Retirement village living can involve significant financial commitment and lifestyle changes. The information on this page explains your rights and obligations as a resident. It also helps you consider other aspects of moving to, living in, or leaving a retirement village.
Retirement villages - information booklet (1.5 MB PDF)
If you have questions please contact Office for Ageing Well’s Retirement Villages Unit on 8204 2420 or at retirementvillages@sa.gov.au.
Retirement Villages (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2024
The Retirement Villages (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2024 and supporting regulations will commence on 2 February 2026 (with some exceptions).
The Amendment Act makes important updates to the existing Retirement Villages Act 2016 (RV Act) to increase consumer protection, improve village administration, strengthen the standards applying to retirement village operators and village staff, and strengthen the powers and functions of the Retirement Villages Registrar.
For more information:
- Retirement Villages (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2024 - South Australian Legislation
- Retirement Villages (Miscellaneous) Amendment Regulations 2025
- Information sheet for retirement village residents (401.8 KB PDF)
- Information sheet - how the changes will affect current and prospective residents (593.3 KB PDF)
Information sessions will be held for residents during late 2025 and early 2026. More information about these information sessions will be provided on the Office for Ageing Well website.
To register your interest and be advised of upcoming information sessions please email RVActReview@sa.gov.au.
Review of the Retirement Villages Act 2016
The Retirement Villages Act commenced on 1 January 2018 and was required to be reviewed after 3 years.
The report on the outcomes of the review (PDF 863KB) was tabled in Parliament on 18 November 2021 and the department has published its response to the review (PDF 428KB).
Retirement Villages (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill community consultation
A public consultation on the draft Retirement Villages (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill, which proposes to amend the Retirement Villages Act 2016, ran from 31 March to 19 May 2023.
The consultation provided an opportunity for stakeholders to consider whether the proposed changes achieve the intent of the review recommendations, and if any additional changes to the legislation were needed before the Bill was introduced in Parliament.
All community feedback was carefully considered and helped finalise the draft Amendment Bill before its introduction to State Parliament.
Guidelines for retirement village residents' committees
Guidelines for retirement village residents' committees are available which reflect the legislative requirements along with suggestions for implementing best practice principles for the operation and function of a retirement village residents' committee. A word version of the example rules from the residents' committees guidebook is also available and can be amended for use by residents' committees in retirement villages.
Information sheets
The information sheets below also provide useful information for residents and prospective residents about living in a retirement village.
- Introduction to retirement village living (144.0 KB PDF) - information about retirement villages, commonly used terms and relevant legislation.
- Before moving into a retirement village (137.4 KB PDF) - information to help you if you are considering retirement village living, such as what type of village you want to live in and what you can afford on a continuing basis.
- Moving into a retirement village (144.4 KB PDF) - disclosure statement and residence contract: Information about documents an operator is required to provide you with before you sign a residence contract and information about your cooling-off and settling-in periods.
- Living in a retirement village - fees and charges (144.4 KB PDF) Information about fees and charges for which you might be responsible when living in a village, when these fees might increase and when an operator is required to consult with residents.
- Living in a retirement village - residents’ committees (138.0 KB PDF) Information about the structure and function of a residents’ committee within a retirement village.
- What if I have a dispute with a Retirement Village (160.6 KB PDF) - dealing with disputes: Information about dealing with disputes in a retirement village.
- Request for Assistance to resolve a Retirement Villages dispute - if you have been unable to resolve the issue directly with the operator of the retirement village through the village's dispute resolution policy, submit a request for assistance using this online form.
- Leaving a retirement village (145.4 KB PDF) - information relating to leaving a village, relicensing your residence and when and how you will be paid your exit entitlement.
- Further information and advice (138.0 KB PDF) - list of organisations that can assist you with further information.
- Retirement villages checklist (144.3 KB PDF) - checklist to assist you in making a choice about moving into a retirement village.
Enforcement Framework for retirement villages
Resolving disputes
You can ask for help to resolve a dispute with a retirement village. You should only submit a form if you can't resolve the issue directly through the village's dispute resolution policy.
Request for assistance to resolve a Retirement Village dispute
Related Information
This website
Better practice guidelines for retirement villages
Other websites
Aged care homes - myagedcare, Australian Government
Retirement village disputes - South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT)
