Equity release guides
— everything explained clearly.

It depends on where you are in your thinking. If you’re completely new to the subject, start with what is equity release — it gives you the essential foundation. If your first question is about money, go straight to equity release costs. If you’re weighing equity release against other options, begin with equity release alternatives. The “Browse by Situation” section above is designed to route you to the right starting point in under a minute.

The guides cover the general principles, rules, and considerations that apply to equity release across the UK. They’re written to be useful to the widest possible range of homeowners aged 55 and over. However, guides can only take you so far — your specific property value, age, health, existing mortgage, benefit entitlements, and family circumstances all affect what’s right for you. A personalised assessment from a regulated adviser is the only way to get an answer that’s specific to your situation. Speak to an adviser — it’s free and there’s no obligation.

No — and you shouldn’t feel any pressure to. Reading one or two guides that address your most pressing questions is usually enough to help you arrive at a conversation with better, more specific questions. Your adviser will walk you through everything else that’s relevant to your circumstances. Many people find it helpful to read the basics first; others prefer to talk first and read afterwards. Both approaches work well.

A guide gives you knowledge — it explains how equity release works, what it costs, and what the alternatives are. Regulated advice gives you a personalised recommendation — a specific plan, from a specific provider, that has been assessed against your individual circumstances and documented in writing. Guides are the right place to build understanding. Regulated advice is the right place to make a decision. FCA-regulated advice also gives you legal protection through the Financial Ombudsman Service that reading a guide alone cannot provide.

Our guides are reviewed and updated regularly to reflect changes in the equity release market, interest rates, and regulation. Any significant product or regulatory changes are reflected in the relevant guide as they occur. That said, equity release rates and specific product features change frequently — always confirm current figures and terms with a qualified adviser before making any decisions.

Yes — and we actively encourage it. Equity release is a significant financial decision, and involving your family early in the research process is one of the most sensible things you can do. Sharing a guide means your loved ones can read the same information you’re reading, ask their own questions, and come to any future conversation with an adviser already informed. Loved ones are always welcome at every stage of the process.

If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for in the library, there are several ways to get help. Our blog covers specific long-tail questions in more depth — topics like inheritance tax, gifting to grandchildren, and whether you can take equity release more than once. If your question is personal to your circumstances, the best answer will always come from a direct conversation — speak to an adviser, with no obligation to proceed.[C4]

Both are completely valid starting points, and neither is wrong. Reading a guide first means you arrive at a consultation with a clearer picture of the landscape and more specific questions — which often makes the conversation more useful. Booking a consultation first means your adviser can explain everything in the context of your specific situation from the outset. The consultation is always free and carries no obligation, so if you’d rather talk first and read later, that’s absolutely fine. There’s no pressure either way — you set the pace.