Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is Inchmarlo Retirement Village?
A. Inchmarlo Retirement Village comprises homes for sale and a luxury care home within a 100-acre garden paradise on Royal Deeside near Banchory in Aberdeenshire. Since 1986, we have built almost 200 homes on the estate, which is next to a golf course and across the road from the River Dee.
Q. Who owns and manages Inchmarlo?
A. Inchmarlo is owned and managed by Skene Enterprises (Aberdeen) Ltd, which is part of The Skene Group, a family business founded by Charles P. Skene CBE, which includes Skene House and Skene Business Centres. The Director & General Manager of Inchmarlo House is Julie Mackenzie, a highly experienced and qualified registered nurse, who has worked at Inchmarlo for over 17 years. Julie is supported by her Deputy Manager, Julie Woods, and approximately 100 other staff, including nurses, care assistants, activity co-ordinators and various community liaison, kitchen, housekeeping, security, gardening and support staff.
Q. Why do people choose to live at Inchmarlo?
A. Our homeowners tell us that they chose to live Inchmarlo because they wanted to:
- live in a home which was designed for retirement living
- live in a sociable community of like-minded people
- live in a safe and secure environment
- live independently but receive care at home if required
- have peace-of-mind that care is available on their doorstep 24/7
- have easy access to activities and social events
- enjoy the various walks and five unique gardens on the 100-acre estate
- reduce the hassle and cost of home and garden maintenance
- delay moving into a care home but have priority access if required
Buying and selling a home
Q. What types of home are available?
A. We have homes for sale throughout our nine neighbourhoods, comprising a wide range of house types, including one to two-bedroom apartments, two to four-bedroom terraced houses and two to four-bedroom detached houses. Most homes are bungalows with garages and private driveways, and some have gardens or balconies. At Inchmarlo we have homes to suit most requirements and budgets.
Q. Are the houses and apartment sold freehold or leasehold?
A. All houses and apartments at Inchmarlo are sold on a freehold basis so no ground rent is due.
Q. Can anyone buy a home at Inchmarlo?
A. Homes at Inchmarlo are available for sale to those over the age of 55 but exceptions may be made for those below the age of 55 on medical grounds.
Q. What happens when I want to sell my property?
A. Homeowners are able to sell their property whenever and however they wish. Our on-site Sales Manager can provide contact details for local agents and help market and sell your home.
Facilities & Activities
Q. What facilities are there for the owners?
A. Our homeowners enjoy an active social life within a secure and sociable community of like-minded people. An added comfort is Inchmarlo House, a magnificent listed Georgian mansion, which in addition to providing lounges, a bar, restaurant and hair salon, is also a 52-bed care home, which offers help and support 24/7 if required.
Q. What activities and events are there for homeowners?
A. Inchmarlo promotes active retirement living so staff and homeowners organise a monthly calendar of activities and special events to make sure there is something to suit everyone, including bridge, board games, art appreciation, handicrafts, discussion groups, walking groups, putting or croquet. Activities, such as weekly sing-a-longs, also take place in Inchmarlo House, and homeowners are welcome to join. The monthly Diary of Events also includes news from the estate and information of interest to homeowners.
Day to day living
Q. Is there someone available to help with my garden?
A. Only houses at Garden Wood have their own private garden, so most homeowners do not need to worry about gardening. However, many homeowners have plants or flowers on their balconies or patios, and our gardeners are happy to provide advice and assistance.
Q. Can I get home deliveries to Inchmarlo?
A. Many local suppliers make regular deliveries to Inchmarlo, including a newsagent, milkman, butcher, grocer and fishmonger.
Q. Can I get internet and Sky TV?
A. All homes at Inchmarlo can receive internet and Sky TV. Homeowners are responsible for choosing the packages and arranging the connections, but we can provide contact details.
Q. Can I bring my pet?
A. All well-behaved pets are welcome at Inchmarlo but please check beforehand to make sure. For the safety of other homeowners, dogs must be kept on a lead while walking on the estate. In order to help preserve the red squirrel and bird population on the estate, we request that all cat owners fit bells on their cat’s collars.
Help is on hand
Q. Is there security on the estate?
A. Inchmarlo offers a safe and secure environment. Security patrol the estate 24/7, providing peace-of-mind to homeowners. Our Security Wardens can also provide general assistance such as moving furniture, organising repairs and emergency property assistance. Our Community Liaison staff visit homeowners regularly to offer support and information.
Q. Is care available at all times?
A. There is always someone to answer calls at Inchmarlo House day or night, 24/7. We have a registered nurse and care assistants on duty at all times. Homeowners also have the added peace-of-mind of knowing that if their needs change, regular care can be provided from Inchmarlo House, which allows homeowners to stay in their own home longer than may be the case elsewhere, resulting in significant financial savings compared to the cost of a care home.
Q. What if I need emergency assistance?
A. All homes at Inchmarlo are fitted with an emergency help-call unit (with optional pendants and pull-cords available), which are linked to Inchmarlo House so staff can receive and respond to any emergency request for assistance 24/7.
Q. Can I get help in my own home?
A. On arriving at Inchmarlo, all homeowners will receive a visit from Community Liaison who will discuss which, if any, of the optional care and nursing services may be required. We also offer a comprehensive range of additional services at Inchmarlo, including a restaurant, bar and hair salon. For convenience, the cost of these extras is added to the monthly invoice. We can also recommend home-help agencies who can assist with shopping, laundry and housekeeping.
Q. What are the benefits of ‘care at home’ services?
A. Our optional private care services are designed to enable homeowners to live in their own home at Inchmarlo for longer than might otherwise be the case. By living independently, with the help of our pay-as-you-go Lifestyle Services provided by Inchmarlo House, homeowners can make significant financial savings compared to the cost of moving into a care home.
Q. What happens when I go on holiday?
A. As we maintain the grounds and general security, homeowners have the peace-of-mind that their home and grounds are being looked after while they’re away. Most homeowners leave keys at Reception so we can attend to emergencies if required.
Getting around
Q. Are there any internal transport services?
A. We offer a free mini-bus shuttle service for homeowners and their visitors to and from Inchmarlo House so they can participate in activities, visit the hair salon or enjoy a meal in the restaurant. Our mini-bus is also available for private hire.
Q. Is there a local bus service available?
A. There are regular bus services to Banchory, Aberdeen and across Royal Deeside from a bus stop outside the main entrance to Inchmarlo. Timetables are available online and at Reception. The journey time to Aberdeen is around one hour. Free bus travel Scotland-wide is available for the over 60s.
Q. What facilities are nearby?
A. Banchory is less than 2 miles east of Inchmarlo and has many shops (including Tesco, Morrisons and Co-op), restaurants, cafes, a gym and a leisure centre at Banchory Sports Village, which has a swimming pool. Banchory also has several churches and a library, which offers a mobile service and regularly visits Inchmarlo. Next door to the estate is Inchmarlo Gold Centre, a nine hole golf course and driving range.
About the charges
Q. Is there a service charge payable?
A. To enable us to maintain Inchmarlo’s high standards, all homeowners contribute to the cost of managing the village and estate through a weekly service charge. The service charge is reviewed annually. However, to give homeowners financial security, the initial service charge is increased by no more than 2% above an annual Government inflationary index.
Q. What is included in the service charge?
A. The service charge is designed to cover the costs of managing Inchmarlo on behalf of homeowners. In addition to managing the common areas of the village and estate, the service charge also includes an allocation towards the costs of those staff who provide the support essential to the running of Inchmarlo including management, catering, nursing, community liaison, security and gardening staff. To see the full list of services and benefits enjoyed by those living at Inchmarlo, which are covered by the service charge, please ask the Sales Manager.
Q. Are there any entry or exit fees payable?
A. The concept of a Retirement Village is to provide more infrastructure, facilities and services than are normally available with standard sheltered housing. The more provided, the greater the ongoing capital investment required. To keep the cost of moving into Inchmarlo as low as possible, there is no entry fee. Instead, homeowners contribute to ongoing capital expenditure at the time of resale of their property, when the outgoing owner pays a percentage of the selling price for each year of residence. The Capital Contribution Fee is currently 1% per annum, with a minimum of 3% and a maximum of 10%, for all homes sold at Inchmarlo.
Q. What isn’t included in my monthly invoice?
A. As homeowners own their property, they are responsible for their utility bills (water, gas and electricity), council tax, TV licence and home contents’ insurance.
Q. Is my home insured?
A. Inchmarlo insures all houses and apartments under a block policy for a separate charge, which will be invoiced annually.