Equity Release News
Commentary and analysis on equity release, later-life lending, interest rates and the housing market — updated regularly.
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 →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, a holistic finance index, and stronger...
Read →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...
Read →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...
Read →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...
Read →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...
Read →House Prices Flat 2026: Is Now the Right Time for Equity Release?
UK house prices are broadly flat in 2026, with regional variation masking a complex picture. Here's what stagnant...
Read →Pension IHT Changes 2027: Equity Release and Later-Life Planning
From April 2027, unused pension funds will be included in estates for IHT purposes. Here's what the changes mean.
Read →Over 60s Property Wealth and Retirement Planning 2026
UK homeowners aged 60+ hold an estimated £2.92 trillion in residential property wealth — three times larger than...
Read →Pensions Crisis: 15 Million Face Inadequate Retirement Income — Could Your Home Fill the Gap?
The Pensions Commission warns 15 million workers face inadequate retirement income. Property equity could be your...
Read →Selling Your Home to Children Below Market Value: The Hidden Inheritance Tax Risk
Selling your house below market value may seem clever — but HMRC treats it as a gift, with significant IHT...
Read →Later-Life Lending Demand Surges: RIO Mortgages Up 215% as Borrowers Seek Flexible Options
Vernon Building Society reports Q1 2026 later-life lending up 215% year-on-year. Find out what's driving demand...
Read →Inheritance Tax Changes 2026: What Homeowners Need to Know
From April 2026, IHT relief on agricultural and business assets is capped, AIM share relief is cut, and pension funds...
Read →Later-Life Lending Advice Standards Rising in 2026: What Consumers Should Now Expect
Air and Simplybiz have launched an LIBF-accredited later-life lending training programme as the FCA scrutinises...
Read →Most UK Adults Unprotected Against Serious Illness: What Over-55s Should Consider
The majority of UK adults have no critical illness or income protection. For homeowners over 55, the protection...
Read →Executors Face Battle to Access Digital Assets: A Wake-Up Call for Estate Planning
Despite the Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025, executors are still struggling to access digital assets after...
Read →Gilt Yields Hit 2008 High: What Rising Bond Rates Mean for Equity Release
10-year gilt yields reached 5.11% in May 2026 — not seen since 2008. Lifetime mortgage rates now sit at 5.97%–6.28%.
Read →Retirement Planning Is Not Something We Can Simplify — Why Expert Advice Matters More Than Ever
Retirement planning has grown too complex for simple rules. Equity release, pension drawdown, benefits and IHT all...
Read →Mortgage Arrears Fall in Q1 2026: Good News for Housing Wealth and Equity Release
UK Finance data shows residential mortgage arrears fell in Q1 2026 — a positive signal for property values and equity...
Read →Housing Market Subdued in 2026: Is Now the Right Time to Release Equity?
RICS April 2026 data shows a subdued housing market. A balanced look at the arguments for acting now versus waiting.
Read →Should Older Landlords Exit the PRS After the Renters' Rights Act?
The Renters' Rights Act abolished Section 21 on 1 May 2026. For landlords aged 55+, this is a natural moment to reassess.
Read →UK Property Remains Resilient: What That Means for Homeowners Over 55
Savills forecasts 24.5% UK house price growth to 2029. For homeowners 55+, that wealth is locked in bricks and mortar.
Read →Facing EPC Upgrade Costs? How Equity Release Could Help
52% of rental properties are below EPC C with a 2030 deadline looming. Equity release could fund energy upgrades.
Read →Leasehold Reform 2026: What Flat Owners Need to Know About Equity Release
The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill has direct implications for flat owners seeking equity release.
Read →Bank of England Rate Pause 2026: What It Means for Equity Release Planning
The Bank of England has signalled no rate rises at its next two meetings. Here's what it means for equity release...
Read →Falling Mortgage Arrears 2026: What It Means for the Equity Release Market
UK Finance data shows homeowner mortgage arrears fell 12% year-on-year in Q1 2026. A healthier mortgage market.
Read →UK Household Wealth Falls 17.5%: Time to Unlock Your Property Equity?
St. James's Place data shows UK household wealth fell 17.5% in 2026. Property often remains the most intact asset.
Read →Gilt Yields Hit 2008 High: What It Means for Equity Release Rates in 2026
UK 10-year gilt yields hit 5.13% — highest since 2008. What it means for equity release rates and whether to act now.
Read →BoE Rate Pause: Good News for Later-Life Borrowers in 2026
The Bank of England has held rates at 3.75%. What the rate pause means for RIO mortgage holders and equity release.
Read →Mortgage Arrears Fall for Third Quarter in a Row: What It Means for Older Homeowners
UK Finance Q1 2026 data shows homeowner arrears falling for the third consecutive quarter. Good news for equity values.
Read →Subdued Summer Housing Market 2026: Is Now the Right Time to Release Equity?
RICS data shows a soft housing market. But market timing matters less for equity release than you might think.
Read →UK Economy Grows 0.6% in Q1 2026: What It Means for Your Home's Value and Equity Release
The UK economy grew 0.6% in Q1 2026. What resilient property values mean for equity release planning.
Read →Rising Rents and Retirement Income: How Equity Release Can Help
Landlord tax rises are pushing rents up by £20–40 per month in 2026. How equity release could bridge the gap.
Read →12 Million People Facing Retirement Poverty: Could Property Wealth Help?
Scottish Widows data: 12.2 million UK adults are on course for below-minimum retirement income.
Read →FCA Review Into Poor Service for Bereaved Clients: What It Means for Older Homeowners
The FCA has launched a review into how firms treat bereaved customers. Only 47% felt adequately supported.
Read →Are You Overestimating Your Home's Value? Why It Matters for Equity Release
UK homeowners overvalue their properties by an average of 16%. Why accurate valuations matter for equity release.
Read →March 2026
Protection in Later Life: What to Review Alongside Your Equity Release Plan
Four in ten homeowners have no income protection. In later life, the stakes are higher. Here's what to review.
Read →Renters Rights Act Pressure: Is Equity Release the Right Exit for Older Landlords?
Most landlords remain profitable but the Renters Rights Act is causing concern. Equity release may offer a cleaner exit.
Read →The Great Wealth Transfer Is Coming — Are You and Your Family Prepared?
The CII warns the advice sector is underprepared for the biggest intergenerational wealth transfer in history.
Read →Want to understand your options? Speak to a specialist later-life lending adviser. No obligation — just plain-English answers to your questions.
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