The traditional retirement village model has long offered one answer, but its financial structures are causing serious concern. Most operators rely on a Deferred Management Fee (DMF), an exit charge that strips away a substantial percentage of a home's value when a resident leaves, often running into hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

Compounding this loss is the forfeit of property growth. According to the 2025 PwC-RLC Retirement Census, 82 per cent of retirement village contracts now exclude residents from receiving any share of capital gains. With operators capturing 100 per cent of market growth on top of charging exit fees, which averages 33% nationally, retirees face a double hit to their wealth. In a rising Sydney market, this lost equity could otherwise protect their retirement savings or form part of their family estate. 

For a generation focused on preserving retirement savings, protecting superannuation balances and leaving something meaningful for their families, this combination of an exit fee and a forfeited capital gain has become an increasingly difficult proposition to accept. 

Platino Properties has built a compelling alternative. With more than 45 years of experience creating award-winning apartment communities across Sydney, Platino has expanded into purpose-built over-55's living with a fundamentally different financial model - one where residents own their homes outright as strata property, there are no exit fees of any kind, and the full value of the property, including all capital growth, belongs entirely to them. 

The result is a collection of three exceptional communities across Sydney: Jardin in Frenchs Forest, The Bellevue in Greenwich, and Pagewood Place in Pagewood. Each is strata-titled, architect-designed, and has been conceived around the principle that downsizing should be a genuine financial upgrade, not a financial concession. 

"Our over-55's collection offers empty nesters the very best of apartment living, combined with the safety, security and community of a seniors living environment, without the financial obligations that have put so many people off," says Platino Founder George Revay. 

Downsizers now have a clear list of demands when it comes to moving from the family home, says Downsizer.com's CEO and Co-Founder, Mark Macduffie. 

"They want ease without compromise. That usually means low maintenance, minimal stairs or lift access, generous living and entertaining areas, good storage, natural light, privacy and proximity to amenity," he said. 

"Some of the developers we work with already recognise this cohort and are deliberately designing for them - with larger floorplans, better storage, stronger indoor-outdoor flow and layouts that feel more like a house alternative. There is a real opportunity for more of the market to do the same." 

Jardin, Frenchs Forest 

Award-Winning Over-55's Living on the Northern Beaches 

Nestled amongst established greenery in Frenchs Forest, with sweeping outlooks across Ku-ring-gai bushland toward the city beyond, Jardin is the jewel of Platino's over-55's portfolio and the benchmark against which others should be measured. 

Jardin is a strata-titled community comprising of two and three-bedroom residences, some with studies or media rooms, which means residents purchase and own their apartments under exactly the same legal and financial framework as any other apartment in New South Wales. There is no operator taking a percentage on departure, and no forfeited capital growth eroding the value of the asset over time. Residents sell when they choose, at market value, and keep what they receive.  

For those working with financial advisers focused on retirement planning and estate preservation, this distinction is significant, particularly when the sector average sees the vast majority of contracts strip residents of any share in their home's growth. 

"What stands out about Platino's projects, and Jardin in particular, is that they understand downsizing is not about giving something up. It is about finding a home that still feels generous, private and independent, while making day-to-day life easier." 

Downsizer.com's CEO and Co-Founder, Mark Macduffie. "That combination of space, amenity, community and low-maintenance living is exactly what this cohort is looking for." 

Now entering Stage 2, The Wattle Collection at Jardin's growing community of residents has validated the model. New beautifully designed apartments and enhanced shared spaces will build on everything that existing residents already love, including the development's recognition as a Highly Commended Seniors Living project at the 2024 Urban Taskforce Development Excellence Awards. 

Spaces Designed to Connect 

Jardin was conceived around the idea that community does not happen by accident: it must be designed in. The development features an expansive suite of resident-exclusive facilities that bring people together while preserving privacy with luxe amenities like an indoor pool, wellness area, residents' lounge, library, cinema, gym, men's shed, communal rooftop terrace, landscaped gardens, BBQ terrace and village green. 

The apartments themselves are generous in scale, with luxury residences that have house-like proportions, abundant natural light, flexible wintergardens designed for every season, wide doorways and hallways, and high-performance glazing that reduces both noise and energy costs. Elevated views across the bush and cityscape come as standard. 

Sustainability by Design 

Jardin takes environmental responsibility seriously without making it a burden on residents. Solar power feeds communal areas, and passive design maximises natural ventilation and daylight. Rainwater is harvested for shared garden irrigation and drought-resistant landscaping reduces water consumption throughout. 

There is no DMF at Jardin or exit fee, and no operator charges on resale. No financial structures that reward the developer at the expense of the resident. Strata levies are transparent, predictable and affordable. The home is yours, its value is yours, and what you do with it is entirely your decision. 

For retirement-age buyers working with financial planners, this model offers something the traditional village structure often cannot: genuine asset clarity. The apartment sits on a balance sheet like any other property. It can form part of an estate. It can be sold at any time, and the proceeds, growth included, belong entirely to the owner. 

"Jardin was designed from the ground up to challenge what people expect from over-55's living. Every decision we made was about creating somewhere people genuinely want to live. The awards recognition and the response from residents confirm we are on the right track, and Stage 2 gives us the opportunity to build on that foundation," said Matthew van Rijswijk, Head of Development at Platino Properties.

For more information, visit https://offtheplan.com.au/retirement/jardin-frenchs-forest