Data collection for Australia’s most comprehensive retirement living industry census is now underway – and there’s only one way to get your hands on the report.
The PwC/Property Council Retirement Census is Australia’s most comprehensive aggregated data source about retirement villages.
The survey profiles everything from unit sales to village financials, residence contracts to demographics.
“Robust data helps us to track industry patterns and trends, detects potential policy issues and inform our research agenda,” says the Property Council’s executive director for retirement living, Ben Myers.
Myers says the census, which now has five years of data behind it, is an essential tool that supports the Property Council’s advocacy efforts.
The 2018 report gathered insights from record 52 operators across 610 villages and more than 68,000 units.
According to the 2018 data, the average age of residents is 81 years, and the length of time they live in a village is between and eight and nine years. Village occupancy is at 89 per cent.
Thirty per cent of new villages under development have a vertical component, and more than 2,000 new units per year are expected to come to market by 2020.
“The Retirement Census is often cited by governments and analysts, and undoubtedly influences government policy.
“We know, for example, that the average sale price of a retirement living village is two-thirds that of a house or unit in the same residential setting, so we can demonstrate to governments that retirement living is an affordable housing solution.
“The Retirement Census can’t be purchased – but village operators who participate receive a personalised 60-plus page report that helps them benchmark against wider industry trends, enhance their current offerings and support their development pipeline,” Myers concludes.
There is no cost to participate in the census, and Village operators that are not Property Council members can also take part.
Find more about the survey or contact Ledia Pirts, the Property Council’s senior policy manager for retirement living.