An exit entitlement is the money a resident gets back when they leave a retirement village. It is a partial refund of the ingoing contribution you paid when you moved in. 

The amount is based on the terms in your residence contract. It can include deductions for fees, refurbishment costs, and other agreed charges.

Western Australia

From September 2026, operators will have up to 12 months to make mandatory exit payments and complete buybacks. Operators must also provide the resident with a statement when it is paid out.

Eligible residents will be able to request a portion of their exit entitlement to be paid directly towards aged care daily accommodation payments, also known as a DAP. 

South Australia

South Australia uses Standard payment. This means that the operator is required to pay the exit entitlement within 10 business days after the next resident has paid the ingoing contribution.

If the residence is not relicensed, the operator must pay the exit entitlement no more than 12 months after the following criteria are both met:

  • The resident has delivered vacant possession of the residence to the operator.
  • A period of 30 days has elapsed from the day the resident delivered vacant possession.

Queensland

An operator must pay an exit entitlement to the former resident on or before the earliest of the following days. The date the exit entitlement is paid depends on a few factors, which are listed below:

  • the day stated in the residence contract;
  • the day that is 14 days after the settlement day for the unit resale;
  • if the right to reside was terminated by the scheme operator when implementing an approved closure plan – the day that is 14 days after an agreed resale value is determined;
  • if the unit has not been sold, the day that is 18 months after the termination date or any later date fixed by order of the tribunal.

A retirement village operator must give to the departing resident a written statement showing how the exit entitlement was calculated.

Victoria

When a resident leaves a retirement village, their exit entitlement must be paid by the date set in the contract. However, if 12 months have passed since the resident delivered vacant possession, the exit entitlement must be paid then.

Tasmania

The exit entitlement must be paid within the first six months of the resident leaving the retirement village, and the operator must refund the portion of ingoing contribution the resident.

New South Wales

The specific amount of the exit entitlement paid to a leaving resident depends on the terms of their individual contract.

Exit entitlements must be paid within six months for metropolitan local government areas (LGAs), within 12 months for all other NSW LGAs, or within an alternative timeframe approved by the Commissioner for Fair Trading following an application by the operator.

Australian Capital and Northern territories

There is no strict date for payment of an exit fee. It should be stated in the original contract. This is usually once the unit has been sold, or within a set period after vacating.

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