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To qualify for equity release in the UK:

• You must be aged 55 or over (some products have a higher minimum).

• Your property must be:

  • Your main residence

  • Located in the UK

  • In reasonable condition and worth typically at least £70,000

• Some providers exclude certain property types (e.g. studio flats, retirement homes, or ex-local authority houses with restrictions).

To find out if you qualify, complete our short questionnaire.

This depends on:

• Your age (the older you are, the more you can borrow)

• Value of your property

• Health and lifestyle factors (some enhanced plans offer more if you have certain medical conditions)

• Typical equity release amounts range from 20% to over 50% of the property's value.

To find out how much equity you can release, complete our short questionnaire.

Common fees include:

• Advice fees (if independent)

• Valuation fees

• Solicitor/legal fees

• Lender application or completion fees
  Many providers allow these to be added to the loan, but this increases total cost.

For more information, complete our short questionnaire.

Not if you choose a product with a No Negative Equity Guarantee (standard with Equity Release Council members). This ensures:

You or your estate will never owe more than the value of the property, even if house prices fall.

For more information, complete our short questionnaire.

It depends which type of equity release product you choose:

• With a lifetime mortgage (most common), yes — you retain full ownership.

• With a home reversion plan, you sell part or all of your home in exchange for a lump sum and retain the right to live there rent-free.

For more information, complete our short questionnaire.

To repay your loan early, you will need to consider the following:

• Some plans allow partial repayments (usually 10% of the balance per year) without penalty.

• Early full repayment may incur charges, especially in the first 5–10 years.

• Some providers offer early repayment waivers under specific conditions (e.g. death of a partner).

For more information, complete our short questionnaire.

Yes. Equity release is one of several ways to access cash:

• Downsizing

• Using savings or investments

• Government grants or state support

• Remortgaging or taking a standard loan (if income allows)
  An independent adviser will explore these with you before recommending equity release.

For more information, complete our short questionnaire.

Always consider the following when taking out an equity release product:

• Use only providers and advisers authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

• Choose products approved by the Equity Release Council, which offer:

  • No negative equity guarantee

  • Right to remain in your home for life

  • Clear product terms

  • Compulsory legal advice

For more information, complete our short questionnaire.

The process generally takes 6–8 weeks, sometimes faster if:

• Your property has no legal issues

• You’re prepared with ID and documents

• Solicitors and advisers are responsive

For more information, complete our short questionnaire.

Make sure you consider the following:

• Always take advice from a qualified, independent financial adviser.

• You must have legal advice from a solicitor before completion.

• Do not proceed under pressure; cooling-off periods and transparent documentation are standard with regulated providers.

For more information, complete our short questionnaire.