Retirement village repairs and reinstatement

Who is responsible for repairs

The residence contract must clearly state who is responsible for:

  • repairing or replacing fixtures, fittings and furnishings while the resident lives in the village
  • returning the residence to its original condition when a resident leaves the village (often called refurbishment or reinstatement)
  • any work to improve the residence above reinstatement (often called renovation).

When a resident leaves a village

Operators must come to an agreement with them about the:

  • reinstatement work required (if any)
  • who is responsible
  • costs and timeframes.

This will be decided in accordance with the terms of the residence contract.

Complete a vacated premises report

Once a resident ceases to live in the village, an operator must also complete a vacated premises report. This report provides information about the condition of the fixtures, fittings and furnishings provided in the residence at the point of exit.

Once the report is complete, an operator must:

  • provide a copy to the former resident or their representative within 10 business days of the person moving out
  • allow a reasonable time for the former resident or their representative to agree or disagree with the report.

If there's a dispute about what is in the report, the village dispute resolution policy must be followed, unless the resident agrees to resolve the dispute another way.

Contact the Retirement Village Unit

Email: retirementvillages@sa.gov.au


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Page last updated 2 February 2026

Provided by:
Department of Human Services
URL:
https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/business-and-trade/operating-a-retirement-village/repairs-and-reinstatement
Last Updated:
02/02/26
Printed on:
09/06/26
Copyright statement:
SA.GOV.AU is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Licence. © Copyright 2026
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