

Each Platinum Skies community is a unique development, built to fit into the local surroundings, making the most of local amenities and transport links. Platinum Skies uniquely provides luxurious homes, vibrant communities and a solution to financial security through shared ownership.

Can I bring my pets?

Yes, absolutely, we understand how important pets are as companions. We welcome well-behaved pets in our communities. Lots of our existing homeowners have pets already, so hopefully they’ll make friends as quickly as you do!

What is the Bistro like?

Our Bistros offer great food at affordable prices on-site. There’s snack options and heartier meals, all prepared in house. If you don’t fancy cooking, or enjoy the social aspect of going out for a meal, then the Bistro provides the perfect venue – just a stone’s throw from your front door. Your new home has a brand new fully-fitted kitchen of course, perfect for home cooking, so you can cook in or eat out – whichever you prefer. Your friends and family are also welcome to join you for a meal in the Bistro.

How much does it cost to eat in the Bistro?

All facilities on-site work on a non-profit basis so each Bistro offers a wide range of very reasonably priced options, from light lunches to main meals. The Bistros are pay-as-you-go so you can pick and choose when you want to pop in for a meal or a quick coffee.

Can my friends and family come and stay for the weekend?

Yes, you are welcome to entertain and welcome guests to stay at your property. Alternatively, there is a guest suite available to book out on-site through your community manager.

How long can I have friends or family stay with me if they are visiting?

Your guests are welcome to stay for as long as you’re happy to have them! Whilst there’s no set timeframe, they cannot live with you permanently.

How long can someone stay in a development's guest suite?

Typically, guests stay for a night or few days but there is no limit.

When people come to stay, do they have to use the onsite guest suite?

No, your guests are welcome to stay with you in your home, or they can use the Guest Suite for a small additional charge.

Is there parking?

Yes, there is car parking at all Platinum Skies communities. Please speak to a member of our team about parking at the location you are interested in.

Can I bring my motorised scooter?

Yes, most of our retirement communities have secure scooter stores with plenty of charging points. These are secured with key fob access. You will also find plenty of dropped curbs which make scooter access easy. If you like to know more about scooter facilities at a specific development, please contact us.

Will I get a garden?

Many of our retirement properties come with balconies and small gardens, and most of our developments are designed with landscaped communal gardens with plenty of seating. Please speak to our team for more details.

Retirement Living

What is Retirement Living?

Retirement living refers to housing and communities specifically designed for adults over 55. It offers community, amenities, and services that cater to your lifestyle needs to maintain independence. The homes are designed for enjoying life today and yet adaptable for your future needs - giving you the best of both worlds.

What is the difference between a retirement property and a care or nursing home?

A retirement property is like any other residential home, but set within a community designed for independent older adults, offering facilities tailored to their lifestyle without constant care supervision.

In contrast, a care home provides 24/7 professional care and medical support for individuals who can no longer live independently due to physical or mental impairments.

Do I have to be retired to buy a retirement property?

No, you don’t have to be retired – as long as you’re 55 or over you can purchase a Platinum Skies home. Many of our homeowners continue to work, whilst making the most of community life.

What lifestyle services do you offer?

Health and wellbeing, social activities and events are arranged by our Community Managers, some of which are offered on a pay-as-you-go basis. There’s plenty of choice, with activities including dancing, Pilates, BBQs, fish and chips nights, book clubs, games and quiz evenings, regular themed supper clubs and much more. Homeowners are also encouraged to make their own suggestions for events or activities they’d like to see take place.

Are the retirement village facilities the same across locations?

Each Platinum Skies community’s facilities vary according to the size of the development and the homeowners’ needs.

Our largest developments feature an on-site Bistro, providing hot and cold meals and drinks for homeowners. The Bistros are also the hub of the community, often hosting themed supper clubs and other events.

Each and every development features a spacious homeowner lounge, also offering the perfect place to meet with friends and neighbours, and as a location that can be used for social events and many other activities.

Our communities also have a guest suite that can be used by visiting friends and family, plus some of them have an activity room too – a multi-function room used for everything from exercise and dance classes to arts and crafts.

Can I get domestic help or home care should I need it?

Yes, you can make your own arrangements to have domestic help or additional care. Our community managers will be able to recommend suitable companies if you’d like some guidance.

Do you provide medical support or care, and what happens if I become unable to look after myself or my partner?

Whilst Platinum Skies don’t offer a care provision, you can of course arrange for domiciliary carers to come to your home to provide day-to-day care for you or your partner. The Community team may be able to recommend local organisations who can help.

What emergency support is available?

Our Community team are on site during working hours, and there’s an out-of-hours contact number to use in case of emergency.

Looking for a property?

Where are Platinum Skies retirement properties located?

We currently have retirement villages in Poole, Christchurch, Salisbury, Sherborne and Taunton. We are adding new developments all the time. Please enquire to find out more about our upcoming communities.

How can I get a brochure?

Just click here to get in touch. We can send you a brochure and any other information you need by post or email.

I want to view a property – what do I do?

Please contact us to make an appointment - one of our Relationship Managers will be happy to show you around, make you a cup of tea and answer your questions.

Are there any specific requirements to live in a retirement property?

To live in a Platinum Skies community you must be aged 55 or older. You do not need to be retired, as long as you are over 55 years of age. Generally, the property you purchase s must be your only UK property. There is however a second shared ownership scheme offered directly by Platinum Skies which enables you to purchase a home with us, whilst also owning other property. Additional eligibility criteria can be discussed with our Relationship Managers, please contact us for more information.

Moving

How do I reserve a property?

If you make the exciting decision to reserve a property during an appointment with our Relationship Managers, we will take a small refundable holding fee and complete some paperwork. This will hold the property for 7 days before we take the full deposit – at this point your deposit will then be non-refundable.

How long does it take to move in?

This can depend on your current property status. However, using our Platinum Exchange part exchange scheme, we can move you in less than 6 weeks. Please contact us to discuss your individual circumstances and the options available to you.

Do Platinum Skies offer help with moving in?

We know moving home can be daunting, especially when downsizing to a smaller living space. But Platinum Skies can help ease that worry and provide support for you each step of the way.

We work hand-in-hand with Senior Move Partnership to make your move as easy and straightforward as possible.

Are the homes fully furnished?

Our homes come with fitted wardrobes, carpets, kitchens and bathrooms, and are otherwise unfurnished, so are ready for your own furniture and belongings.

Will my reservation be refunded if I don’t move in?

Once you have decided on the perfect Platinum Skies apartment or house we will take a £500 holding deposit, which will reserve your property for 7 days – giving you time to show your family and friends if you wish. Once a full reservation is taken, your deposit is no longer refundable. This is because our team will have already started to work through the paperwork, and we will have already incurred legal fees.

What is part exchange?

Whatever the age, condition, or location of your old property (it must be in England or Wales), we’ll part exchange it for a brand-new Platinum Skies home. Unlike other retirement village builders, we don’t use a third party to buy your property at a reduced price. With Platinum Skies you’ll receive the property’s full market value and save on agent’s fees and legal fees. There’s no delays and no worries about finding a buyer. You can move in as little as 6 weeks.

How does stamp duty work?

On shared ownership properties the owner will need to pay stamp duty on the share you are purchasing. However, if the price of your share falls below the stamp duty threshold, you’ll avoid paying stamp duty all together. You can read more in our blog about stamp duty here.

What does ‘exchange of contracts’ mean?

Once contracts are exchanged this means your move is guaranteed to go ahead. At this point everyone in the chain is legally bound to proceed with the purchase.

What happens after contracts are exchanged?

A completion and move-in date are set, confirming when you will be able to move into your new property.

What is the ‘completion date’?

This is the date when you take legal ownership of your new retirement property. Often this is the day you move in and get the keys to your new home.

Will my retirement property be freehold or leasehold?

Platinum Skies homes are all leasehold, with a lease of 125 years that runs from the date the property’s construction is complete.

Shared ownership

What is shared ownership?

When you buy a Platinum Skies property you purchase a share - typically 50% - and then pay rent on the remaining share. This can be paid from your pension or by investing spare capital from the sale of your current home. And because you only pay for a portion of your new home’s full market value, you can use the capital you free up for the things that matter most, like looking after yourself and your loved ones. Most importantly, you retain ownership of the property, so you’ll still benefit from a secure asset, and the value of the property could appreciate over time. This is less ‘shared’ ownership and more ‘smart’ ownership.

Will I own my retirement apartment?

Platinum Skies properties are offered on a shared ownership basis, so you would own the proportion of your home you choose to buy, and Platinum Skies would own the remainder, on which you would you pay rent – this is set in accordance with government guidance.

How much rent will I have to pay if I part buy, part rent and how will that change over time?

Our rental prices are set in accordance with Government guidance by Homes England and are based on the percentage you own. There will be an annual rent review on the date specified in your lease, which will be indexed to movements in the Retail Price Index (RPI). For queries about specific retirement properties and the costs please contact us. No matter what happens with inflation, rent increases are capped and will not rise by more than 6% per annum.

What is part buy part rent?

Also known as shared ownership, it’s a flexible and affordable alternative to outright purchase, with all the benefits of ownership. You purchase a share in the property and pay rent on the part you don’t own. This can help you to unlock money from your old home to support you now and in the future.

Can I change the percentage of the property I own after purchase?

Yes you can. Once you agree on the share of the property that you would like to purchase then that is how much you will own. However, if your circumstances change and you decide you would like to purchase a larger percentage then we can accommodate this.

Why are there age restrictions?

The Government regulated older person’s shared ownership scheme is only available to people aged 55 and over.

Finances

Do I stay in control of my household bills?

Yes, you will remain responsible for paying your own utility bills. Usually, you are responsible for arranging your own electricity supplier. For other utilities, these are billed to you by Platinum Skies based on your home’s meter readings.

How much council tax will I pay?

As most people downsize when moving to Platinum Skies, you may well end up paying significantly less council tax than for your previous home. Council Tax banding is set by the council in the same way your current property is. You can check this by using the government calculator. Please contact us if you have any further questions and one of our team will be able to help.

What are the service charges?

All services, support and activities laid on for Platinum Skies homeowners are provided on a not-for-profit basis so you are guaranteed great value. Through the service charge, each homeowner is asked to contribute to the cost of maintaining the development, and running the services provided. The service charge will keep the communal areas and landscaped grounds in excellent condition and everything running as smoothly as the day you move in.

Will I need my own building or contents insurance?

You’ll just need to have contents insurance in place. Platinum Skies is responsible for the building, whether it’s a house or apartment, so arrange the building insurance that’s required.

What is the event fee?

All Platinum Skies homeowners pay an event fee when they come to sell their property. This arrangement enables us to offer you long-term affordability during your occupancy. Event fee income funds the construction of the communal amenities and enables us to recoup a deferred element of our original investment.

What happens when I want to sell my Platinum Skies property?

With Platinum Pre-Loved we can take care of the whole process from start to finish to give you peace of mind that you’ll secure a sale, at the best price, as quickly as possible. Our Relationship Managers are experts at selling our retirement properties and consistently outperform high-street estate agents. If you are an existing homeowner, please contact your Community Manager to complete a ‘Moving On Form’ and be provided more information from our dedicated Pre-Loved team.

What happens if I pass away whilst owning a retirement apartment?

As with any property, your home would form part of your estate. This would then fall to the executor of your will to carry out your wishes. Platinum Skies offer a re-sales service and can market your home on your family or beneficiaries’ behalf.

Your home

Will my home be looked after if I am away?

Your property won't be checked on as it is your own private home with all the benefits of a 'lock-up and leave’. Our retirement communities are secure, and neighbours look out for each other. You can go away knowing that if anything should arise your community is looking out for you.

Does anyone else have keys to my retirement apartment?

We understand how important security is, and our communities are designed to be safe and secure spaces. You’ll hold the keys for your home, but in the case of our apartments, our Community Managers hold a master key, for use in case of emergency or immediate concern only.

What safety and security features are there in a Platinum Skies home?

Platinum Skies retirement properties are built with your future in mind. We have all the standard safety features you’d expect like smoke alarms and sprinklers in communal areas. We also have added extra features such as video entry systems and motion sensor bathroom night-lights. Our community managers also add an additional level of security and can conduct welfare checks as and when required. Come and see these for yourself by booking a viewing.

Can I have my own washing machine?

Each Platinum Skies home comes with a washer/dryer already installed and ready to use.

Do you provide white goods?

Yes, all our kitchens come with fully-fitted appliances. We only fit high-quality appliances manufactured by well-known and trusted brands.

Can I have satellite or cable TV and broadband in my apartment?

Each of our communities is set up with the infrastructure to have satellite or cable TV and broadband connected – our team can advise on which providers are available at each site.

Can I smoke in my apartment or are there designated areas?

You can smoke in your house or apartment – it’s your home after all! However, smoking is not permitted in any communal areas, inside or out.

Can I make alterations to my home?

Yes, however these will be subject to our approval as your home is part owned by Platinum Skies. Our team can give you more information on the types of alterations that would require our approval.

Are there guarantees on the build quality?

Yes, you will receive a 10-year building warranty, which runs from the date the construction of the property is completed.

Are your apartments soundproofed?

We adhere to the highest standards of building regulations and make comfortable homes for people to live in.

Can I rent out the apartment?

No, you are unable to rent your apartment out under the terms of the Government-regulated Older Persons Shared Ownership Scheme.

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