Equity release provides you with the opportunity to unlock the equity within your home without having to make any interest payments or move out. Equity release is available for home owners aged 55 or older and there are two ways equity can be released.

Equity release mortgages Home reversion plans Qualified equity release specialists

Our equity release advice service
Our equity release advice service is free, we do not charge any broker fees, and we can normally provide you with a binding decision within 24 hours. We use the latest software to research lifetime mortgage and home reversion plan deals from the whole of the market and as independent equity release advisers we make a recommendation to you on the most appropriate solution for your circumstances before guiding you through all of the paperwork. Complete our equity release enquiry form or visit our document centre to download you guide to equity release.

Statutory Notice
These products are lifetime mortgages and home reversion plans. To understand the features and risks, ask for a personalised illustration.

Cost of equity release advice
We understand everyone likes to deal with their personal finances in their own way, that is why as independent equity release advisers we offer our client's two options; a fees free option and a time spent option.

Free equity release advice
If you want equity release advice and prefer not to pay fees then we will not charge you a penny for our advice. Instead we will be paid a commission from the equity release or home reversion plan provider lender to cover the cost of our advice. This commission does not affect the rate you pay or the terms offered. This allows us to provide you with free equity release advice.

Hourly fee equity release advice
If you prefer to work on a time spent basis, with total costs based on the time taken to arrange your lifetime mortgage or home reversion plan, we will charge you an hourly fee for advice, together with a fee to cover administration costs. We will refund any commissions received from the equity release or home reversion plan provider. We will provide you with a quotation estimating the total costs involved before providing you with any advice. A typical fee is £999.00.

No broker fees
Whichever option you choose we will never impose broker fees. These fees, often 1% - 5% of the mortgage advance, are normally payable in addition to any commission or time spent hourly fees. This means on a typical £50,000 equity release, using one of our specialist independent equity release advisers to arrange your lifetime mortgage or home reversion plan can save you between £500 and £2,500 in broker fees alone.

Equity release mortgages also known as lifetime mortgages allow you to raise a mortgage against your property and receive a tax free lump sum or regular guaranteed monthly income and retain full ownership of your home.

Home reversion plans also known as home income plans allow you to sell part or all of your property in exchange for a tax free lump sum or regular monthly income and a guaranteed lifetime tenancy.

Lump sum or regular income
Equity release mortgages and home reversion plans offer you the option to receive either a tax free lump sum or a regular tax free income. We can also arrange equity release schemes that allow you to receive an initial tax free lump sum and a regular monthly income.

Safe Home Income Plans (SHIP) Guarantee
When you arrange an equity release mortgage or home income plan it is important to check that the provider is a member of SHIP. We only deal with providers who adhere to the SHIP code of conduct. There are many advantages of the SHIP code of conduct but the most important is the provision of a 'no negative equity' guarantee. Visit our document centre to download a copy of the safe home income plan code of practice.

Tax planning
Equity release can be used as a tool to mitigate or reduce both inheritance tax and personal tax. You should also consider the effect a lump sum could have on any age allowances or social security benefits you receive. Visit our library to check our tax tables and use our inheritance tax calculator.

Insurance requirements
If you choose a home reversion plan then the buildings insurance will normally be the responsibility of the plan provider. If you choose an equity release mortgage you will be responsible for maintaining both the buildings insurance and your home contents insurance.

Alternative options
Standard mortgages and buy to let mortgages allow home owners to release the equity built up in their property. Learn more about our mortgage advice service.

Help & advice
There are many different equity release schemes available in the UK and it makes sense to take independent financial advice to find an equity release scheme that offers you the most competitive terms. Please call one of our independent financial advisors to discuss your requirements or go to quote me now to request a quote and information pack on equity release.