55-plus communities in South Carolina are great for people looking to simplify their lives. Many people looking for such communities may already have raised children and are now facing an empty next. For this reason, it makes sense for most of them to seek a simpler life that is much more manageable and quiet. For others, such communities’ appeal lies in the need to develop a more active lifestyle. Perhaps one wants to meet new people, develop new social networks, etc. Regardless of the reasons why one would want such a lifestyle change, there are things to keep in mind when looking for such a community, here are some things that you should know about such a change.
Age Requirements
While the Federal Fair Housing Act prevents discrimination based on race, religion, or gender, it is silent regarding age. This has repercussions when it comes to 55-plus communities. In most cases, the rules will stipulate that there has to be someone in the house who is 55 years and above. Such communities will also stipulate the ages of the people living in the house with the 55-plus year individual. Such regulations, for example, will stipulate that people living there must have a minimum age of forty or so years (this will vary from community to community). It may also specify that any children be above the age of 18 years.
Can Children Live There?
In most cases, the answer to this question is no. Most retirement communities that cater to 55-plus-year-old residents generally do not allow children to live there permanently. This, however, does not mean that your children or grandchildren are not allowed to visit. Indeed, for many such communities, the regulations allow children to visit and stay for a specified period. For most of these communities, this time period can vary from 14 days to about a month.
80/20 Rule
Under the Housing For Older People Act of 1995, communities that provide housing for people over the age of 55 must maintain an 80/20 ratio regarding the residents’ age. This means that at any given time, 80% of the housing units in such a community should be occupied by residents (or have at least one resident) who are 55 years and above. However, the 20% bit was added to cater for unforeseen eventualities that may lead to someone below the age of 55 occupying a unit there. A good example would be a couple where one of the partners is above 55 years of age, and the other is 45. If the older partner were to pass away, the remaining partner would violate the 55-plus rule. However, because of the provision that allows some of the units to be occupied by people youngster than 55 years, the surviving spouse can remain in the unit.
That being said, however, most of these communities work hard to maintain a 100% occupation rate by residents who are 55 years of age and above.
