Methodist Homes Garden Village in Bordeaux closed out its financial year on a high note last week, hosting its final open day of the year to an enthusiastic crowd of prospective residents and their families.

Garden Village manager Lauren Rheeder said the turnout exceeded expectations, with roughly 23 attendees registered on the day, alongside several walk-ins. “It was a great, successful event,” she said.

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The open day showcased a range of available units, including one-bedroom and one-bedroom extended cottages, as well as executive apartments designed for those seeking a low-maintenance lifestyle. “It’s literally lock up and go,” Rheeder said of the apartment offering. Ground-floor units with private gardens are currently on sale as the village makes way for new stock ahead of the new financial year.

A recurring theme on the day was curiosity around life rights, the ownership model under which residents buy into the village. Under this arrangement, residents purchase the right to live on the property for their lifetime, without transferring the property or paying transfer duties. Upon passing, the contract expires, and the unit is resold, with a sliding-scale percentage of the resale value returned to the estate depending on the length of stay. Rheeder noted that many visitors were unaware that life rights cannot be passed on to family as an inheritance.

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Questions about the application process were also common. Prospective residents are required to submit financial details and undergo a medical assessment to determine their level of independence. Depending on the outcome, residents may be placed in independent living, mid-care, or full 24-hour care in the village’s care centre.

One of the most discussed topics on the day involved couples where one partner has dementia. Rheeder was clear that the village does not separate couples. “We don’t force them to do anything. It’s a choice,” she said, adding that regular assessments are carried out and that families are always consulted before any changes to care arrangements are made.

The village plans to host further open days in the new financial year, with new units expected to come onto the market.

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