Evergreen Lifestyle Retirement Villages
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Evergreen Lifestyle Retirement Villages
Claimed Business
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Does not respond to reviews
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Derek C
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
19 Nov 2024, 10:11
Evergreen Lifestyle Retirement Villages – Beware their Life Rights Agreement!
After the 10 happy years my Mother spent in an Evergreen complex, it disappoints me deeply to write this negative review, but buyers need to be fully aware before signing the their LRA. If you are looking to buy into Evergreen, be VERY careful about ensuring a lawyer has gone through your concerns with you BEFORE you sign! Not ensuring this could result in you losing financially when returning the unit back to them. The bottom line is that the wording of the Evergreen LRA leaves much to be desired, where their lawyers replace the actual wording with wording to suit themselves so as to minimise what the unit holders receive as a refund, many of whom are elderly and just accept what is told to them. The following are my major points where I have proof of each, and where each point was made to the Evergreen/Amdec lawyers. Sadly, reasonableness and fairness are two words that could not be app**** to their responses: 1. Whatever the Evergreen salesperson tells you is seen as inadmissible by the Evergreen lawyers, even though the salespersons are the agents of Evergreen. Do your calculations of what you can expect as a refund BEFORE you sign and have this verified by a lawyer in conjunction with the Evergreen lawyers. In my Mother’s case, even after lengthy, detailed discussions with the salesperson who provided a totally unambiguous answer as to the Refund Calculation, Evergreen totally invalidated this. 2. When you want to sell the unit back beware of the Refurbishment Clause. Evergreen at no stage is willing to show you any details on how they calculate it! They charged my Mother nearly R55 000 where all that was required to get the unit back into a selling condition was really just a coat of paint, for which I budgeted a generous R20 000. 3. The really nasty surprise when you want to sell the unit back is the Repurchase Clause and this is where Evergreen hide behind the law by using wording to suit themselves. With the wording as it stands, and as gone through in detail with their salesperson, you lose 5% of the Purchase Price you paid when Evergreen repurchases it from you, seen as the “Repurchase Amount”. But Evergreen don’t apply this as the “Repurchase Amount” is not defined anywhere in the LRA. They take the “Repurchase Amount” to really mean the “Resale Amount” (which is also not stated or defined anywhere) and take 5% of the price your unit was actually sold for. This makes a huge difference to your expected Refund Amount. In my Mother’s case her unit sold for double what she bought it for. According to the biased LRA she not only gained absolutely nothing from the unit’s increase but then, to add insult to injury, she then had to pay the 5% on the higher sales price to the new owner instead of on the price she had paid for the unit originally. This, in effect, meant a deduction of 10% of my Mom’s Purchase Price instead of 5%, a difference of R32 500. 4. Unfortunately, disagreeing and asking for clarity and proof over a period of months from Evergreen/Amdec did not result in fairness and reasonableness in my opinion, but rather a “take it or leave it” attitude. They offered no assistance regarding Mediation and Arbitration when I raised the issue and it was made clear to me that the wording within the LRA, even if incorrect or not defined, could be app**** in the way which suited Evergreen/Amdec under Contract Law. I was simply warned that going this route would be costly to me as, in the view of the Evergreen/Amdec lawyers, there was no interpretation issue with the actual wording. Is this really how the law works in South Africa? To protect companies with deep pockets and to let them act with impunity? In hindsight, I wish I knew then what I have learned about Evergreen and Amdec. I did not which has cost my Mother. How many other elderly folk have been and are being taken advantage of? I hope that my words will be of assistance to anyone thinking of signing up with Evergreen.
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Derek C
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
19 Nov 2024, 10:11
Evergreen Lifestyle Retirement Villages – Beware their Life Rights Agreement!
After the 10 happy years my Mother spent in an Evergreen complex, it disappoints me deeply to write this negative review, but buyers need to be fully aware before signing the their LRA. If you are looking to buy into Evergreen, be VERY careful about ensuring a lawyer has gone through your concerns with you BEFORE you sign! Not ensuring this could result in you losing financially when returning the unit back to them. The bottom line is that the wording of the Evergreen LRA leaves much to be desired, where their lawyers replace the actual wording with wording to suit themselves so as to minimise what the unit holders receive as a refund, many of whom are elderly and just accept what is told to them. The following are my major points where I have proof of each, and where each point was made to the Evergreen/Amdec lawyers. Sadly, reasonableness and fairness are two words that could not be app**** to their responses: 1. Whatever the Evergreen salesperson tells you is seen as inadmissible by the Evergreen lawyers, even though the salespersons are the agents of Evergreen. Do your calculations of what you can expect as a refund BEFORE you sign and have this verified by a lawyer in conjunction with the Evergreen lawyers. In my Mother’s case, even after lengthy, detailed discussions with the salesperson who provided a totally unambiguous answer as to the Refund Calculation, Evergreen totally invalidated this. 2. When you want to sell the unit back beware of the Refurbishment Clause. Evergreen at no stage is willing to show you any details on how they calculate it! They charged my Mother nearly R55 000 where all that was required to get the unit back into a selling condition was really just a coat of paint, for which I budgeted a generous R20 000. 3. The really nasty surprise when you want to sell the unit back is the Repurchase Clause and this is where Evergreen hide behind the law by using wording to suit themselves. With the wording as it stands, and as gone through in detail with their salesperson, you lose 5% of the Purchase Price you paid when Evergreen repurchases it from you, seen as the “Repurchase Amount”. But Evergreen don’t apply this as the “Repurchase Amount” is not defined anywhere in the LRA. They take the “Repurchase Amount” to really mean the “Resale Amount” (which is also not stated or defined anywhere) and take 5% of the price your unit was actually sold for. This makes a huge difference to your expected Refund Amount. In my Mother’s case her unit sold for double what she bought it for. According to the biased LRA she not only gained absolutely nothing from the unit’s increase but then, to add insult to injury, she then had to pay the 5% on the higher sales price to the new owner instead of on the price she had paid for the unit originally. This, in effect, meant a deduction of 10% of my Mom’s Purchase Price instead of 5%, a difference of R32 500. 4. Unfortunately, disagreeing and asking for clarity and proof over a period of months from Evergreen/Amdec did not result in fairness and reasonableness in my opinion, but rather a “take it or leave it” attitude. They offered no assistance regarding Mediation and Arbitration when I raised the issue and it was made clear to me that the wording within the LRA, even if incorrect or not defined, could be app**** in the way which suited Evergreen/Amdec under Contract Law. I was simply warned that going this route would be costly to me as, in the view of the Evergreen/Amdec lawyers, there was no interpretation issue with the actual wording. Is this really how the law works in South Africa? To protect companies with deep pockets and to let them act with impunity? In hindsight, I wish I knew then what I have learned about Evergreen and Amdec. I did not which has cost my Mother. How many other elderly folk have been and are being taken advantage of? I hope that my words will be of assistance to anyone thinking of signing up with Evergreen.
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
30 Sept 2024, 08:18
Rude and *********** Ndaedzo and manager Neo
I Love their products as I intend to purchase for my upcoming retirement. I was awarded an opportunity for a try to buy which I Used on the 13 September 2024 as there was a family fun day. The reception was perfect on the eve of 14 Se 24 by a friendly and professional staff. On the 14 September 24 my excitement was confronted by a very rude Ndaedzo cashier in the bistro was agitated in every question I asked as we were preparing for breakfast let alone wrong information she gave as I requested the menu for breakfast, she just raised her voice with bad attitude asking me why I not brought mine phone so she can make me pictures. I gave out my number and she sent me blurry *****ed photos upon my return to pay she told me oh! you can only pay for 2. despite my previous explanation I WAS on the try to buy option. I made payments and left to the apartment. During lunch I bought mere fries in sauce around 11h45am Ndaedzo pointed me to go outside in the garden for what I bought. I requested a receipt for payment of the food I bought and the free food for try before you buy clints, the rudeness and raised voice from Ndaedzo made me realize we are not welcome if the facility. How do you make a paid transaction without a receipt. We went to the garden and the team that serve us demanded a receipt and explained how irritated they are of their colleague Ndaedzo who was mistreating African clients. I was the 4th person who is complaining about her rude and incompetency. The other lady called a gentleman and said please take Mama referring me, to Neo and tell him Ndaedzo behaviour is out of hand. I should have been served fries by her counter not outside, worst of all without a receipt how are they supposed to work. I was taken to Neo I explained to him worst of all he was very less interested in listening and said he was going to prepare us fries. We unfortunately only were served those fries at 14h55 as we were on our way out to Dainfern for lunch. That is how bad our experience was and for Evergreen team to make us aware that African clients are mistreated by Ndaedzo raised eyebrows and to date nobody made a follow up on how our so Family fun day was with Evergreens Broadacres. The apartment did not have cleaning utensils, and nobody came to check on us or clean. Friday, Sat and Sun infect we had spent our weekend out of the facility because nothing was friendly about that environment especially on family fun day.
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
30 Sept 2024, 08:18
Rude and *********** Ndaedzo and manager Neo
I Love their products as I intend to purchase for my upcoming retirement. I was awarded an opportunity for a try to buy which I Used on the 13 September 2024 as there was a family fun day. The reception was perfect on the eve of 14 Se 24 by a friendly and professional staff. On the 14 September 24 my excitement was confronted by a very rude Ndaedzo cashier in the bistro was agitated in every question I asked as we were preparing for breakfast let alone wrong information she gave as I requested the menu for breakfast, she just raised her voice with bad attitude asking me why I not brought mine phone so she can make me pictures. I gave out my number and she sent me blurry *****ed photos upon my return to pay she told me oh! you can only pay for 2. despite my previous explanation I WAS on the try to buy option. I made payments and left to the apartment. During lunch I bought mere fries in sauce around 11h45am Ndaedzo pointed me to go outside in the garden for what I bought. I requested a receipt for payment of the food I bought and the free food for try before you buy clints, the rudeness and raised voice from Ndaedzo made me realize we are not welcome if the facility. How do you make a paid transaction without a receipt. We went to the garden and the team that serve us demanded a receipt and explained how irritated they are of their colleague Ndaedzo who was mistreating African clients. I was the 4th person who is complaining about her rude and incompetency. The other lady called a gentleman and said please take Mama referring me, to Neo and tell him Ndaedzo behaviour is out of hand. I should have been served fries by her counter not outside, worst of all without a receipt how are they supposed to work. I was taken to Neo I explained to him worst of all he was very less interested in listening and said he was going to prepare us fries. We unfortunately only were served those fries at 14h55 as we were on our way out to Dainfern for lunch. That is how bad our experience was and for Evergreen team to make us aware that African clients are mistreated by Ndaedzo raised eyebrows and to date nobody made a follow up on how our so Family fun day was with Evergreens Broadacres. The apartment did not have cleaning utensils, and nobody came to check on us or clean. Friday, Sat and Sun infect we had spent our weekend out of the facility because nothing was friendly about that environment especially on family fun day.
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Tim W
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
28 Mar 2024, 14:59
******* staff payment policy
People should know that they do not pay their staff fairly and in terms of the contract. Department of Labour should investigate..60 days terms, 12 hour shifts, not honoring overtime and minimum wage in SA Looks nice on the surface, but this is a money making racket
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Tim W
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
28 Mar 2024, 14:59
******* staff payment policy
People should know that they do not pay their staff fairly and in terms of the contract. Department of Labour should investigate..60 days terms, 12 hour shifts, not honoring overtime and minimum wage in SA Looks nice on the surface, but this is a money making racket
0
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Charmaine H
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
27 Oct 2022, 05:19
Very poor service indeed.
Do not move into Evergreen Lifestyle Village Broadacres. Their care system sucks and all they are interested in is making money of the retired people that live on a set amount of money each month. It's gone downhill fast. They want to charge me for changing a setting for the hot water that consists of pressing a couple of buttons. My sliding door goes off the track and it's their problem and the maintence do absolutely nothing about it. People have left because they are so bad.
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Charmaine H
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
27 Oct 2022, 05:19
Very poor service indeed.
Do not move into Evergreen Lifestyle Village Broadacres. Their care system sucks and all they are interested in is making money of the retired people that live on a set amount of money each month. It's gone downhill fast. They want to charge me for changing a setting for the hot water that consists of pressing a couple of buttons. My sliding door goes off the track and it's their problem and the maintence do absolutely nothing about it. People have left because they are so bad.
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Harry M
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
26 Sept 2022, 10:28
Be aware of your minimal rights with Evergreen Lifestyle Retirement Villages.
I moved into Evergreen Noordhoek during mid Feb 2022 and moved out during mid June 2022 due to personal circumstances having changed. Although the Evergreen Group marketing blurb stresses Partners for Life, this is not true. It is a money making business that makes pensioners, in particular, pay heavily for little in return. I had to get approval to make an improvement to the nonexistent garden. My home was resold by Evergreen with a massive increase in the sale price after the 4 months I lived there. I believe that was due to the moneys I spent improving Evergreen`s property. In terms of the life rights agreement , I know I cannot claim the improvements I made to Evergreen`s property. In the four months I occupied the home, I did not make any changes to the building and I did not hang any pictures on the walls because I was aware of Evergreen`s refurbishment policy on future exiting the village. When I left the home after four months, in the same condition I took occupation, I got a refurbishment account from Evergreen for close to R20000. R10000 was retained by Evergreen from monies owed to me, for the said alleged refurbishment. Things are alleged to have been done, which was totally unnecessary, if done. The house was still new. Oiling runners of kitchen drawers, door hinges, repainting walls, repainting a wall where their plumber had to dig a hole to fix a leaking pipe, among other things was charged, to make up over the said R10000. The only thing they had to do was clean the bedroom carpets because the quality they put in was so poor that even barefoot prints were left on the carpets. I strongly advise anybody looking at an Evergreen life right, to take special notice of the onesided agreement in favour of Evergreen, and don't let your excitement to moving into an Evergreen village cloud your decision. I did let that happen to me. I lost a lot of money. In terms of the life rights agreement, I was refunded the purchase price I paid for the rights, less 5% of the new resale price, less refurbishment costs. Evergreen arbitrarily does the refurbishment. I am extremely disappointed and disgusted.
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Harry M
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
26 Sept 2022, 10:28
Be aware of your minimal rights with Evergreen Lifestyle Retirement Villages.
I moved into Evergreen Noordhoek during mid Feb 2022 and moved out during mid June 2022 due to personal circumstances having changed. Although the Evergreen Group marketing blurb stresses Partners for Life, this is not true. It is a money making business that makes pensioners, in particular, pay heavily for little in return. I had to get approval to make an improvement to the nonexistent garden. My home was resold by Evergreen with a massive increase in the sale price after the 4 months I lived there. I believe that was due to the moneys I spent improving Evergreen`s property. In terms of the life rights agreement , I know I cannot claim the improvements I made to Evergreen`s property. In the four months I occupied the home, I did not make any changes to the building and I did not hang any pictures on the walls because I was aware of Evergreen`s refurbishment policy on future exiting the village. When I left the home after four months, in the same condition I took occupation, I got a refurbishment account from Evergreen for close to R20000. R10000 was retained by Evergreen from monies owed to me, for the said alleged refurbishment. Things are alleged to have been done, which was totally unnecessary, if done. The house was still new. Oiling runners of kitchen drawers, door hinges, repainting walls, repainting a wall where their plumber had to dig a hole to fix a leaking pipe, among other things was charged, to make up over the said R10000. The only thing they had to do was clean the bedroom carpets because the quality they put in was so poor that even barefoot prints were left on the carpets. I strongly advise anybody looking at an Evergreen life right, to take special notice of the onesided agreement in favour of Evergreen, and don't let your excitement to moving into an Evergreen village cloud your decision. I did let that happen to me. I lost a lot of money. In terms of the life rights agreement, I was refunded the purchase price I paid for the rights, less 5% of the new resale price, less refurbishment costs. Evergreen arbitrarily does the refurbishment. I am extremely disappointed and disgusted.
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Eric R
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
8 Aug 2022, 10:25
EvergreenLIfestyle, these operators have no style.
After three on site visits and finally selecting our retirement home at Evergreen Val de Vie, we were given an agreement to read/sign. The operating model is based on Life Right whereby a "Life Rght Holder(LRH) purchases the right to live in the home until the death of the last surviving spouse. At that time 90% of the Life Right payment is refunded to the deceased estate. When we were given the contract the reimbur*****t is reduced to 80%, quite a difference on a R5.5M payment. Advantage is that the LRH does not own the home and as stated on their website, the brochure "hidden Cost of Independent living, this is of crucial importance as the developer as owner remains responsible for management, maintenance and upkeep of the property and the village. The contract however makes it clear that the LRH remains responsible for the upkeep, maintenance, repair and replacement off the interior of the home, the external doors and windows, the solar geyser, solar panel, hob, oven and garage door motor upon expiry of the manufacturers guaranties held by the owner. Also for the LRH is the maintenance of irrigation, electrical and plumbing systems as well as external lights. THUS living here is NO cheaper than in your own home, even if here you do not own the home. and do not benefit from increased market value over time. The marketing material also promises financial transparency and predictability. Thus as in Life Right estates the levies for the current plus next 2 years must be published, However in reality, the LRH will also be presented with the FULL MUNICIPAL ACCOUNT, thus rates, taxes, refuse, sewerage and basic charges for water and electricity plus utilities consumption (This is acceptable) are payable by the LRH> So you pay a monthly levy PLUS the municipal account. Where is then the financial transparency and predictability. ? The company also advertises comprehensive health care facilities, Frail care, assisted living, clubhouse, among others. However in the contract all the clauses dealing with facilities to be provided by the Developer start with The Developer MAY provide..... and in case they do not then the LRH has no claim. In case they do the manner in which the LRH will pay is stated. Upon vacating the home, it must be returned in "as near as the same state it was received" (New) then the home will be refurbished for the next occupants. This work will be for the expense of the LRH estate. Note there is an addendum E which differs from the clause in the contract and the contract does not refer to addendum E on these costs. Addendum E holds that 10% of the Life Right paid is withheld to fund the refurbishment and marketing costs of the unit. This explains the reduction from 90 to 80% refund. Refund will only occur after appointment of executor, then the home may be cleared of belongings, then it will be refurbished and marketed for resale. When the subsequent sale is registered the refund can be made. During this entire time the deceased estate is liable for the levies and rates and taxes. Lastly the brochure tells you that Evergreen residents do not need to worry about load shedding as they enjoy back up power from generators in the village. False, The back up power is limited to clubhouse and healthcare facilities. IN your home you are in the dark. For some reason the gas hob in phase 1 and 2 have been replaced and in Phase 3 you get an electrical one. Evergreen Lifestyle refused to answer in writing to our questions preferring to "discuss over the phone" . Phone call best summed up by the CEO comment "The contract is the contract and the marketing material is something completely different . In the meantime "our home" is sold to someone else and an identical home located a bit further up the street is R600.000 more, but we are offered R100.000 discount for "inconvenience".
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Eric R
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
8 Aug 2022, 10:25
EvergreenLIfestyle, these operators have no style.
After three on site visits and finally selecting our retirement home at Evergreen Val de Vie, we were given an agreement to read/sign. The operating model is based on Life Right whereby a "Life Rght Holder(LRH) purchases the right to live in the home until the death of the last surviving spouse. At that time 90% of the Life Right payment is refunded to the deceased estate. When we were given the contract the reimbur*****t is reduced to 80%, quite a difference on a R5.5M payment. Advantage is that the LRH does not own the home and as stated on their website, the brochure "hidden Cost of Independent living, this is of crucial importance as the developer as owner remains responsible for management, maintenance and upkeep of the property and the village. The contract however makes it clear that the LRH remains responsible for the upkeep, maintenance, repair and replacement off the interior of the home, the external doors and windows, the solar geyser, solar panel, hob, oven and garage door motor upon expiry of the manufacturers guaranties held by the owner. Also for the LRH is the maintenance of irrigation, electrical and plumbing systems as well as external lights. THUS living here is NO cheaper than in your own home, even if here you do not own the home. and do not benefit from increased market value over time. The marketing material also promises financial transparency and predictability. Thus as in Life Right estates the levies for the current plus next 2 years must be published, However in reality, the LRH will also be presented with the FULL MUNICIPAL ACCOUNT, thus rates, taxes, refuse, sewerage and basic charges for water and electricity plus utilities consumption (This is acceptable) are payable by the LRH> So you pay a monthly levy PLUS the municipal account. Where is then the financial transparency and predictability. ? The company also advertises comprehensive health care facilities, Frail care, assisted living, clubhouse, among others. However in the contract all the clauses dealing with facilities to be provided by the Developer start with The Developer MAY provide..... and in case they do not then the LRH has no claim. In case they do the manner in which the LRH will pay is stated. Upon vacating the home, it must be returned in "as near as the same state it was received" (New) then the home will be refurbished for the next occupants. This work will be for the expense of the LRH estate. Note there is an addendum E which differs from the clause in the contract and the contract does not refer to addendum E on these costs. Addendum E holds that 10% of the Life Right paid is withheld to fund the refurbishment and marketing costs of the unit. This explains the reduction from 90 to 80% refund. Refund will only occur after appointment of executor, then the home may be cleared of belongings, then it will be refurbished and marketed for resale. When the subsequent sale is registered the refund can be made. During this entire time the deceased estate is liable for the levies and rates and taxes. Lastly the brochure tells you that Evergreen residents do not need to worry about load shedding as they enjoy back up power from generators in the village. False, The back up power is limited to clubhouse and healthcare facilities. IN your home you are in the dark. For some reason the gas hob in phase 1 and 2 have been replaced and in Phase 3 you get an electrical one. Evergreen Lifestyle refused to answer in writing to our questions preferring to "discuss over the phone" . Phone call best summed up by the CEO comment "The contract is the contract and the marketing material is something completely different . In the meantime "our home" is sold to someone else and an identical home located a bit further up the street is R600.000 more, but we are offered R100.000 discount for "inconvenience".
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Alfons M
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
21 Nov 2020, 10:47
Evergreen, the place of shattered dreams
Just such a pity how they mess old people around. They hide behind their financial screens and totally inflexible in finding workable solutions for their clientele. Frightening how their profit motive clouds their humanity. Feel so sorry for retirees who see their lives messed up by Evergreens total kragdadigheid
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Alfons M
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
21 Nov 2020, 10:47
Evergreen, the place of shattered dreams
Just such a pity how they mess old people around. They hide behind their financial screens and totally inflexible in finding workable solutions for their clientele. Frightening how their profit motive clouds their humanity. Feel so sorry for retirees who see their lives messed up by Evergreens total kragdadigheid
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