Retirement village moves with the times

The days of one-bedroom retirement units are over, according to the manager of a Bunbury retirement village that is replacing old units with two and three-bedroom alternatives.

Wattle Hill Care has knocked down 19 units that are being replaced with 20 bigger units already under construction.

Village manager Elaine Maughan said the units - which had a combination of three-bedroom, two-bathroom or two-bedroom, one-bathroom, two-toilet layouts - were meeting a demand.

"When people move in now, even as a couple, they want three bedrooms so they have a guest room for visitors," she said.

"A lot of people want an office for their computer or hobbies.

"People just don't want one-bedroom units anymore."

Bethanie chief development and assets officer Robert Spencer said he had noticed a range of trends in Bethanie villages and that spacious units were popular.

"Certainly most retirees want to downsize at some point - many to a more spacious two-bedroom or two-bedroom with study configuration (and) often with two bathrooms, but this is usually for more well-off couples," he said.

"Where a person is living on their own, this is more space than they need and two-bedroom or one-bedroom with study options are becoming more popular.

"Accordingly, we are providing a more diverse range of premium accommodation models from one-bedroom resort suites through to two and three-bedroom villas and apartments."

LMW Hegney property valuers director Aaron Hughes believed the greatest demand was for affordable retirement living rather than a particular size.

"I think we will see an increase in people looking to Bunbury due to affordability in Perth," he said.

"There's clearly a demand for aged-care housing in Bunbury and I would question whether there may be a shortage long-term."

Wattle Hill resident Pauline Salvigny said she had been happy in a one-bedroom unit but appreciated the extra space after being moved to a bigger unit.

Another resident, Iris Burrows, said she "thanked my lucky stars" when she secured a bigger unit.

The first stage of the new units is expected to be completed by September.