PEOPLE who have campaigned to have pensioner rates rebates extended to those living in retirement villages are disappointed in a report on the issue.
A report to councillors from Redland City Council financial officers says billing of leaseholders in retirement village schemes is with the owner of the scheme, not individual residents.
This is opposed to owner occupiers of a home where the council has a direct billing relationship.
If a proposal to extend rate rebates for pensioners living in their own freehold homes was to be extended to those living in leasehold situations in retirement villages, the council would need to employ three further staff because its billing software was not designed to manage concessions for tenants.
“The full cost of a system change to accommodate a rebate for pensioner-occupiers is potentially in the tens of thousands,’’ the report says.
The area has 17 retirement village schemes, with only one selling independent living units as freehold so that council has a direct billing relationship with each of these unit owners.
Nine of these schemes have leasehold tenure, with a total of 1191 independent and serviced units.
Salford Waters Retirement Estate pensioner John Butters who leases a property at the Victoria Point centre said the report provided few prospects on the issue.
“This report with all its detail of the cost analysis by council staff doesn’t give pensioners living in leasehold villages much hope,’’ Mr Butters said.
“Some analysis of living costs for such pensioners, especially single women who retired in the days before superannuation, needs to be made.
“Now as Redlands valuations have also risen, rates have gone even higher and pensioners are suffering even more.
“Mayors and councillors in the past have helped us... What about a better deal for us again?’’
Mr Butters said a senior member of former mayor Melva Hobson’s staff who had worked on the issue on the Gold Coast said that pensioners living in leasehold retirement villages could be entitled to a rebate on the rates’ component of their fees in the same way as pensioners in their own homes.
He said the last local government election gave pensioners some hope when pledges were made that pensioners should be able to enjoy some discounts on their costs of living.
Pensioners were meeting to discuss the issue.
Councillors noted the report but did not propose any action be taken on it.