{"id":5187,"date":"2026-09-04T12:30:31","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T12:30:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.club65.pt\/?p=5187"},"modified":"2026-09-04T13:13:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T13:13:15","slug":"moving-house-in-retirement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.club65.pt\/en\/support-for-relocation\/moving-house-in-retirement\/","title":{"rendered":"Moving house in retirement: how to decide and prepare for the move"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Moving house in retirement can make sense when your current home no longer suits the way you want to live, requires too much maintenance, or is far from the services, people and activities you value.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The decision should not depend on age: it should come from comparing staying where you are, adapting your current home or choosing a solution better suited to your priorities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this guide, you will find the main criteria for making that decision, assessing the costs involved and organising the move in good time and without unnecessary complications.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

When might moving house in retirement make sense?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Retirement can be a good time to take another look at the home you live in and ask whether it <\/span>still meets your needs and priorities.<\/b><\/p>\n

This does not mean you need to move. For some people, staying in the home they have always lived in remains the best option. For others, moving may make it possible to <\/span>simplify daily life, reduce maintenance tasks, move closer to family or continue enjoying the city more easily.<\/b><\/p>\n

It is worth considering a few practical points:<\/span><\/p>\n

Space and Accessibility: Is your home still suitable for day-to-day life?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A home that worked very well for decades may become larger than you need or require time and effort you would rather spend on other things.<\/span><\/p>\n

Think about how you actually use the rooms, outdoor space, stairs, cleaning, repairs and all the tasks needed to keep your home the way you like it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maintenance: How much time and money does it take to maintain your home?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In addition to regular expenses, a home involves maintenance, repairs, insurance and various services.<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking at the overall cost helps you assess whether keeping your current home still makes sense or whether another option could offer greater predictability and fewer responsibilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location: Does the location still work for you?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A home does not end at the front door.<\/span><\/p>\n

Being close to shops, public transport, green spaces, services, culture, restaurants, family and friends can have a significant impact on how you organise your days.<\/span><\/p>\n

In retirement, having more time can also make it more important to live somewhere where it is easy to make the most of it.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Stay, adapt or move: how do the options compare?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There is no single right solution for everyone. Before deciding to move, compare the main alternatives.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Option<\/b><\/td>\nMay make sense when...\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\nPoints to consider\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stay in your current home\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nThe home remains functional, comfortable and suited to your routine\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nMaintenance costs, accessibility, location and future management\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Adapt your home\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nYou like the location and the home, but there are aspects that could be improved\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nRequired works, budget, duration of the work and possible outcome\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Move house\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nYou want greater simplicity, a different location or a home better suited to your current lifestyle\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nMoving costs, new monthly fee or other charges, location, space and services\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Choose an apartment with services\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nYou want to maintain an independent home while reducing some day-to-day tasks\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nIncluded services, optional services, terms, location and usage model\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

The comparison should start with what you value today, not only what worked in the past.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are different solutions<\/span><\/a>, with different levels of independence and support.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What should you consider before choosing a new home?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A move in retirement should be considered with the next few years in mind, not just the present moment. <\/span><\/p>\n

Size and layout<\/strong><\/h3>\n

More square metres do not always mean greater comfort.<\/span><\/p>\n

A well-organised home, with a practical layout and enough space for what you actually use, can be easier to maintain and make daily life simpler.<\/span><\/p>\n

Accessibility and comfort<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Look at how easy it is to move around inside the home, access the building, whether there is a lift, how practical the bathroom and kitchen are, and how easily you can carry out everyday tasks.<\/span><\/p>\n

A good home should make daily life easier.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ask yourself what you would like to have nearby.<\/span><\/p>\n

This may include shops, public transport, gardens, restaurants, cultural venues, healthcare services or simply the neighbourhoods where you already enjoy spending time.<\/span><\/p>\n

If being close to family matters, include that in your decision too.<\/span><\/p>\n

Costs and predictability<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Compare the overall cost of the different alternatives, not just one figure in isolation.<\/span><\/p>\n

A higher monthly fee may, for example, include expenses you currently pay separately. Likewise, a home that appears less expensive may involve high maintenance or travel costs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Always compare like with like.<\/span><\/p>\n

Social life and daily routine<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A move should not be assessed only in square metres.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also think about how you would like to spend your days: having friends over, going for walks, eating at a restaurant, taking part in an activity, being close to family or simply having options when you feel like going out.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How much does it cost to move house in retirement?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The cost of moving is not limited to transporting your belongings. It is worth preparing a budget for the entire transition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Type of cost\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\nWhat it may include\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Move\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nTransport, boxes, packing, disassembly and reassembly\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
New home\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nInitial costs associated with the chosen solution\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Set-up\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nMinor adaptations, storage, lighting or items needed in the new space\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Transition\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nTemporary overlap of expenses between the two homes\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Current home\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCosts associated with the decision to keep, sell or rent it out\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Professional support\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nOrganising the move, and financial, legal or property advice where needed\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

If you are considering using your assets or available income to support the new housing solution, it is worth looking separately at <\/span>how to <\/b>finance the move<\/b><\/a> and comparing different scenarios before making a decision.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How to organise a house move after 65<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Starting early allows you to make decisions more calmly and avoids concentrating too many tasks in the final weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Set a date and work backwards<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Create a simple timeline with the main stages<\/b>: choosing the new home, sorting your belongings, booking the removal service, preparing documents, packing and settling in.
\nYou do not need to sort everything out at once.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Get to know the new space well<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Before deciding what to take, <\/span>check the dimensions of the rooms, storage areas and features of the new home.<\/b><\/p>\n

If possible, draw up a simple floor plan and decide in advance where the main furniture will go.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Decide what you will take<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Sort your belongings into categories: take, give away, sell, donate or decide later.<\/span><\/p>\n

Start with the areas that carry less emotional weight. <\/b>Old documents or a storage room may be easier to sort through than photographs and objects with personal history.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Prepare a budget<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ask for <\/span>quotes for the services<\/b> you need and include a contingency for small expenses that only arise during the move.<\/span><\/p>\n

Having an overall view helps avoid rushed decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Deal with the administrative tasks<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Make a<\/span> list of the organisations and services where you will need to update your address<\/b> and check in advance what happens to the contracts associated with your current home.<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep important documents somewhere separate from the moving boxes.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Prepare for the first few days<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Set aside what you will need immediately: <\/b>clothes, regular medication, documents, chargers, personal items and a few belongings that make the new home feel like yours from day one.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Give your new routine time<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A home is not truly organised on moving day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Set up the essentials first and <\/span>allow yourself to adjust the space as you start using it<\/b>. Some decisions become much clearer after living in the new home for a few weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What if you would prefer to live in an independent apartment with services?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One option for independent people aged 65+ is <\/span>Independent Living<\/b>, or independent housing with services.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this Senior Living model<\/span><\/a>, each person lives in their own apartment and retains their privacy and independence, while having access to services that simplify certain day-to-day tasks and shared spaces when they wish to use them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Club65 follows this concept and is designed for people who remain independent and want to continue living that way, while valuing a <\/span>home designed for this stage of life,<\/span><\/a> access to services and the possibility of having a community nearby.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Checklist for moving house in retirement<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Before going ahead, check whether you have already considered the main points:<\/span><\/p>\n