The decision to increase fees by nearly $53 a fortnight has led homeowners of Kincumber Nautical Village on the NSW Central Coast to take the issue to NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) and seek an interim order to suspend the increases.

Resident Alan Thiele, 72, told the ABC his site fees have increased to more than $225 a week.

With steep increases in the prices of essential goods and services, utilities and insurance premiums, the service increase has swallowed the residents’ recent increase in the Age Pension.

Alan told the ABC he cannot afford to turn on the heater due to the rising cost of living and site fee increases, which he described as unfair.

More than 130 people from the village have signed an application to fight the increases at NCAT.

Theo Whitmont, the owner of Kincumber Nautical Village, has not commented due to the residents’ legal action. 

Under the legislation, land lease operators are entitled to increase site fees regardless of whether an application has been made to NCAT.

See the 71 retirement homes and villages on the Central Coast and Hawkesbury on villages.com.au.