Frequently Asked Questions

All viewings are conducted on an appointment basis only and arranged in advance. This ensures that you, our staff and our residents are completely safe throughout the viewing process.

We can also offer virtual viewings and can walk you through each part of the apartments.

In line with government guidelines, we are able to let and sell properties. Our on-site teams have been briefed on how to conduct move-ins safely whilst adhering to government and social distancing guidelines to protect you, our staff and our residents.

We offer a range of tenures throughout our 69 schemes, such as leasehold, rental and shared ownership. You are able to rent properties at over 50 of our schemes.

Shared ownership is available at some of our housing with care schemes that already offer a leasehold option. If shared ownership is something that you would like to consider, please speak to one of our friendly team by either submitting an email enquiry or phoning us.

The minimum age criteria vary across our schemes. However, at the majority of our MHA schemes, you must be at least 60 years old. If someone is buying an apartment on your behalf, they are not required to be at least 60 years old. However, the person occupying the apartment must be.

MHA will always conduct care and financial assessments before accepting you into an MHA property. These assessments are always confidential and are in your interests as they ensure that you will be are safe and secure in our retirement living schemes, taking away any worries that you may have.

You may also be able to receive support from your local authority, should you have a low or limited income.

Our key facts documents are available for each scheme and outline the amount you’ll pay for your service charge, which will differ depending on whether you are buying or renting. These documents are downloadable on each scheme page, or can be emailed or posted out to you should you enquire.

The amount of service charge that you’ll pay is dependent on the scheme, though it covers the same elements throughout our schemes. The service charge is disclosed within our key facts documents for tenants and leaseholders, which are available on each of our scheme webpages and can be sent to you by email or post.

For further information on what the service charge includes, you can click on the service charge guides for leaseholders and tenants for more information about service charges.

MHA’s wellbeing service is available across our housing with care schemes and includes 24-hour staffing on-site or on-hand, help in an emergency and the co-ordination of an activities and events programme. Read more about our wellbeing service >

The ground rent is not part of the service charge. It is paid by owners only (so excludes rental properties) to the landlord either annually or in instalments.

The ground rent is defined in your lease and usually increases every five years by a set formula. If MHA are not your landlord but act as managing agents, we may collect the ground rent and pass it on to your landlord, although at some schemes it is payable directly to the landlord

Utilities charges vary by scheme and are disclosed within our key facts documents for tenants and leaseholders, which are available on each of our scheme’s webpages and can be sent to you by email or post.

The costs falling on leaseholders or owners include:

• A Contingency Fund Contribution is payable on sale or a transfer of ownership. The Fund covers the costs of repairing or renewing communal areas, roofs, lifts, etc. The amount payable is based on the value of the property and will be calculated as set out in the specific ownership contract.
• An Administration Fee is also payable to cover the legal costs that MHA incurs on resale.
• The owner (or the owner’s estate) remain liable for paying all ongoing charges (e.g. the service charge, wellbeing charge, and ground rent) until the property is sold. They may also have to pay for any repairs and redecoration required by MHA to put the property in good order for re-sale.
• Further information is available in the Key Facts documents for each retirement community.

 The costs falling on tenants include:

• Tenants who give notice remain liable for paying all ongoing charges (e.g. the rent, service charge, and wellbeing charge) during the four-week notice period.
• In England and Wales, the same liability will fall on a tenant’s estate if a tenant dies; in Scotland, all charges cease to be payable on death.
• Tenants (or the tenant’s estate) may also have to pay for any repairs and redecoration required by MHA to put the property in good order for re-letting.
• Further information is available in the Key Facts documents for each retirement community.

MHA offer a range of additional services across our retirement living schemes, including:

• Personal care service, offering assistance with washing, dressing, medication assistance, etc.
• A maintenance service, offering assistance with small jobs and repairs within a resident's own property
• A domestic service, offering assistance with housework such as vacuuming, dusting, cleaning kitchens/bathrooms etc.

The services are chargeable in 15-minute intervals, differ across each scheme and are subject to staff availability. For more information on the charges for each service, you can consult the Key Facts documents for Leaseholders and Tenants for the scheme of your choice.

If you are thinking about moving to an MHA retirement living scheme and would like to bring a pet with you, you can apply to the Housing Manager for approval by using the Resident Application for Pet Ownership form.

This will be provided to you and approval will depend on a risk assessment conducted by a staff member. Please note that this is also down to the discretion of the Housing Manager.

MHA is a member of The Associated Retirement Community Operators (ARCO), the main body representing the retirement community sector in the UK. MHA are Approved Operators under the ARCO Consumer Code, and we aim to comply with the Code’s requirements across the retirement living schemes that we have registered with ARCO. Read more about ARCO >