Agency wins key role in growing retirement community sector

The high profile Yorkshire agency chain Dacre, Son & Hartley has been appointed by the largest charity care provider for older people in England, Scotland and Wales to market homes within its retirement communities.

The 70 communities owned and operated by Methodist Homes - known as MHA - stretch across a large geographical area from Scotland to Dorset, with 3,000 residents, all living independently. 

Dacre, Son & Hartley has been appointed to market a wide range of homes, for both sale and rent, and is also responsible for sourcing and appointing estate agents to handle sales in all other parts of the country outside the company’s Yorkshire heartland.

Janice Walker, head of retirement property sales and lettings at MHA, says: “After initially working with Dacre, Son & Hartley to sell several properties in Ilkley, it quickly became apparent that the company had the expertise, knowledge and capability to support MHA. This comes at a defining time for the market, as demand soars for high quality retirement homes driven in part by the Covid-19 pandemic and people deciding they no longer want to feel alone.

“We pride ourselves on promoting independent living and offering a full range of facilities, as well as care and domestic services, if required.

“This formula has proved very successful and we have expanded our retirement living communities significantly in recent years.”

Methodist Homes was founded by members of the Methodist Church in 1943 and today the organisation operates 70 purpose-built retirement living communities.

All the organisation’s developments are centred around enabling people to live independently in community focussed environments as well as most schemes providing social and leisure facilities, such as bistros and salons, along with a full programme of activities. 

In addition, each development retains Methodist roots and values and is home to a chaplain paid for by the charity.