Renting helped Gordon decide that retirement living was right for him
“Renting has been a godsend” is how retiree Gordon describes his experience of moving to a retirement living development in Leek.
After living in a four-bedroom Georgian farmhouse in Moddershall for more than 40 years, 77 year-old Gordon Donaldson, was daunted by the prospect downsizing to a retirement apartment. The opportunity to rent a retirement apartment at a nearby McCarthy & Stone development gave him the confidence to try the lifestyle before buying a property.
“Due to a knee problem, I was struggling to manage the stairs, as well as maintaining such a large property – so I knew I needed to move to a property that was more practical and manageable. However the concept of retirement living was new to me and I really wasn’t sure how I’d cope downsizing to a one or two-bedroom apartment.”
“Renting appealed to me because it gave me the flexibility to try the lifestyle out, before I committed to buying a property. If I decided it wasn’t for me, I could simply move on without the hassle of selling.”
Gordon moved to a two-bedroom apartment within a Retirement Living development in Leek. “Portland Grange was the perfect location for me – close to my family and friends, as well as the shops and cafes in Leek. Plus, the reassurance of the 24-hour emergency call system, gave me peace of mind – should something happen.”
“I’m delighted to say that moving to Portland Grange has been absolutely wonderful. The community here is fantastic – there’s always something going on and you can choose to get involved as much or as little as you want.”
“We have a whole raft of activities including a four o'clock tea every day, supper club once a month, visits to the local garden centre or trips to the theatre. We have a very nice library, as well as a poetry and chess club.”
After renting for a year, Gordon decided to purchase a similar property within Portland Grange. “I'm very happy and settled here. The House Manager, Helen is brilliant. She goes over and above for all the residents, making it a real friendly place to be.”
“Being able to rent was an absolute godsend. It proved to me that I could downsize and still live very comfortably in my apartment. I feel very lucky to be part of this community.”
