Equity Release Fundamentals

What equity release is

An overview of how homeowners aged 55 and over can release capital from a main residence without moving.

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Equity release describes arrangements that let an older homeowner convert part of the value of their home into cash while continuing to live there. Two families of product exist in the UK market: lifetime mortgages, which are loans secured against the property, and home reversion plans, in which a share of the property is sold to a provider. A lifetime mortgage remains the dominant structure. No monthly payment is usually required, although most contemporary contracts permit voluntary repayments. The loan and any rolled-up interest are repaid when the last borrower dies or moves permanently into long-term care, ordinarily from the sale of the property.

Client-friendly explanation

Equity release lets you take money out of your home without moving. You keep living there, and the money is usually paid back when the property is eventually sold.

Last verified 2026-09-13 · Effective from 2026-09-13 · sample

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Equity Fountain is registered in England and Wales under company number 08753201. Equity Fountain is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and does not provide regulated financial advice. Information and tools provided through this website are for professional research, educational and informational purposes only. Product information, rates and criteria may change and should be independently verified before reliance.

Equity release will reduce the value of an estate and may affect entitlement to means-tested benefits. Product data shown is illustrative sample data pending a verified provider data load; provider documentation takes precedence where any discrepancy exists.