Frequently Asked Questions

We have collected the questions we hear most often - from prospective residents and from their families. If something is not covered here, we are always happy to talk.

Facts About Retirement Living

  • The most common form of enjoying retirement living occupancy in Australia is a long-term lease. This lifetime lease essentially provides you with similar rights as a freehold title. There’s also the significant benefit of no stamp duty being payable on your new home. The Victorian Retirement Villages Act (1986) ensures your rights are protected. 

  • The Benson offers a lifestyle especially suited to people aged 55 years and over who wish to enjoy the benefits of independent living, a caring community and the peace of mind of additional service options should their needs change in the future. Residents may be in full or part-time employment or no longer in paid work. 

  • At The Benson, a host of modern security features have been employed to provide you with a safe and secure environment, offering you peace of mind. An electronic fob ensures secure access for our residents to their apartments and car parking day and night with access to individual floors restricted to residents of The Benson or guests admitted by a resident of that floor. A security key is provided for each apartment. There is also the reassurance that comes from having staff looking out for you. Best of all, you can lock up and leave to go on vacations, safe in the knowledge that your apartment is secure.

Purchasing at The Benson

  • Step One 

    Select your apartment, based on what is available and what is right for you in ter ms of size, aspect and price. 

    Step Two 

    Register your interest in your preferred apartment with a fully refundable $2,000 reservation fee. There is a 21-day cooling off period so you have time to review your agreements and, if you choose not to proceed, your reservation fee will be refunded within 10 days. 

    If you decide to proceed, you will be given two agreements to execute: An Agreement to Lease, which confirms your intent to proceed at the time occupancy is available; and a Residence and Management Contract, which governs the terms of the lease and confirms your rights and entitlements. 

    Step Three 

    Seek independent advice from your solicitor and accountant/financial planner before formalising your purchase. 

    It is important you feel comfortable with the arrangements and as such, we encourage you to discuss it with friends, family and advisors. 

    Step Four 

    Execute the agreements and pay a 5% deposit of the agreed purchase price. The $2,000 reservation fee will be deducted from this amount. You will have an additional three-day cooling off period at this point and your deposit will be refunded in full and the agreements terminated if you choose not to proceed during this time. 

    Step Five 

    Make the move! The contracts will be settled at an agreed date at which time the balance of the purchase price is payable after which you can begin living in your new home at The Benson. 

  • No. You will not pay stamp duty upon purchase of the lease of your apartment. 

  • Moving house can be a stressful experience for some people, and we are here to help. Our team will do everything they can to reduce the stress. 

    We can recommend suitably experienced removalists to pack, move and unpack your precious belongings. Importantly we can offer the option of shifting your possessions into your apartment prior to settlement under a licence agreement to avoid the stress of vacating and shifting on the one day. This can make the moving process smoother. 

    Prior to settlement, we will provide you with information and assistance regarding the connection of services such as electricity and telephone, including Foxtel and broadband internet. We can also recommend the services of a relocation consultant to handle every aspect of your move and connect you with an interior designer to help add your own signature to your stunning apartment at the Benson. 

Living at The Benson

  • Lunch or dinners can be arranged through the Concierge via a local supplier and delivered to the resident’s apartment or served in the Ebsworth Lounge. Special event lunch or dinners can be arranged in the Ebsworth Lounge, determined by resident demand and based on residents confirming attendance. 

  • A selection of gourmet chilled and frozen meals can be arranged through local suppliers and delivered to the resident’s apartment, on request. 

  • Yes, subject to prior approval from management and compliance with the pet policy. 

  • You are of course allowed to have guests stay over night. However, for security purposes you are asked to let management know if someone is staying in your apartment. 

  • Yes, each apartment is allocated exclusive use of at least two car parking spaces in the secure underground car park, as well as a large secure storage facility. There are lifts from the car park to all floors, giving you easy and secure access to your apartment. 

  • Australia Post delivers the mail to individual mailboxes located adjacent to the ground floor entry. Your newspaper can be collected from the foyer. 

  • Each floor at The Benson has a garbage drop discreetly located, enabling quick and easy disposal of household waste and recyclable items.

Support and Care Options

  • The Concierge is first aid trained and is onsite seven days a week at selected hours. They will respond to calls from the emergency call system installed in the apartments and in the gym and wine cellar. At other times when the Concierge is not on-site the emergency call system will be monitored 24 hours by an emergency response team who will deal with the situation and alert the ambulance and your family if required. 

  • The Concierge can arrange for in-home care services such as personal care, medication supervision, assistance with cleaning and meal preparation and transport through VMCH, a trusted supplier of care services for over 50 years. If necessary, a case manager can be engaged to provide a full assessment of your support needs and help develop a suitable program to meet your needs and preferences. Emergency pendants and emergency call buttons are provided for all apartments and in the gym and wine cellar. 

The Benson Management

  • Our management team and staff are available to make living at the Benson easy and enjoyable. A Concierge is available seven days a week at selected hours. Specialist service providers are engaged for cleaning, gardens and maintenance. 

  • The Benson is owned by the Parish of St John Paul II, Armadale and Toorak and is managed by VMCH, a not-for-profit organisation that has been providing retirement living and in-home and residential aged care on behalf of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne in the Victorian community since 1960. They have established a reputation for excellence based on responding to the needs and wishes of residents. In the unlikely event of an issue or disagreement arising, your concerns can be raised either directly with management or through avenues available via the Retirement Villages Act. 

Services Fee Payments

  • A monthly service fee is calculated according to the size and value of your new home, similar to a Body Corporate Fee. You will be advised of this fee when you inspect an apartment. 

    It covers: 

    Ongoing maintenance of the indoor and outdoor shared spaces 

    Property and building insurance (you will still require contents insurance and public liability for your own apartment) 

    Provision of 24-hour emergency monitoring call service 

    Employment of village management, concierge and maintenance staff 

    Costs associated with the community facilities 

  • Yes, extra charges incurred can be added to your monthly invoice to make payments easier for you. 

  • As each apartment is individually metered, you will only be charged for the electricity and water applicable to your apartment.