EQUITY RELEASE GUIDE

EQUITY RELEASE GUIDE

Is equity release right for me?

Is equity release right for me?

Is equity release right for me?

Equity release can provide access to money tied up in your home, but whether it may be suitable depends on your circumstances, objectives and the alternatives available to you.

This guide explains some of the questions worth considering before speaking to an adviser.

Equity release can provide access to money tied up in your home, but whether it may be suitable depends on your circumstances, objectives and the alternatives available to you.

This guide explains some of the questions worth considering before speaking to an adviser.

Speak to an equity release adviser

No obligation to proceed.

There is no single answer that applies to everyone
Two homeowners of a similar age with similar properties may have very different financial circumstances, priorities and plans. A regulated adviser can consider your individual circumstances before making a recommendation.

There is no single answer that applies to everyone
Two homeowners of a similar age with similar properties may have very different financial circumstances, priorities and plans. A regulated adviser can consider your individual circumstances before making a recommendation.

Equity release will reduce the value of your estate and may affect your entitlement to means-tested benefits and your tax position.

Equity release will reduce the value of your estate and may affect your entitlement to means-tested benefits and your tax position.

Start with what you are trying to achieve

Start with what you are trying to achieve

Start with what you are trying to achieve

Before considering a particular product, it can be useful to start with the reason you are considering releasing money from your home.

Before considering a particular product, it can be useful to start with the reason you are considering releasing money from your home.

Repay an existing mortgage
You may be approaching the end of an existing mortgage and looking at ways to repay the outstanding balance.

Improve your home
You may want to fund repairs, adaptations or improvements to your property.

Help your family
You may be considering giving financial help to children or other family members.

Supplement your income
You may be looking for additional money to support spending during retirement.

Fund significant expenditure
You may have a particular purchase or expense that you are considering funding.

Create financial flexibility
You may want access to additional money without necessarily having one specific immediate purpose.

The purpose and the borrowing are separate decisions

Having a clear reason for wanting the money does not by itself determine whether borrowing against your home is appropriate. The cost, alternatives and longer-term implications also need to be considered.

Having a clear reason for wanting the money does not by itself determine whether borrowing against your home is appropriate. The cost, alternatives and longer-term implications also need to be considered.

Six questions to consider

Six questions to consider

Six questions to consider

These questions do not determine whether equity release is suitable for you. They are intended to highlight some of the areas that may be relevant when considering your options.

These questions do not determine whether equity release is suitable for you. They are intended to highlight some of the areas that may be relevant when considering your options.

01

How much money do you actually need?
Consider the amount required and whether you need all of it immediately. Borrowing more than you need can increase the amount on which interest is charged.

THINK ABOUT: the amount you need now · whether you may need more later · whether the expenditure could be spread over time

How much equity could I release? →

How much money do you actually need?
Consider the amount required and whether you need all of it immediately. Borrowing more than you need can increase the amount on which interest is charged.

THINK ABOUT: the amount you need now · whether you may need more later · whether the expenditure could be spread over time

How much equity could I release? →

02

Could you achieve the same objective another way?
Equity release is not the only way to access money or change your financial position. Depending on your circumstances, alternatives may include savings, investments, downsizing, other borrowing or changing your plans.

THINK ABOUT: savings or investments · moving or downsizing · other borrowing options · reducing or delaying the expenditure

Explore alternatives to equity release →

Could you achieve the same objective another way?
Equity release is not the only way to access money or change your financial position. Depending on your circumstances, alternatives may include savings, investments, downsizing, other borrowing or changing your plans.

THINK ABOUT: savings or investments · moving or downsizing · other borrowing options · reducing or delaying the expenditure

Explore alternatives to equity release →

03

How important is leaving an inheritance?
A lifetime mortgage can reduce the value remaining in your estate because the borrowing and any interest added generally need to be repaid from the property.

THINK ABOUT: how important leaving your property or other assets is to you · whether you have discussed your plans with family · how the borrowing could affect the value eventually remaining in your estate

Explore the pros and cons →

How important is leaving an inheritance?
A lifetime mortgage can reduce the value remaining in your estate because the borrowing and any interest added generally need to be repaid from the property.

THINK ABOUT: how important leaving your property or other assets is to you · whether you have discussed your plans with family · how the borrowing could affect the value eventually remaining in your estate

Explore the pros and cons →

04

What are your future housing plans?
Your needs may change in later life. You might want to move, downsize or live in a different type of property in the future.

THINK ABOUT: whether you expect to remain in your current home · whether you may want to downsize · whether the type or location of your future property could change

Learn more about lifetime mortgages →

What are your future housing plans?
Your needs may change in later life. You might want to move, downsize or live in a different type of property in the future.

THINK ABOUT: whether you expect to remain in your current home · whether you may want to downsize · whether the type or location of your future property could change

Learn more about lifetime mortgages →

05

How comfortable are you with the long-term cost?
If interest is added to a lifetime mortgage rather than paid, the mortgage balance can increase over time. The eventual cost depends on factors including the amount borrowed, interest charged, how long the mortgage remains outstanding and any repayments made.

THINK ABOUT: the amount being borrowed · how interest may accumulate · whether you may want to make payments · the potential effect on your estate

Understand equity release costs and fees →

How comfortable are you with the long-term cost?
If interest is added to a lifetime mortgage rather than paid, the mortgage balance can increase over time. The eventual cost depends on factors including the amount borrowed, interest charged, how long the mortgage remains outstanding and any repayments made.

THINK ABOUT: the amount being borrowed · how interest may accumulate · whether you may want to make payments · the potential effect on your estate

Understand equity release costs and fees →

06

Could accessing the money affect other areas of your finances?
Accessing money from your home can interact with other financial considerations. Depending on your circumstances, these may include means-tested benefits, tax, estate planning or giving money to family.

THINK ABOUT: means-tested benefits · tax considerations · gifts to family · your wider financial position

Read the equity release FAQs →

Could accessing the money affect other areas of your finances?
Accessing money from your home can interact with other financial considerations. Depending on your circumstances, these may include means-tested benefits, tax, estate planning or giving money to family.

THINK ABOUT: means-tested benefits · tax considerations · gifts to family · your wider financial position

Read the equity release FAQs →

Circumstances that may need particular consideration

Circumstances that may need particular consideration

Circumstances that may need particular consideration

Some circumstances can make it particularly important to explore the implications and alternatives carefully.

Some circumstances can make it particularly important to explore the implications and alternatives carefully.

You expect to move home

Future property plans can be relevant because a new property may need to meet the lender’s requirements.

You receive means-tested benefits

Accessing capital may affect entitlement to some means-tested benefits depending on your circumstances.

You plan to give money to family

Giving money away can affect your own financial security and may also raise tax or estate-planning considerations.

You may need access to money later

Consider whether using property wealth now could affect the options or resources available to you in future.

What might an adviser consider?

What might an adviser consider?

What might an adviser consider?

A regulated equity release adviser can look at your circumstances as a whole rather than considering the property in isolation.

A regulated equity release adviser can look at your circumstances as a whole rather than considering the property in isolation.

YOUR OBJECTIVES

What are you trying to achieve?

YOUR FINANCES

What income, savings, investments, borrowing and other resources do you have?

YOUR PROPERTY

What is your property worth and what borrowing is currently secured against it?

YOUR FAMILY AND ESTATE

How important are inheritance and any plans to help family?

YOUR FUTURE PLANS

Could your housing, spending or financial needs change?

THE ALTERNATIVES

Could another approach achieve your objective?

Suitability is about more than eligibility
Being able to access an equity release product does not necessarily mean that taking one out is appropriate. Advice should consider your objectives, circumstances, alternatives and the potential longer-term effects.

Questions you may want to ask an adviser

Questions you may want to ask an adviser

Questions you may want to ask an adviser

These questions may help you prepare for a conversation with an equity release adviser.

01

How much would I need to borrow?

02

What alternatives should I consider?

03

How could the mortgage balance change over time?

04

What options would I have for making repayments?

05

How could this affect the value of my estate?

06

What happens if I want to move home?

07

Could there be early repayment charges?

08

Could this affect my benefits or tax position?

09

What happens if my circumstances change?

You do not need to have all the answers before speaking to an adviser.

You do not need to decide before speaking to an adviser

You do not need to decide before speaking to an adviser

You do not need to decide before speaking to an adviser

Speaking to an adviser does not mean you have decided to take out equity release. An adviser can discuss why you are considering it, explain the options that may be available and explore alternatives before providing regulated advice where appropriate.

Speaking to an adviser does not mean you have decided to take out equity release. An adviser can discuss why you are considering it, explain the options that may be available and explore alternatives before providing regulated advice where appropriate.

STEP 1

Explain your circumstances

An adviser can discuss why you are considering it,

STEP 2

Explore your options

explain the options that may be available and explore alternatives

STEP 3

Receive regulated advice

before providing regulated advice where appropriate.

Making an enquiry does not commit you to proceeding

Mortgage Website Limited can review your enquiry and, where appropriate, introduce you to a selected equity release adviser. Mortgage Website Limited is an introducer and does not provide mortgage or equity release advice.

Continue exploring equity release

Equity release pros and cons
Understand some of the potential advantages, disadvantages and longer-term considerations.

Read the guide →

Alternatives to equity release
Explore other ways you may be able to achieve your financial objective.

Read the guide →

Equity release FAQs
Find answers to common questions about lifetime mortgages and equity release.

Read the FAQs →

READY TO SPEAK TO AN ADVISER?

Speak to an equity release adviser

Mortgage Website Limited can review your enquiry and, where appropriate, introduce you to a selected adviser who can discuss your circumstances and provide regulated advice.

Find an equity release adviser

No obligation to proceed.

Equity release will reduce the value of your estate and may affect your entitlement to means-tested benefits and your tax position.

MortgageAdvice.co.uk is operated by Mortgage Website Limited (company number 17359328), registered office: 54 Sun Street, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1EJ. Mortgage Website Limited is an introducer and does not provide mortgage or equity release advice. We introduce customers to selected advisers who are appropriately authorised and regulated to provide the relevant advice. Mortgage Website Limited may receive a fee from the adviser or advisory firm for making an introduction. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Equity release will reduce the value of your estate and may affect your entitlement to means-tested benefits and your tax position. © 2026 Mortgage Website Limited. All rights reserved.

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