Equity release in the North West, our home turf, your trusted advice.

Manchester and its surrounding boroughs have seen significant regeneration over the past decade, and much of the housing stock, think Victorian terraces in Chorlton, Didsbury and Salford, has risen steadily in value as a result. Many of our Greater Manchester clients are long-standing homeowners sitting on substantial equity in homes they bought decades ago for a fraction of today’s prices. A common scenario here is a retired couple in a three-bed terrace using released funds to help a grandchild with a house deposit, while staying firmly put in the home they’ve always loved.

Liverpool and the wider Merseyside area offer one of the North West’s most varied urban property markets, from Georgian townhouses in the Georgian Quarter to modern apartments along the waterfront. Property values here tend to sit below the national average, which means advice on exactly how much equity is realistically available matters even more. We often see Merseyside homeowners releasing equity to clear an old interest-only mortgage that’s approaching the end of its term, removing a monthly worry entirely.

Lancashire’s former mill towns, Blackburn, Burnley, Preston and the surrounding villages, are home to a strong proportion of older homeowners who’ve owned their property outright for many years. Terraced and semi-detached stock here is typically more affordable than elsewhere in the region, but for homeowners on fixed incomes, even a modest release can make a meaningful difference. A frequent reason for enquiry in Lancashire is funding home improvements or adaptations that allow someone to stay independent for longer.

Cheshire is the North West’s affluent commuter belt, with towns like Alderley Edge, Knutsford and Macclesfield commanding some of the highest property values outside the South East, while Warrington and Runcorn offer a more accessible mix of family homes within easy reach of Manchester and Liverpool. Higher property values here often mean larger sums can be released. We regularly advise Cheshire homeowners who are using equity release to supplement retirement income or to gift money to family while they’re alive to see the benefit.

Cumbria’s rural character and the Lake District’s enduring popularity create a distinctive market, where second-home ownership and tourism have pushed up values in hotspots like Windermere, Keswick and Ambleside, while surrounding villages remain more modest. Many Cumbrian homeowners are long-term residents whose properties have appreciated well beyond what they paid, often decades ago. A common scenario we see is retired farmers or rural homeowners releasing equity to top up pension income without having to sell land or move away from the community they know.