Do all villages have to be registered?

Most retirement villages in New Zealand are officially registered with the Registrar of Retirement Villages, which sits within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

If you’re living in a registered village, you’re protected by the Retirement Villages Act. This protects you if the village you're living in faces a mortgagee sale, liquidation, or receivership, and it ensures you can't be unfairly prevented from using village facilities.

It's helpful to know that not every village has to be registered. In non-registered villages, you may not be required to purchase an Occupational Rights Agreement. This means you may not be protected under the Retirement Villages Act or the associated Codes and Regulations. Non-registered villages usually offer freehold units (often attached to a body corporate) so you may receive a capital gain if you sell.

The Act governing the operation of retirement villages is currently under review. The aim is to check whether the Act, its regulations and codes remain fit for purpose, ensuring all current and future residents are well protected, while also keeping an effective balance between the rights and responsibilities of both residents and operators of retirement villages. The review is also looking at how to support the sustainability of the retirement village sector, and its ability to offer a range of housing options. You can check for updates on the review here.