Who are ARCO?

ARCO is the governing body for Integrated Retirement Communities (IRCs) in the UK. ARCO ensures compliance by their members, of which Audley Villages is one, and promotes confidence in the sector by ensuring that all Integrated Retirement Communities are providing a high quality service to homeowners and residents.

ARCO lobbies in government and the wider community to raise awareness of the Integrated Retirement Community model and invest in research to better understand the value of the sector.

Logos for ARCO Approved Operator and CTSI Approved Code by TradingStandards.uk, indicating certifications and compliance with standards.

What is an Integrated Retirement Community?

"Integrated Retirement Communities combine high-quality housing options for older people with tailored support services. They allow residents to rent or own a property and to maintain their privacy and independence, with the reassurance of 24-hour on-site staff, communal facilities, and optional care and support as needed." as quoted on the ARCO website.

Nick Sanderson

Nick Sanderson was unanimously elected as ARCO’s Chair in October 2017 and was delighted to be re-elected for another year in 2024.

Nick is a regular speaker at national and international conferences and a contributor to several publications. He has acted as an advisor to public and private sector organisations and is currently serving as a member of the Older People's Housing Task Force.

This is a critical time for our sector with the emerging recommendations from the Taskforce offering a real focus on the need for more of what we provide. ARCO’s voice has been hugely powerful in influencing the debate and I very much look forward to being part of that ongoing process.

What criteria must an Integrated Retirement Community meet?

The key principles of the ARCO Consumer Code are fairness and transparency.

ARCO Members agree to ensure that prospective homeowners are given clear and transparent information about fees and service charges in order to make an informed decision. As an ARCO Member, we must maintain core levels of services in our Integrated Retirement Communities and have a fair and consultative relationship with homeowners and residents.

How IRCs can help tackle key UK policy issues.

ARCO policy agenda centres on how integrated retirement communities can support housing, care, health, and social wellbeing at a national level.

  • Housing: Focuses on addressing the UK housing crisis by freeing up family homes and improving housing options for older people.
  • Social: Aims to improve the quality and sustainability of care for older people.
  • Healthcare: Reduces pressure on the NHS through healthier ageing.
  • Social Connection: Tackles loneliness through community living.
Balcony view

How many IRCs are there in the UK?

Around 250 Integrated Retirement Communities currently exist in the UK (based on ARCO-managed schemes) offering around 70,000 units.

That means a mere 0.6% to 0.8% of over 65s have the opportunity to live in one. Whereas, in the US and New Zealand, around 6% of the population live in a retirement community.

You can see all ARCO Approved operators on the map.

What checks does Audley go through?

ARCO’s self-regulatory framework consists of five strands:

  • The ARCO Consumer Code.
  • An annual process of registration and agreement to be bound by ARCO’s Standards and Compliance Framework.
  • An ongoing system of external assessments against the ARCO Consumer Code.
  • The Standards Committee that oversees the Standards and Compliance Framework.
  • Additional compliance features, including monitoring of Key Performance Indicators by ARCO.