Lifetime mortgages (equity release)

A special type of loan, usually designed to run for the rest of your life.

How a lifetime mortgage works

You borrow money secured against the value of your home to give you a lump sum now or a regular income. You do not make mortgage repayments to the lender and the loan and accrued interest is repaid to the lender when you die or you move into a residential care home.

With lifetime mortgages, you continue to own your own home. The lender agrees to give you a lump sum or a monthly income (or both), based on the value of your home.

Nothing is repaid until you die or the property is sold, but interest is added to the amount you have borrowed each year. This is ‘rolled up’ over the life of the loan.

How much can I borrow?

How much you can borrow depends on how much your home is worth and on your age. Generally, if you are older you can borrow a greater percentage of your home’s value.

You need to check whether the rate of interest can be fixed or capped and whether there are any redemption penalties associated with the mortgage. That will allow you to be sure of the maximum amount of interest added each year and the amount you owe at any time.

Advantages

  • You continue to own and live in your home
  • No negative equity guarantee (if offered by the provider)
  • Plan provides a cash lump sum and/or partial payments
  • Only pay for the time you hold the mortgage
  • More flexible than Home Reversion Plans
  • The payment is larger if the applicant suffers impaired health
  • Portable – most are portable if you need to move home

Disadvantages

  • Compound interest – the interest payment will increase significantly over time
  • It can have an impact on your entitlement to certain state benefits and personal tax position

Our dedicated team are on hand to answer any questions you may have, simply call us on 01305443115.

What happens if my home has negative equity?

Most lenders offer a ‘no negative equity guarantee’. This means that the amount you owe can never be more than the value of your home. Even if the amount you borrow (plus the rolled up interest) is more than your property’s selling price, you will not have to repay any more than the amount your home is sold for.

An example lifetime mortgage calculation

Your home is worth £100,000 and you are 65. You borrow £30,000 at a fixed rate of interest of 6.5%. There are no monthly payments. Instead, interest is added on and rolled up over the lifetime of the loan.

Because you do not pay off any interest as you go along, the amount you owe mounts up more quickly so that after 15 years you owe the lender £77,155. This includes the £30,000 you originally borrowed. Any increase in the value of your home, after paying off the loan and interest, belongs to you or your family.

Financial advice disclaimer

Agincare is not authorised to provide investment or other financial advice and nothing on this page should be construed as such. We recommend you obtain independent financial advice from an adviser registered with the Financial Services Authority.

Our dedicated team are on hand to answer any questions you may have, simply call us on 01305443115.