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Using equity release to pay off existing debt

Managing your finances in retirement isn’t easy. So knowing what options you have is important and could help give you peace of mind in later life. 

Debt in retirement isn’t uncommon

Debt can be a worry when planning your retirement.  However, there are various financial solutions available to help clear your existing debts and enable you to enjoy later life. Equity release could be one of them.
 
In 2022, nearly a third of those releasing equity cleared existing unsecured debts according to Key*.

 

Use equity release to get peace of mind in retirement

Equity release is a way to access some of the tax-free funds locked in the value of your home.
 
It’s a financial product that comes in two forms; a lifetime mortgage and a home reversion plan.

 

Using a lifetime mortgage to pay off existing debt

A lifetime mortgage is similar to a standard mortgage, in that it’s a loan secured against your home.
 
However, unlike a standard mortgage, and the vast majority of other loans, with a lifetime mortgage, there are typically no monthly repayments unless you choose to make them.
 
That means you could use your home’s value to pay off your existing debt without having to cover any monthly repayments in return.
 
With a lifetime mortgage, you’ll also always retain full ownership of your property, so you can stay in it as long as you’d like.
 
That’s because the loan plus compound interest is usually repaid when the plan ends and your property is sold typically when the last remaining applicant passes away or moves into long-term care.
 
With a lifetime mortgage you can choose to take all your money at once or take an initial smaller lump sum and save the rest for a later date. 
 
That’s known as a drawdown plan. And with a drawdown, you only ever pay interest on the money you release. Not all drawdowns are guaranteed. If you choose to make a drawdown, the funds will be subject to the prevailing interest rate at the time and the lender may have the option to withdraw the drawdown facility.
 

See how much you could release

See how much tax-free cash you could unlock from the value of your home with our free equity release calculator.
 
Calculate Now

 

Using a home reversion plan to pay off existing debt

A home reversion plan gives you access to some of the money that’s tied up in the value of your property, and you don’t have to make any monthly repayments to make.
 
However, with a home reversion plan, instead of the money coming from a loan against your property’s value, it’s through selling part or all of your home to a home reversion company.

With a home reversion, you will no longer be the legal owner, and would become a beneficial owner with a guaranteed lifetime lease to stay in the home for as long as you wish and no monthly repayments to meet. 

With a home reversion, a clearly defined percentage of your home remains yours for potential future use or as inheritance, unless you have sold the full value of your home. If property prices increase, you only benefit from the increase in value on the proportion of the property you retain.

Mortgage Advice Bureau Later Life do not offer home reversion plans, only lifetime mortgages. 

 

We’re here to help you find the right option

We understand that if you’re thinking about using equity release to pay off your existing debt, you may have some questions. And rightly so, it needs to be the right option for you and your circumstances.
 
And that’s why we’re here to help. We understand equity release isn’t for everyone, and we’ll never say it’s the right option for you unless we’re certain.
 
We don’t charge you for our service unless you decide to go ahead. You’ll be able to find out whether equity release suits your needs before incurring any fees.

 

Other ways of tackling your debt

There are several debt charities and organisations available for you to speak to if you’re struggling with debt. Government-backed, The Money Advice Service and charity, StepChange are just two of many that can offer you free advice.

 

See how much you could release

See how much tax-free cash you could unlock from the value of your home by using our quick and easy lifetime mortgage calculator.
 
Calculate Now

Your other options

Before deciding on equity release, it's important you're aware of some of your other later life finance options. 

See if equity release is right for you

Equity release costs

Knowing the costs associated with equity release and how to help manage them is important.

Compound interest explained | Lump sum vs Drawdown

Things to consider

Because we play by the book we want to tell you

  • Mortgage Advice Bureau Later Life offer lifetime mortgage products from a carefully selected panel of providers.
  • Mortgage Advice Bureau Later Life offer lifetime mortgages only, which is a loan secured against your home.
  • As part of our advice process, we'll consider whether retirement interest-only (RIOs) and other mortgages may be suitable and can arrange advice on these if appropriate. Advice fee will vary.
  • Unless you decide to go ahead, our service is completely free of charge, as our fixed advice fee of £1,295 would only be payable on completion of a plan.
  • With a lifetime mortgage there are typically no monthly repayments to make, as the loan plus compound interest is typically repaid through the sale of the property when the last remaining applicant passes away or moves into long-term care.
  • Equity release will reduce the value of your estate and may affect your entitlement to means tested benefits.
  • A lifetime mortgage may result in limited or no property equity remaining and will reduce your finanical options in the future.
  • You should always think carefully before securing a loan against your home to repay existing debt.


*Key's Full Year 2022 Market Monitor