Ryman Peace of Mind Guarantees

­At Ryman we believe firmly in protecting the interests of our residents, and we pride ourselves on offering some of the most “resident- friendly” terms in New Zealand. Over the past 20 years we have developed the Ryman peace of mind guarantees, which are designed to protect both you and your family. ­ The Ryman peace of mind guarantees are available exclusively to Ryman retirement village residents.

1. Weekly Fee Guarantee

We know how important it is to you to have certainty regarding your living costs.

“We guarantee that, in the event that we do increase our weekly fees, that the increase will be limited to the increase in the Consumer Price Index.”

This gives you assurance that if any increase occurs that it will only be made in line with inflation. Did you know that in over twenty years a Ryman resident has never experienced an increase in their base weekly fee?

2. A Title for Your Home

It is very reassuring to know that you hold the title to your own home, and that it is mortgage free, and it should be just the same when you move into a retirement village. It is not common for other villages to offer you your own mortgage free title.

“We guarantee that we provide you with a certificate of title “for life” to your unit which you will hold and that we cannot offer your unit as security for a debt to any bank (or other lender).”

This gives you the comfort of knowing that you have title security while you are living in your new home, and provides you with security for repayment of your occupancy advance.

3. Continuity of Care

One of the features of a Ryman village is that we offer a range of high quality care facilities within the village. This gives you the comfort of knowing that there is nursing assistance available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We guarantee that you will be granted priority access to the care facilities within the village, or to another Ryman care facility if you so choose.”

This gives you the peace of mind of knowing that if the need arises you can remain living within the village community, and in close contact with your spouse or friends in the village.

4. Deferred Management Fee Capped

The deferred management fee is your contribution to the refurbishment and management of the village. It is charged on an “enjoy now, pay later” basis, and is deducted when your occupancy advance is repaid to you.

In the event that you wish to transfer to another unit, or to another village, you will want to be assured that your deferred management fees will be no more than 20% overall.

“We guarantee that our deferred management fee will be capped at a maximum of 20% of the occupancy advance - even if you transfer to another unit within the village, or even if you transferred to another Ryman village.”

This gives you the comfort of knowing that you will not incur additional management fees if you wish to move to a serviced apartment, or to move to another village which is closer to family.

5. No Hidden Costs

You will want to know that there are no hidden costs when you move into a retirement village, or when you leave your unit.

We accept total responsibility for undertaking the refurbishing, marketing and on sale of your unit. These costs are covered by the deferred management fee, and the only costs not covered are our solicitor’s costs in relation to repayment and release of your security.

“We guarantee not to charge for any sales, administration, marketing or refurbishment (except where there is more than fair wear and tear to your unit) when we on-sell your unit.”

6. Fees Stop Immediately

You will also want to know that you do not continue to carry the cost of outgoings when you leave your unit.

“We guarantee that the weekly fee and deferred management fees will cease on the day you permanently vacate your unit.”

We see it as our responsibility (not yours) to carry the cost of outgoings once you have left unit and we are in the process of on-selling your unit. This gives us an incentive to on-sell your unit quickly.

7. Repayment Protection

It is standard practice for retirement villages to repay your occupancy advance when the unit has been on-sold. However you will want an assurance that in the event the on-sale is delayed for some reason you will be repaid.

“We guarantee that if the new resident has not settled within six months of you vacating your unit, then we will pay you interest on your occupancy advance until it is paid in full.”

This gives us an incentive to on-sell your unit and repay you promptly.

Did you know that in over twenty years the longest time a Ryman resident has ever waited is six months to be repaid their occupancy advance?

8. No Capital Loss

It will be important to you and your family that you have certainty regarding the amount you are repaid when you leave the village, and that you are not exposed to any capital loss when the unit is on-sold.

“We guarantee to repay you the balance of your occupancy advance, and that the amount repaid will not be affected by a decline in the value of the unit.”

9. Changing your Mind

Buying your new home in a retirement village is an important decision, and we want you to be confident you have made the right choice in selecting a Ryman village.

“We guarantee that if you change your mind within 15 working days of signing your occupation agreement (and you have not yet taken up residence) then we will agree to cancel the agreement and refund your deposit in full.”

This is very reassuring as you know that if you change your mind or your circumstances change in that period you do not have to proceed.