No Exit Fees or Deferred Management Fees

One of the biggest concerns when buying a retirement property is understanding the total cost of ownership. Unlike many retirement developments, we do not charge exit fees or deferred management fees when you decide to sell your home.

This means you won’t face unexpected management charges when your property is sold, allowing you and your family to keep more of the proceeds from the sale. It’s part of our commitment to offering retirement living that is straightforward, transparent and fair.

What’s Included in the Service Charge?

Our service charge is designed to cover many of the day-to-day costs of maintaining a safe, attractive and professionally managed retirement community. It includes:

• 24-hour security for complete peace of mind
• Two dedicated on-site House Managers – Non-residential, keeping costs low
• Temporary support services whenever they’re needed
• Buildings insurance
• Full maintenance of communal buildings and shared facilities
• Beautifully maintained gardens and landscaped communal areas
• Professional gardeners and maintenance staff
• External window cleaning
• A licensed residents’ clubhouse
• Regular community newsletter

Rather than organising and paying for these services individually, everything is professionally managed on your behalf, leaving you free to enjoy retirement.

Excellent Value for Retirement Living

When comparing retirement communities, it’s important to look beyond the headline service charge.

A lower fee isn’t always better if important services aren’t included, while a higher fee doesn’t necessarily represent better value.

Our aim is to provide an outstanding range of facilities and services while keeping ongoing costs as affordable as possible.

With comprehensive services included, carefully managed annual increases and no hidden exit charges, we believe we offer exceptional value for retirement living.

Why Compare Service Charges Carefully?

Not every retirement development operates in the same way. Before making your decision, it’s worth asking:

• What services are included?
• Is there 24-hour on-site security?
• Are there dedicated on-site managers?
• Is buildings insurance included?
• Who maintains the gardens and communal areas?
• Are temporary support services available if they’re needed?
• How much have service charges increased in recent years?
• Are there exit fees or deferred management charges when the property is eventually sold?

These questions help provide a true picture of the overall cost of retirement living—not just today, but for years to come.

Transparency You Can Trust

We understand that ongoing costs are an important consideration when choosing your new home.

That’s why we’re committed to managing our service charges responsibly while maintaining the high standards our residents expect.

Every pound contributes towards creating a secure, attractive and welcoming community where residents can enjoy an independent lifestyle with the reassurance that support, maintenance and security are always close at hand. Our management fee is just 15% of the service charge and this is fixed into the lease so cannot be increased. This is one of the lowest in the country.

Find Out More

If you’d like more information about our service charge or would like a detailed breakdown of what’s included, we’d be delighted to help.

Contact our friendly team today to arrange a visit, ask a question or discover why so many people choose St James Oaks for retirement living in Gravesend.