Apartment 12A, Flete House, Flete, Ivybridge, Devon

Apartment 12A, Flete House

Are you looking for a safe, welcoming, and sociable environment for yourself or a loved one? Perhaps maintaining a home is becoming more challenging, yet the need for personal care remains some way off.

Set within the historic Flete House, residents enjoy a fully managed lifestyle designed to provide comfort, security, and peace of mind. This magnificent residence offers extensive landscaped grounds and opulent communal spaces, creating an exceptional setting for those seeking a refined retirement or semi-retirement lifestyle.

Apartment 12A presents a rare opportunity to acquire a spacious and characterful two-bedroom managed apartment. The accommodation includes a magnificent drawing room, a separate study, a generous kitchen with dining area, two bedrooms, a bathroom, and an additional single sized guest suite located across the hallway.

The dining area enjoys a charming bay window with window seating and uninterrupted panoramic views across the Flete countryside, with the majestic expanse of Dartmoor National Park visible on the horizon.

Life at Flete House offers as much privacy or social interaction as you desire. Residents enjoy a vibrant and friendly community, with regular coffee mornings, lunches, and social events held within the Grade I listed communal rooms. The impressive snooker room hosts competitions enjoyed by residents and their families, while the beautifully maintained grounds provide ample opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.

The estate extends to approximately 12 acres of immaculate gardens. Residents may participate in gardening activities should they wish, with dedicated areas available for growing vegetables and a charming thatched garden store for tools and equipment. Additional leisure facilities include a well-maintained tennis court and croquet lawn, providing enjoyable activities throughout the summer months.

The Apartment

A grand sweeping staircase rises from the impressive entrance hall to the first floor, while a characterful period lift offers a convenient alternative, arriving just a few meters away from the front door to the apartment.

The front door to Apartment 12A opens into an elegant S-shaped galleried hallway with useful hanging space for coats and outerwear.

To the left, a door opens into the magnificent drawing room. This exceptionally spacious room exudes grandeur and is flooded with natural light from dual-aspect windows. A large bay window with an extended window seat and full-height curtains frames delightful south-easterly views across the tennis court, ancient grazing land, mature trees, and the meandering River Erme beyond. Fishing permits are available through the Flete Estate.

A handsome fireplace with a freestanding electric wood-burning-style stove forms the focal point of the room. The generous proportions allow for substantial furniture, making it particularly appealing for those downsizing from a larger home who wish to retain treasured furnishings and collections.

An adjoining door leads to a small peaceful study, currently arranged with a desk and enjoying views towards the wrought-iron entrance gates and sweeping driveway.

The final door from the drawing room opens into the kitchen. This impressively sized space will appeal to keen cooks and features another attractive bay window with seating, overlooking the decorative black-and-gold entrance gates and offering a pleasant vantage point from which to observe daily life at Flete House. A separate door provides direct access from the kitchen to the main hallway, ideal for deliveries and grocery shopping.

The kitchen offers extensive storage and worktop space and is fitted with an electric hob, built-in microwave, electric oven and grill, dishwasher, and sink with drainer. Prospective purchasers should note that the kitchen would benefit from modernisation, a factor reflected in the asking price.

Returning to the galleried hallway, doors lead to the two bedrooms.

The first bedroom is a comfortable single room with space for a bed, dressing table, and chest of drawers. It would also make an excellent dressing room or hobby room, particularly as it benefits from an interconnecting door.

The principal bedroom is an exceptionally large and elegant room, featuring a further substantial bay window with cushioned seating and floor-to-ceiling curtains. A recessed area provides ideal space for a dressing table or chest of drawers. The room comfortably accommodates a king-size bed with bedside furniture and offers ample space for additional furnishings.

A conveniently positioned door from the hallway leads to the adjacent bathroom, fitted with a separate shower, full-sized bath, wash basin, WC, heated towel rail, and chrome fittings.

The bathroom would also benefit from updating, and this has been reflected within the asking price. Similarly, replacement carpeting throughout the apartment would further enhance its presentation, although the existing carpets may respond well to professional cleaning. Many residents utilise Flete House’s recommended contractors, who are experienced in working within this Grade I listed building and are highly regarded for their quality of work and competitive pricing.

Additional Guest Suite

A particular advantage of Apartment 12A is the separate guest suite located directly across the hallway, extending to approximately 16.5 sq m.

This versatile space comprises a single bedroom with fitted floor-to-ceiling wardrobes and an adjoining bathroom containing a bath, WC, and wash basin. A south-facing window overlooks the formal gardens.

The suite offers excellent flexibility. It may be used as your own guest accommodation, additional storage, or a potential source of rental income for visiting family members of other residents, or even as a dedicated boot room and dog-washing area. Dogs and sub-letting are usually permitted, subject to approval of Flete Audley Ltd.

Services and Running Costs

Flete House, its grounds, and the wider estate are fully serviced and professionally managed.

For 2026, the service charge is approximately £1,670 per calendar month (circa £20,000 per annum).

This comprehensive charge includes:

* Oil-fired central heating
* Electricity
* Water and drainage
* Sewage services
* Window cleaning
* Buildings insurance
* 24-hour on-site staff presence
* Full-time gardening staff
* Estate and block management services
* Maintenance and upkeep of communal areas and building facilities

The only regular expenses not included are contents insurance, telephone services, and council tax.

Lease Information

The leasehold is owned by Audley Flete Ltd, which manages the renewal of the 125-year lease structure.

A resale fee is payable to Audley Flete Ltd upon the sale of an apartment. This contribution is allocated to the Flete House Life Cycle Fund, which helps finance major repairs and improvements that fall outside standard insurance provisions.

Additional Resident Services

Residents may arrange a range of optional services privately, including domestic cleaning and personal laundry services.

There is also a dedicated guest suite available for residents to hire for visiting family and friends. At the time of writing, the cost is approximately £75 per night, including breakfast, for a double room with en-suite facilities.

Community Life

Flete House enjoys a thriving and friendly community atmosphere. Residents regularly organise Sunday lunches, celebrations, and special events within the formal dining room, often featuring a private chef. Costs are shared among attendees and typically range from £30–£35 per person for a two- or three-course meal with coffee.

Participation is entirely optional, allowing residents to enjoy as much or as little of the social life as they wish.

Apartment 12A combines the grandeur and character of a historic country house with the convenience of a fully managed lifestyle, all set within one of South Devon’s most beautiful private estates. It offers a unique opportunity to enjoy spacious accommodation, stunning surroundings, and a welcoming community in an exceptional setting.