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Frequently Asked Questions

LET US BREAK IT DOWN FOR YOU

We've compiled a list of the questions that are most commonly asked by people considering a move to a Ryman village. If you have further questions or you'd simply like to talk through the options available, please contact us we'd love to hear from you. 

 GENERAL LIVING

"It’s definitely very prudent to do it while you’re active, vibrant, able and to get in there and be able to dance and boogie and enjoy all of those fabulous things. It’s so much fun."

- Helen, Ryman resident

People choose retirement village living for a combination of practical, social, and lifestyle reasons – and often because it gives them more freedom, not less.

Stepping away from the demands of a larger home or garden makes it easier to travel or spend time elsewhere, knowing your place is secure, maintained, and looked after when you’re not there. Many residents also value the built‑in community. Being surrounded by people at a similar stage of life makes it easier to stay socially connected, form friendships, and enjoy activities, clubs, and shared amenities like cafés and fitness spaces.

There’s also reassurance in knowing support is available if it’s ever needed. Ryman villages have on‑site care homes, giving residents priority access over non-residents should their health needs change, bringing an added layer of peace of mind for both residents and families.

When you buy into a Ryman village, you’re purchasing a right to occupy, which allows you to live in the unit and use the village amenities. This involves an upfront entry payment, a fixed weekly fee to cover services such as maintenance and landscaping, and a deferred management fee that’s deducted when you leave.

The village team manages the day‑to‑day running of the community, including upkeep of buildings and shared spaces, as well as meeting regulatory requirements. Residents can have their say through village meetings, while Ryman handles the operational, legal, and financial responsibilities to ensure everything runs smoothly.

From tax implications to understanding fees - we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to making the transition to retirement as smooth as possible. 

Ryman villages offer a range of living and aged-care options in spaces designed to inspire, indulge, and entertain. These include independent living in apartments and villas, assisted living in serviced apartments, residential aged care (both low and high care), specialist dementia care and respite care.

We are an approved provider of Support at Home packages, so if you enjoy living in one of our independent or serviced units but want a little extra help with everyday tasks, you can apply for a Support at Home package which provides government-funded services. 

Learn more about Ryman living and aged-care options

Ryman villages are designed for residents aged 65 and over.

The process begins by contacting the village, arranging a tour, or attending an open day to explore the homes and meet the team. If you choose to go ahead and purchase a unit, Ryman will provide a disclosure pack and a Resident and Management Contract for you to review with your lawyer.

Once the agreement is signed and the entry payment is made, you can select your move‑in date.

Living in a retirement village offers a blend of independence and connection. You have your own home and set your own pace, but you’re also part of a community of people at a similar stage of life, which makes it easy to form friendships and feel supported.

Ryman villages provide a range of amenities that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable. With maintenance taken care of, many residents find themselves joining activities, clubs, and events simply because the opportunities are right on their doorstep.

There’s also reassurance in knowing an on‑site care home is available if your needs change, with priority access for residents. For many, this combination of freedom, community, and future security creates a lifestyle that supports independence and wellbeing.

Yes, apartments have basement parking available to buy, and villas have garages attached.

Yes, as long as the village manager approves your pet as being suitable for the village.

Yes, we have weekly inter-denominational church services at our villages.

Our village services include a hairdressing service, a visiting podiatrist, physiotherapist, beauty therapist, and dry-cleaning service available at your own cost.

Yes, for short periods of time.* As a courtesy, we ask that you consult with the village manager first.

 

You’re always welcome to raise any concerns directly with any team member, including the village manager. Alternatively, Ryman villages have a formal complaints procedure and a resident advocate. We hold regular meetings with residents to discuss any concerns.

Some Ryman residents continue to work, often part‑time, because it gives them structure, purpose, and extra financial flexibility. As long as you can live safely and independently, continuing to work fits easily with village life. In fact, some residents find it even easier, since exterior maintenance and gardening are all taken care of for them.  

 CARE

"I’ve got to say the care that my husband has had all the way through has been absolutely marvellous. The girls that look after him, they’re angels, they really are."

- Margaret, Ryman resident

Retirement villages are designed for people who want to stay independent while enjoying a supportive community. Residents typically continue to travel, pursue hobbies, and live life much as they always have, with the added convenience of shared amenities and social opportunities.

Aged care homes, on the other hand, are intended for those who require a higher level of daily support due to health or mobility needs. These settings provide more hands‑on assistance, including help with personal care and medical oversight.

At Ryman villages, you can move in while living independently or with a little extra support, and if your needs change, you have priority access to the on‑site care centre. This built‑in continuity makes any future transition smoother and offers reassurance for residents and families.

Discover how Ryman’s retirement villages work here.

 

There are no set visiting hours.* This is your home, so visitors are welcome any time. The amenities are available for you to enjoy with your friends and family. We simply ask that you respect the privacy of other residents.

As well as independent living, Ryman villages also offer assisted living in a serviced apartment, residential aged care (low care and high care) and specialist dementia care. This is all available within the same village community, so you can still be near your partner or friends even if your health needs are different. Should an immediate space be unavailable, we will do our very best to accommodate you at another Ryman village until a space becomes available at your preferred village. 

Learn more about our living and care options.

Yes, residents will enjoy priority access over non-Ryman residents at the time of transfer to assisted living apartments, residential aged care (low care and high care), and specialist dementia care. Should a space be unavailable at the time of your transfer, we will do our best to accommodate you at another Ryman village that provides the level of care you need until a space becomes available at your preferred village that provides that same level of care.

Many of us will be unsure about where to begin when the time comes where aged care is needed. We’ve put together a step-by-step guide to provide you with a simple guideline. From assessing your aged-care needs and costs to moving into a Ryman aged-care centre, we’ve got everything covered.

Typically, the aged-care centre opens within a year of the first residents moving in. You can contact the village manager for more information.

Find a Ryman village near you 

 FINANCIAL

When moving into a village, the key costs to understand are:

  • The entry payment (the price of your unit), which is determined by your Residence and Management Contract (RMC)
  • The Deferred Management Fee (DMF)
  • Weekly fee
  • A service fee for any additional services you need now or in the future.

 At Ryman you will not pay stamp duty because you are not buying property; you are purchasing the right to occupy a unit in the village on certain terms and conditions. It is different from regular property ownership, because you are paying for the right to live in the unit, but you do not own the unit itself.  

Residence and Management Contracts (RMC) are written agreements that give you the right to occupy a unit in a retirement village on certain terms and conditions. It is different from regular property ownership, because you are paying for the right to live in the unit, but you do not own the unit itself. 

Prices vary dependent on each village, so we recommend you contact our sales team about the price of available apartments or villas in your preferred village. The entry payment agreed in your Residence and Management Contract (RMC) covers your home in the village and access to our award-winning services and world-class amenities.

The deferred management fee (DMF) is your contribution to the continued maintenance and management of the village, including your unit and village amenities. The DMF also covers the cost of refurbishing and reselling your home in the village.

Often referred to as a departure fee or exit fee, the DMF is an amount that becomes payable when you permanently vacate your unit. 

Your entry payment minus the DMF will be paid back to you when a new resident moves into your unit or within 6 months of you leaving, whichever comes first. This means you can be certain this money will be returned to you or your loved ones as soon as possible.

The DMF is calculated as a percentage of the entry price and Ryman's standard DMF is calculated at 30%. Prices vary from village to village, so we recommend you contact our sales team about the price of available apartments or villas in your preferred village.

You can choose between fixed or indexed weekly fees which are set at the time of signing your agreement. Indexed weekly fees are linked to the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index.

Any increases in indexed weekly fees will never exceed the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index in any given year.

Your weekly fee stops as soon as you move out.

The weekly fee covers everything from rates and garden maintenance to village amenities, such as a pool and bowling green, as well as a range of village-run activities. The fee varies depending on which living options and village you choose.

 Council rates and water rates are covered by your weekly fee in Ryman villages. 

Building insurance, general rates and water rates, are covered by your weekly fee. You are responsible for insuring your contents and personal effects.

We want you to be confident you’ve made the right choice in selecting a Ryman village.

While we’re sure you’ll love living in a Ryman village, you have 90 days* to change your mind and receive your money back.

We will repay your entry payment in full if, on the expiry of 90 days after taking up permanent residence, you are unhappy with your decision to move into your apartment or villa and wish to leave the village.

*Some conditions apply. If you would like to know more, please contact us.

You and your family have certainty about the amount you will be paid when you leave the village. There are no capital gains or losses, and you will receive your entry payment back, minus the DMF.

At Ryman, we have many different living options to suit your budget and your retirement needs including:

Independent living in a villa or apartment gives you the freedom and independence of being in your own home while still being part of a thriving retirement community. Independent living residents will have utility costs such as broadband, phone and power. However, your weekly fee covers expenses like rates, water and building insurance as well as ground maintenance.

Serviced apartments at Ryman include housekeeping, morning and afternoon tea and a daily main meal plus there are regular outings to the shops and further afield. Any optional extras you choose such as care services or extra meals will incur an additional cost. 

Our care options include low and high care, specialist dementia care, and respite care.

At Ryman, you won’t pay an additional DMF or an additional entry payment if you transfer from independent living to a serviced apartment. Plus, there are no transfer fees.

The money you pay to move into a retirement village is protected under the terms of the Retirement Villages Act. This means you can have confidence that your money is secure, as your payment is secured against the property. In the unlikely event that a retirement village gets into difficulty, your entitlement to be repaid takes priority over most other creditors.

 ACTIVITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT

"We’ve just had a cocktail party and a roast dinner night. How do you choose what’s your favourite? There’s always something happening."

- Rosemary, Ryman resident

Triple A (Ageless, Active, Aware) is Ryman’s bespoke exercise program that is available to all Ryman residents. The program improves strength, flexibility, balance, and agility through classes such as functional fitness, circuit and, if you’re less mobile, a ‘sit and be fit’ class.

In addition to Triple A, you can also take advantage of various village amenities such as the heated swimming pool, gym and bowling green. 

Our Engage activities program creates social opportunities and fun activities for you to take part in. From musical entertainment and a variety of outings to arts and crafts, the village workshop and our weekly Happy hour, there’s something for everyone.

Absolutely. We maintain strong links with our surrounding communities because we want you to continue being involved in the activities and clubs you’ve always enjoyed. Therefore, we support bowls clubs and various sports clubs and groups in our local communities.

You can be as involved in activities and events as much or as little as you like. It’s entirely up to you.

 HOSPITALITY

Ryman residents look forward to mealtimes because the food tastes great – and it’s nutritious. Our Delicious menu is prepared fresh on site by village chefs, with a choice of three main courses, including a vegetarian option. Aged-care residents are fully catered for, and assisted-living residents enjoy a main meal and morning and afternoon tea every day. Independent residents can book a meal at their village any time.

Absolutely! Our Delicious frozen meals are a great option if you’ve had a busy day or if you’d simply like a night off cooking. These individually frozen meals are made from scratch using fresh, natural ingredients and can be purchased from your village reception, shop or café.

Our village vans schedule regular outings to the shops and further afield for your convenience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the spirit of reconciliation Ryman Healthcare acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

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Contact Us

Phone: 1800 288 299

Melbourne office: 
PO Box 54
Collins Street West, VIC 8007

Registered office (NZ):
+64 3 366 4069

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