Later Life Lending Specialists

Unlock the Value in Your Home

Search Equity Release helps UK homeowners aged 55 and over understand and access the wealth in their property. No pressure, no jargon, just honest advice from our team.

We offer lifetime mortgages from 55, plus retirement interest only and interest only mortgages from 50 for those approaching or in retirement, all from a whole of market panel, so we can find whatever suits you best.

  • Get a personalised quote from a fully approved retirement advice specialist
  • Compare top offers from the UK's most trusted providers
  • Free, no-obligation advice with no pushy sales talk
  • Understand every step with clear, jargon-free guidance from start to finish
Bruno is online, ask him anything
Independently Accredited
Equity Release Award 2018 Equity Release Council Member LIBF Accredited Later Life Lending Professional

Independently accredited. Fully regulated. FCA No. 952887.

Everything in One Place

Your Equity Release Toolkit

Explore your options in your own time. Tap any tool below to get started.

Award Best Individual Adviser 2018.
20+ UK Lenders.
Three Decades Experience.
FCA Regulated No. 952887.
Whole-of-Market Access

20+ UK Lenders. One Adviser. Your Best Outcome.

We compare the whole market, so you don't have to.

About Our Team

Welcome to Search Equity Release, award winning specialists in Equity Release advice and Later Life Lending.

Unlock the potential of your property with specialist Later Life Lending guidance from our award winning adviser.

Craig was honoured with the prestigious Best Individual Adviser award at the 2018 Equity Release Awards. Our team has helped homeowners across the UK understand whether a Later Life Lending option is the correct route for them.

Our advice has assisted clients in protecting their future whilst making the correct decisions on their finances. All our initial advice is completely free of charge.

Trust in our resident specialist to guide you towards a secure and fulfilling future.

Craig Oliver, Award-Winning Retirement Advice Specialist
Craig Oliver
The Equity Release Award Winner, 2018

Our approach is simple: we understand your situation fully, then find the very best option for you. If equity release is not right for you, we will tell you that too.

Three Decades Helping Yorkshire Homeowners
0 UK Lenders Compared
0 Maximum Release at Age 83
0 Best Individual Adviser, Equity Release Awards
Understanding Equity Release

What is Equity Release & Later Life Lending?

If you prefer to stay in your home, equity release offers a way to access tax-free funds tied up in your property.

The equity in your home is the remaining value after paying off any existing mortgage and other secured debts.

Provided you meet the eligibility criteria set by the provider, the money you release can be used for a wide range of purposes, including:

  • Repaying an existing mortgage you can no longer afford or that has reached the end of its term
  • Home improvements, such as a new kitchen, bathroom, or adapting the property for later life
  • Gifting funds to family, helping them onto the property ladder or reducing your inheritance tax liability
  • Clearing unsecured debts, credit cards, or personal loans to reduce monthly outgoings
  • Supplementing retirement income where pension funds fall short
  • Funding holidays or purchasing a holiday home or caravan
  • Later life care, enabling clients to remain in their own home with their own personal care

Equity release can come with potential risks and consequences. Professional advice should always be sought before proceeding.

A couple in their 50s enjoying their home
The Process

How Does Equity Release Work?

Equity release is a tool available to anyone over the age of 50. There are different mechanisms of releasing equity based on age and requirements. We have options to provide Retirement Interest Only mortgages, Lifetime Mortgages and we work closely with specialists in the Home reversion sector.

01

Speak to Bruno

Start by chatting with Bruno to get the information you need and book your appointment. Bruno is available around the clock and will answer your questions before connecting you with our specialist team.

02

Initial Consultation

Your first consultation with our specialist is completely free of charge. No forms, no pressure, just an honest conversation to understand your situation, goals, and what you are hoping to achieve.

03

Lender & Product Research

As a whole-of-market adviser, our team searches over 20 lenders to find the most suitable product for your circumstances, comparing rates, features, and flexibility.

04

Suitability Report

We prepare a written suitability report setting out our recommendation, the product features, costs, risks, and how the chosen plan fits your circumstances. You can take all the time you need to review it before deciding to proceed.

05

Application

Once you have chosen your preferred option, we handle the application on your behalf, liaising with the lender to keep everything moving smoothly.

06

Property Valuation

Following your application, the lender arranges an independent valuation of your property. This confirms the maximum amount you can release and the final terms of your plan.

07

Solicitors Process

Your solicitor handles the legal work, reviewing the offer with you, advising on the terms, and registering everything correctly. We stay in touch with them throughout to keep things moving.

08

Completion

Once the legal work is finished, funds are released to you and the plan goes live. We remain available afterwards if you have questions or want to review your options in future.

Real Reasons

Why Do Clients Utilise Later Life Lending?

Pay off an existing mortgage

We frequently assist clients that have reached the end of their mortgage term, and have no other option to consider other than sale, but they wish to remain in their home. In some cases, we also find that our clients are unable to afford the mortgage on their home, there are no other cheaper mortgage options and they do not wish to move. In this scenario, a later life borrowing option can be a suitable option.

Home improvements

Home improvements are one of the most popular reasons for releasing funds. Whether it's a new kitchen, bathroom, conservatory, or making the home more accessible and comfortable for later life, we help clients invest in the place they love most.

Gifts to family

Some of our clients have utilised Later Life Lending to reduce their inheritance tax bill. To understand how this would work for you, we can provide a referral to an inheritance tax specialist. Releasing property wealth and gifting to family can be a powerful planning tool.

Purchasing a new home

We recently helped a lady of 70 upsize her property so that she had more room for family get togethers. We've also supported many of these cases and have a huge amount of experience in this type of transaction.

Clearing debts

Many clients use funds to clear existing debts, credit cards, or loans, reducing their monthly outgoings and improving their financial wellbeing in retirement.

Purchase a holiday home or caravan

You can use these funds to purchase a holiday home or maintain a caravan in your favourite place.

Supplementing retirement income

For clients whose pension income doesn't stretch as far as they'd hoped, releasing equity provides a way to maintain the lifestyle they've worked hard to achieve.

Care needs

Some of our clients have more complex care needs. With careful planning, a Later Life Lending solution has allowed clients to remain in the comfort of their own home, with their own pension care.

New car & medical reasons

For some of our clients, a new car is high up on the list. We recently had a lady jump the NHS queue to have her new knees completed and now she is already up and about enjoying life again.

Equity release can come with potential risks and consequences, professional advice should always be sought before proceeding.

Eligibility

Am I Eligible for Later Life Lending?

To be eligible to release equity from your home, you simply need to fulfil the criteria below:

  • Over 50 years old
  • UK homeowner
  • Property valued at least £70,000
  • Some options will need us to check your income with the provider

Equity release options, such as Lifetime Mortgages, home reversions, or RIO mortgages, are loans secured against your home, which reduce the equity in your property. To understand the specific features and potential risks, request a personalised illustration from our specialist Later Life Lending adviser.

UK home
Real Outcomes

Case Studies

Property
Case Study

Here's an illustration of our advice which saved his clients many thousands of pounds over the term of their new mortgage.

A recent client enquiry: the clients were 63 and had an IVA in the last 6 years. This situation can make borrowing difficult to obtain in the traditional mortgage sector. The clients had a property valued at £400,000 and an £80,000 interest only mortgage with a subprime lender called Landmark. The current lender had been very difficult to contact with no support provided to the clients.

Mr had income reductions due to changes within his limited company income. This can make borrowing difficult to obtain in the traditional mortgage sector. Mrs had good solid income through her limited company and would pass the lenders affordability checks.

Free Estimate

See What You Could Release in 2 Minutes

Our quick chat tool gives you a personalised estimate based on your age, property value, and any outstanding mortgage. Completely free, no obligation.

Chat with Bruno Now
Bruno
Bruno
Online now
Hi! I'm Bruno. How old are you?
I'm 67
Great! What's your property worth approximately?

Common Questions

Everything you need to know, answered honestly.

Equity release enables UK homeowners aged 55 and over to access tax-free cash from their home's value, with Lifetime Mortgages being one of the most popular options. The amount you can borrow is based on the age of the youngest applicant and the value of your property. The FCA mandates that you receive specialist advice, requiring you to have both a financial adviser and a legal representative.
At age 55, you can release up to around 28% of your property's value, rising to up to 60% from age 80. The minimum loan for Lifetime Mortgages starts at £10,000 and your property must be valued at a minimum of £70,000. For a quick estimate, use our Equity Release Calculator.
Yes. With a lifetime mortgage, you retain full ownership of your home. The mortgage is secured on the property but you remain the legal owner and can continue to live there for the rest of your life or until you move into long-term care.
Equity release offers numerous safeguards. The no-negative equity guarantee ensures that beneficiaries will never owe more to the equity release company than the property's sale value. All plans from Equity Release Council members include this protection. Modern schemes also offer the option to ring-fence a portion of your property's value as an inheritance.
The money released can be used for virtually any purpose: home improvements, helping family onto the property ladder, paying off debts, topping up retirement income, funding holidays, or covering care costs. There are no restrictions on how you spend the funds.
The easiest way to get started is to chat with Bruno, our AI assistant, who will ask you a few simple questions and give you an instant estimate. Alternatively, call our team directly on 0113 403 5584 or use our online calculator. All initial advice is completely free of charge.
You have several options: the Lifetime Mortgage (known as Equity Release), a Retirement Interest Only Mortgage (also known as a later life mortgage), or traditional based lending options. We are whole-of-market across these products and will recommend whichever is right for your circumstances.
No, you do not have to make payments. Lenders allow you to make payments to the interest, part payments, or no payment at all. The choice is yours. Modern lifetime mortgage plans offer flexible payment options to help you service and control interest costs.
No. A lifetime mortgage provides protection for you, or joint applicants, for the rest of your life. The lender is not providing this loan based on your income, and you retain ownership of your home throughout. The loan is repaid when the property is sold, on death or second death, or when you move into long-term care.
Yes, absolutely, at any time. Lifetime mortgage lenders typically have early repayment charges that run from 5 to 15 years. The lowest penalty in the first 5 years is typically around 5% when using favourable interest rate plans. Retirement Interest Only lenders typically have lower charges for a reduced period, usually only lasting as long as the fixed rate in place.
Yes. Any form of capital provided to you whilst in receipt of means-tested benefits could impact your ongoing ability to claim those benefits. We discuss this in full with you to understand your current financial position. We have helped past clients take a lending option without any impact on their means-tested benefits situation. Call us on 0113 403 5584 to discuss your specific circumstances.
Search Equity Release provides advice to your preference. We can advise you by telephone, video call, or face to face. We complete a thorough questionnaire with our clients to understand their short, medium, and long-term goals. We ask about income, outgoings, savings, and other assets because we care about your outcome and want to provide the most relevant advice possible.
These plans are manufactured to last a lifetime, which has a retail cost to the lender. If you compare them to a younger person's standard residential mortgage they can seem higher, but that comparison is not like for like. There are currently competitive deals available depending on your circumstances. Call us on 0113 403 5584 to discuss current rates.
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