Home > Businesses > Specific businesses and industries > Retirement villages > How to register

How to register

Under the Retirement Villages Act 1999, all retirement village operators must register their schemes with us.

Eligibility

You cannot register a retirement scheme in Queensland if you:

are insolvent under administration
have a relevant conviction, such as for fraud or dishonesty, where were you imprisoned for at least three months, or for physical violence.

You also cannot operate or promote a village, sell rights to reside in a retirement village, or directly or indirectly manage a retirement village if you are disqualified from doing so.

Applying to register

To register a retirement village:

complete Retirement Villages Form 2 - Application for registration as a retirement village scheme (PDF, 520 KB)
attach a copy of your public information document
pay the registration fee of $1835.35 for a new scheme or $779.75 for a previously exempt scheme
pay the criminal history check fee for each person mentioned on the application
attach any other documents requested
provide originals or certified copies of your birth certificate, birth extract, passport, Australian citizenship certificate or drivers licence
lodge the entire application (see the form for lodgement details).

After we approve your application, we will place your scheme´s name and details on a list that the public can search to confirm you are registered.

If we do not approve your application, we will notify you in writing, including the reasons for our decision.

Appealing a decision

After receiving our notice telling you of the decision to decline your application to register a retirement village scheme, you may apply under the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2009 for a review of the decision by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Cancelling registration

To cancel your registration, notify us in writing.

You also need to give each resident, and former residents who have not received exit entitlements, a written notice that explains:

that you have asked for cancellation of the village´s registration
how the cancellation would affect them
their right to object to the village´s cancellation by writing to us within 60 days
whether you have requested a release of the statutory charge, if relevant.

You must give us a statutory declaration stating your compliance with the above and a copy of the notice given to the residents including any former resident who has not received their exit entitlement.

Once we are satisfied that you have done these things, we may then cancel the village´s registration.

Being deregistered

If we believe your retirement village is no longer operating, we will notify you in writing that we are deregistering your village. The notice explains the reasons and how you can appeal the decision.

After receiving the notice, you have 28 days to lodge a written notice of appeal with the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Otherwise, the village will become deregistered 30 days after we send the notice.

Criminal history checks

Applicants must undergo a criminal history check to confirm their suitability.

The criminal history check costs $35.90 (which includes $1.13 GST) for each person who appears on the application form. The fee applies to all applications and renewal notices.

Processing time

Processing time is 4-6 weeks. However, it can take longer if we need to contact you for missing information or fees.

The processing time may be up to six weeks because the criminal history check process, handled by the Queensland Police Service, is thorough and time consuming.

Send certified documents

Take the original document and a copy to a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Declarations, solicitor, barrister or a Notary Public. They will stamp and/or sign the copy and write ´This is a true copy of the original document´.

The Department of Justice and Attorney-General has a list of JPs in your area. Otherwise, contact your local post office, courthouse, bank, shopping centre manager or pharmacy who may be able to advise on the location of local JPs.

Please note that a photocopy is not a certified document.

Refunds

Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to a partial refund if you withdraw your application or it is refused. We will also refund any unused criminal history check fees or fingerprinting fees.