Our Guarantee Plan explained
With your property price and bond payment returned when you leave, our Guarantee Plan keeps things simple and stress free.
Understanding exit fees and selling costs in a retirement village
Monday, 18 May 2026
Thinking of selling your retirement village home? Here’s a clear guide to the costs and considerations involved — so you can plan with confidence.
Thinking of selling your retirement village home? Here’s a clear guide to the costs and considerations involved — so you can plan with confidence.
Even before you start thinking about moving into a retirement village, one question tends to sit at the back of your mind: What happens when I leave? Understanding exit fees and whether you’ll receive a capital gain are completely valid considerations to ensure you’re taking the right steps.
Depending on your contract choice, there’ll be different costs to pay when you move in and when you move out. Plus, you’ll pay a monthly service fee to cover every day operating costs of the village.
By taking the time to understand those details early, you can move forward feeling informed, reassured and confident about what the future holds. And when it comes time to sell your retirement home, there are cost considerations for putting your home on the market.
Quick links
- What are exit fees?
- Will you share in the capital gain when you sell your home?
- How to prepare your home for sale
- How to set the right selling price
- Invest in your lifestyle
What are exit fees?
An exit fee or deferred management fee is a one-off fee you pay that contributes to Keyton’s broader business operations - including reinvestment in village facilities, strategic planning and resources.
Will you share in the capital gain from the sale of your home?
The amount you receive from the sale of your home depends on the contract type you signed before moving in.
Here’s a high-level breakdown of your outgoing costs under our main contract options at our select leasehold villages (exclusions apply).
The Freedom Plan
When you buy into a village under the Freedom Plan:
You pay a deferred management fee at 6.5% per year of your occupancy calculated based on your original property price and capped at 32.5%.
Any capital growth from resale is retained by Keyton.
You are protected by the No Capital Loss Guarantee, so if your home sells for less than you paid, you won’t incur a loss.
Keyton offers a guaranteed buyback within 6 months after vacant possession, subject to terms and conditions.
Monthly service fees stop upon vacant possession in Victoria, 42 days after vacant possession in New South Wales and ACT and 90 days after vacant possession in Queensland and South Australia.
No reinstatement costs are incurred by you when you leave, unless your home is damaged or has accelerated wear and tear.
You do not incur the cost of marketing and selling your home.
The Growth Plan*
When you buy into a village under the Growth Plan:
You do not pay any deferred management fee at exit.
You will receive 50% of the capital growth if the value increases when your home is sold.
You are protected by the No Capital Loss Guarantee, so if your home sells for less than you paid, you won’t incur a loss.
Keyton offers a guaranteed buyback within 18 months after vacant possession subject to terms and conditions, unless an earlier buyback is required by state specific legislation.
Monthly service fees stop upon vacant possession in Victoria, 42 days after vacant possession in New South Wales and ACT and 90 days after vacant possession in Queensland and South Australia.
Reinstatement costs are estimated at 1% of the resale price, unless you agree with us to renovate or upgrade your home for resale.
The cost of marketing and selling your home is currently estimated at 1.25% of the resale price, except for Queensland leasehold where it is not charged.
* The Growth Plan is not available for Serviced Apartments.
The Guarantee Plan
When you buy into a village under the Guarantee Plan:
You do not pay any deferred management fee at exit.
Any capital growth from resale is retained by Keyton.
You are protected by the No Capital Loss Guarantee, so if your home sells for less than you paid, you won’t incur a loss.
Keyton offers a guaranteed buyback within 60 days after vacant possession, subject to terms and conditions.
Monthly service fees stop upon vacant possession.
No reinstatement costs are incurred by you when you leave, unless your home is damaged or has accelerated wear and tear.
You do not incur the cost of marketing and selling your home.
Preparing your home for sale
This applies to our Growth Plan while our other Plans do not include any selling fees and the same reinstatement obligation. When you move out under the Growth Plan, you may need to pay for reinstatement of you home to bring it to the condition it was in at entry, subject to fair wear and tear. The reinstatement costs are estimated at 1% of the resale price and may include*:
New carpet
Painting throughout
Servicing appliances
Comprehensive cleaning
If you engage us to resell your home, you will also incur a selling fee which is currently estimated at 1.25% of the resale price (except for Queensland leasehold where it is not charged) and will cover the cost of marketing and selling your home.
Sometimes, a more extensive refurbishment like a kitchen or bathroom renovation or upgrade can help improve market appeal of the home. We’ll work with you to agree what’s most appropriate and associated costs, but the choice is entirely up to you. If agreed, we will also manage this work for you to ensure it meets our quality standards.
*Please note that the scope of reinstatement is always dependent on the home's condition.
How to set the right selling price
This applies to our Growth Plan while under our other Plans, we will take care of the resale process. If you decide to sell under our Growth Plan, you can work with the village sales team to settle on the best listing price for your home. Like any property, the price will depend on your home’s size, style, condition and location as well as the property market at the time.
While you’re free to choose any licensed real estate agent, our sales team specialises in retirement village homes and can help you achieve the best price for your home, which is why so many residents choose to sell with us. A selling fee will apply, except for Queensland leasehold where it is not charged.
It's about more than property
There are many things to consider when making the move to retirement living. Retirement living is more than just bricks and mortar - it's an investment in your lifestyle.
And the best thing is you’ll say goodbye to the high costs of maintaining a large family home. You’ll enjoy the benefits of a vibrant lifestyle with built-in safety, security, support, community and peace of mind. Something money alone can't buy.
The information contained in this article is general in nature and subject to change following its publication. It does not explain all contractual terms and conditions and is not specific to you and your circumstances. Contract Plans vary across villages, and some contract Plans may not be available at some villages or for some homes. We do not accept any liability for (a) any loss or damage which may be suffered by you or any other person who relies whether wholly or in part upon this article; and (b) any errors, misstatements or misrepresentations in or omissions from this article. It is not intended to be a legal or financial advice. You should seek your own independent legal and financial advice before entering into any of our contracts.
For more information about the lifestyle and support offered at our retirement villages, call our customer service team on 1800 550 550 or send us an email here.
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