Understanding the 99-Year Lease Model

A number of senior living projects in Kerala, including Gramika, offer residences on a 99-year lease basis rather than outright freehold sale. This is a long-term lease arrangement that provides the right to occupy a residence for up to 99 years — it is not ownership in the freehold sense.

Because the legal structure of a lease differs meaningfully from a purchase, families should ask each project specifically: is the lease deposit refundable, and under what conditions? Can the lease be transferred or the unit sub-leased? What happens at the end of the lease term, or if the resident needs to exit early?

These terms vary by project and are governed by the specific legal documentation each operator provides — they are not standardized across the industry. Always request the full lease agreement and, where possible, independent legal review before committing.