Home > Equity Release > Equity Release Explained

Equity Release Explained

Equity release is a way of releasing part of the value of your home without having to move out, to help you accomplish your retirement goals.

Equity Release Explained video

Equity Release Explained by OneFamily Advice

Improve your choices in retirement

You can spend the money however you'd like. People often use equity release to pay for home or garden improvements, gift to family as an early inheritance, help family members on the property ladder, pay off debts, or simply to supplement income.

Equity release is available to homeowners aged 55 and above. Many people are now leveraging what might be their biggest financial asset – their home – to improve their choices in retirement.

How does equity release work?

The most popular type of equity release product is a lifetime mortgage, which is a loan that is repaid through the sale of your home when you die or enter long term care. You can receive the money in a lump sum or over several installments and you can spend it however you like.

Equity release is safe and flexible

Equity release is a safe way to improve your options in later life. Not only are there more products and product features available than ever, but there are also protections in place to ensure equity release works for you.

It is worth noting, a lifetime mortgage will reduce the value of your estate and it
may affect your entitlement to means tested state benefits.

Repayments are not a requirement, though you can make regular or flexible payments if you would like to

Equity Release Council-accredited lifetime mortgages have a No Negative Equity Guarantee that ensures you can never owe more than your home is worth, and you have a right to remain living in it for life, as long as you abide by the terms and conditions of the loan

You can move a lifetime mortgage to your new property, or downsize and pay it off, subject to meeting lending criteria and the terms and conditions of your plan

If you already have an equity release plan it might be a good time to consider switching to a better deal, especially if you took out your lifetime mortgage five to ten years ago

equity-release-article-cta

We can help

Our advisers offer impartial, whole-of-market lifetime mortgage advice, so you can be confident in the decision you make.

Explore Equity Release

DO NOT DELETE

A row of bright multi-coloured houses with a blue sky behind them.

Try our equity release calculator

See how much equity you could release by entering your details below.

£

Maximum loan amount:

Important: The loan amounts above are an illustration of the amount you could borrow. The actual amount may vary depending on your individual circumstances. The figures are not guaranteed and do not constitute an offer to lend. The loan amount will need to pay off any existing mortgage secured against the same property.

Liked this article? You may also be interested in...

What is equity release and how does it work?

Equity release can help you turn your property into valuable retirement income...

Read more

How much does equity release cost?

If you think that equity release might be the right solution for you, you'll need a clearer picture...

Read more

How long does equity release take?

Equity release is the process of turning equity into cash that you can spend...

Read more

Meet the OneFamily Advice team

Get to know the advice team who will guide you through the lifetime mortgage process...

Read more