Is equity release safe?
Regulation, protections and the risks to weigh up, explained simply so you can make an informed decision.
The protections in place
Regulated by the FCA
Equity release advice and products are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, so they must be fair, transparent and in your best interest.
Equity Release Council standards
Search Equity Release is a member of the Equity Release Council. Its member products carry a no negative equity guarantee, so you will never leave a debt to your beneficiaries beyond the value of your home. They also give you the right to remain in your home for life, and the option to move, subject to the lender's terms.
Independent legal advice is mandatory
Before you proceed, you must receive independent legal advice, giving you a second professional set of eyes on the decision.
A cooling-off period
You have time to reconsider before anything is finalised.
The things to weigh up
Equity release is not right for everyone, and we will always say so if it is not right for you.
Reduces the value of your estate
There may be less to leave to your family.
Can affect means-tested benefits
We cover this in detail on our benefits page.
Interest can compound
On a lifetime mortgage where you make no payments, interest is added to the loan and compounds over time, which increases the amount owed. Modern plans let you pay some or all of the interest to control this.
How we keep it safe for you
Our advice is whole-of-market, so we search across the market rather than pushing one lender. There is no pressure, our initial service is at our cost, and if equity release is not the right answer we will tell you and, where appropriate, refer you to a traditional mortgage broker instead.
"The safest equity release decision is an informed one."
Is equity release safe, your questions answered
Is equity release regulated?
What is the no negative equity guarantee?
Do I have to take legal advice?
Whole-of-market advice on retirement interest-only mortgages
For retirement interest-only, term interest-only, and interest-only mortgages for the over-50s, we provide independent, whole-of-market advice. Craig Oliver brings three decades in later-life lending and was named Best Individual Adviser at the 2018 Equity Release Awards. Your initial advice is at our cost. A fee of a maximum of £1,495 is only payable if your case completes.
A retirement interest-only mortgage is a loan secured against your home that requires monthly interest payments. If you proceed with a mortgage that requires payments to be made, your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Any figures shown are an indicative guide only and are subject to a full affordability assessment and advice. Unless you decide to go ahead, our service is at our cost. Only if your case completes would our advice fee of a maximum of £1,495 be payable. Other lender & solicitor fees may apply.