Independent equity release information

Understanding equity release, clearly.

Guides, tools, and expert answers for UK homeowners aged 55 and over — written and reviewed by a CII-qualified specialist. Free to use. No registration required.

Information only — not financial advice · No sales calls · ICO registered
Reviewed by Chris · CII qualified (CF1 · CF6 · ER1)
30 years in UK financial services
FCA-regulated information · ICO registered
New to equity release?

Start Here

What is equity release?

A plain-English introduction to unlocking cash from your home without selling.

How does equity release work?

How the loan accumulates, what triggers repayment, and what happens over time.

How much could I release?

Loan-to-value ratios by age, property value thresholds, and how health affects your figure.

Is equity release safe?

FCA regulation, Equity Release Council standards, and the genuine risks to understand.

Find what you need

Browse by Topic

Guides

In-depth explanations of how equity release works, what it costs, and what to consider.

Browse →

Q&A

Short, direct answers to the questions homeowners ask most often.

Browse →

Compare

Side-by-side comparisons of equity release against the alternatives.

Browse →

Check Your Eligibility

Five questions to find out if you could be eligible and get an estimate of how much you might release.

Check now →
Latest News

News

22 May 2026

Inheritance Tax Receipts 2026: How Equity Release Could Help Reduce Your Estate

IHT collected a record £8.5bn in 2025/26. With nil-rate bands frozen and pension pots entering scope in 2027...

Read →
22 May 2026

Equity Release Market 2026: FCA Scrutiny, the Leadership Symposium, and What It Means for Borrowers

The FCA is undertaking a Later Life Mortgages Market Study. New standards and stronger consumer protections are centre stage.

Read →
21 May 2026

Vulnerable Customers and Later-Life Lending: FCA Rules and Your Rights

FCA Consumer Duty and FOS data show roughly 25% of later-life lending cases involve customers with characteristics of vulnerability.

Read →
21 May 2026

IHT Overhaul 2026: What Equity Release Means for Your Estate Plan

Pensions entering the IHT estate from April 2027, thresholds frozen until 2030 — the inheritance tax landscape is changing.

Read →
21 May 2026

Downsizing vs Equity Release: Pros, Cons and the Risk of a Collapsed Chain

Around 50% of UK property transactions fall through before completion. Here's how equity release compares to downsizing.

Read →
20 May 2026

Property Wealth and the Retirement Income Gap: Equity Release 2026

With median DC pension pots at £102,000 and average house prices near £270,000, property is the dominant household asset for most over-60s.

Read →
See all news →
Common Questions

Your Questions Answered

What age can you get equity release? How much can I release from my home? Does equity release affect benefits? What happens when I die? Can I move house with equity release? Can I pay back equity release early? What is a no-negative-equity guarantee? Can I get equity release with a mortgage?
See all questions →

Want to understand your options? Speak to a specialist later-life lending adviser. No obligation — just plain-English answers to your questions.

Ask a Question

How much will you owe?

Enter your loan amount and see how compound interest grows your balance over time — and what equity remains for your estate.

Open calculator →

How much could I release?

Enter your age, property value, and any outstanding mortgage to see an illustrative range of what you could release — with a property breakdown bar and plain-English summary.

Try the calculator →

Free guide to equity release

Our plain-English 2026 guide covers how equity release works, what it costs, the consumer protections, and what questions to ask before signing anything. Free download — no subscription.

Download the free 2026 equity release guide →
Chris, equity release specialist

Chris

Equity Release Specialist & Content Reviewer

All content on Verity Home is written with reference to Chris's expertise and reviewed by him before publication. Chris has worked in UK financial services for over 30 years and holds the CII qualifications specific to equity release advice.

CF1 — Financial Services Regulation CF6 — Mortgage Advice ER1 — Equity Release