Closing a retirement village

Village operators must get approval from the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) to close a retirement village if residents still live there. 

Before applying to the SAT, you must:

• give residents a termination plan on the approved form
• allow residents at least one month to consider their options and seek advice
• hold a meeting with residents at least one month after giving them the termination plan
• help residents find suitable accommodation.

What is a retirement village termination

A termination includes closing or suspending the operation of a retirement village scheme. This requires residents to permanently or temporarily move out. 

Examples may include:

• closing a retirement village
• redevelopment requiring residents to relocate
• major works preventing residents from staying in the village
• other circumstances where the retirement village scheme stops operating.

When a termination plan is required

You must give each resident a termination plan before applying to SAT for approval to terminate a retirement village scheme. 

The plan must:

• be completed on the termination plan form
• contain information required by the Retirement Villages Regulations 2026 in Schedule 13. 

Information to be included in a termination plan

A termination plan gives residents detailed information about the proposed termination.

Retirement village and operator

You must provide:

• name and address of the retirement village
• your contact details and/or your authorised representative
• the retirement village memorial number.

Information about residents and premises

The plan must include information about residents and their homes:

• the total number of residential premises in the village
• the types of tenure in the village
• the number of premises by each tenure type
• the number of residents for each tenure type.

Reasons for the termination

You must explain:

• why the retirement village scheme is being terminated
• whether the termination is permanent or temporary
• the estimated date of termination
• the proposed stages and timelines, if the termination will occur in stages.

Residents' termination meeting

The plan must tell residents the date, time and place of the meeting to discuss the proposed termination. 

How termination impacts residents 

A termination plan must explain how the proposal may affect residents and their way of life. 

This includes the likely impact on:

• residents' occupation of their homes
• services and amenities in the village
• the village operating budget
• the capital maintenance budget
• the capital replacement budget, if applicable
• the maintenance and replacement of capital items
• the value of the residents' exit entitlements and buyback arrangements.

Support for residents

The termination plan must explain:

• what you will do to ensure residents are not worse off because of the termination
• how you will help residents with the effects of the termination. 

For example, how you will:

• find suitable alternative accommodation for residents still living in the village
• provide compensation, reduced or waived fees
• help cover costs of relocation.

Finding suitable accommodation

You must help residents find alternative accommodation:

• acceptable, or reasonably acceptable, to the resident
• about the same standard as the resident’s current home
• that does not not require the resident to spend more money. 

Exit entitlements and buybacks

The termination plan must include your financial obligations. 

This includes:

• paying exit entitlements
• completing required buybacks
• the cost or value of these obligations
• how and when you will meet these obligations.

After the SAT decision

Termination approved

The SAT order will specify when residents must vacate.

Termination not approved

You may revise the proposal and restart the process.

Advice for residents if your village is proposed to be terminated

If you receive a termination plan:

1. read the plan carefully and consider how the proposal may affect you.
2. attend the termination meeting and ask questions.
3. consider getting independent legal or financial advice if you are unsure about your rights or options.
4. contact Consumer Protection for information about the Retirement Villages Act requirements.