Both Eastbourne and Lewes offer retirement housing options which provides support for older residents to assist them to live independently.
Retirement housing is a group of unfurnished flats, studio apartments and bungalows designed for the needs of older people. The aim is to provide comfortable, convenient and secure accommodation whilst encouraging residents to maintain full independence. The accommodation is for people of retirement age upwards. Properties are usually let on secure tenancies and tenants do not have the ‘Right to Buy’.
Facilities
All homes have an intercom connected to an alarm system where emergency assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Some residents may qualify for visiting services such as home care, meals on wheels via Social Services or their GP. Many of our residents live independent lives but feel reassured by the provision of the emergency alarm service and can request personalised support such as daily/weekly calls and visits by our support team staff.
Retirement blocks
Retirement blocks contain facilities such as a communal lounge, laundry room, garden and some have mobility scooter storage facilities. Each studio apartment, flat or bungalow is self-contained with its own entrance for residents to come and go as they wish. The accommodation is centrally heated and double glazed. It allows residents to enjoy social, recreational and leisure activities in a safe environment.
Heating and lighting costs are included in the rental of properties in most purpose built blocks of flats, so residents do not have to worry about separate fuel accounts. Service charges are made for communal services such as cleaning of communal areas, grounds maintenance, alarm system and so on.
Dogs are not permitted in flats, cats are at our discretion on ground floor properties. We are currently reviewing our pets policy for Lewes and Eastbourne for the retirement properties.
Bungalows
Many of our bungalows have their own garden area which the tenant is responsible for the upkeep of. It is important to think about your mobility and your interest in social activities when bidding for retirement accommodation, as the bungalow option is not always suitable to everyone. Residents are responsible for their own heating and lighting costs in bungalows. Unlike flats, there is no restriction on keeping dogs or cats as pets in a bungalow.
