What Happens to My Unit if I Decide to Move Back Abroad Permanently After Living There for a Few Years?

You can generally keep the unit while living abroad, and maintenance charges typically continue to apply regardless of occupancy — check specifically whether there's any reduced "unoccupied unit" rate, since some communities offer one and others don't. Ask whether someone else (a family member, a caretaker) can occupy it in your absence, or whether subletting is an option if you want to generate income rather than leave it empty.

Ask directly whether the contract allows you to "pause" or reduce the service while retaining your place, or whether stopping payment effectively ends the arrangement and requires you to exit and reclaim your deposit if you want to return later. Some operators offer a genuine "lock and leave" arrangement at a reduced holding fee; many contracts simply don't address this scenario at all, which is worth raising explicitly before you need the answer.