Mythbuster: "I'll have monthly repayments"

Are there monthly repayments?

Monthly repayments can be a huge burden, but with equity release there is no need to worry.

Like many of our customers, you may choose to use the tax-free cash to pay off your existing debt and reduce your household’s monthly expenditure, and there’s no need to factor paying it back into your budgeting.

With equity release, you don’t have to make monthly repayments. That’s because a lifetime mortgage, the most popular form of equity release, is a loan secured against your home which, alongside the roll-up interest, is typically paid back when your plan comes to an end. That’s usually when you, or the last remaining applicant, either passes away or enters long-term care.

With a home reversion plan, another type of equity release, you sell all or part of your property to a reversion company for lower than market value to receive a cash lump sum. Therefore, it’s not a loan, as you’re selling all or a stake in your home. By taking out equity release, you can rebalance your household budget much more effectively than with some other lending alternatives.

However, our specialist equity release advisers will always discuss other alternatives to equity release with you to make sure you’re making the right choice for you.

All of our expert equity release advice is unique to you, delivered by fully-qualified advisers and free of charge.

Things to consider

Your specialist equity release adviser will explain:

• You have to get advice before releasing tax-free cash from your home. Please read all our information and make sure it's right for you
• A lifetime mortgage, which is a loan secured against your property, is the most popular form of equity release and you’ll retain full ownership of your home
• All of our plans are approved by the Equity Release Council and come with several protections, including the no negative equity guarantee, which means you’ll never owe more than your home’s value
• Equity release reduces your estate's value and may affect any means-tested benefits you're eligible for