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Equity Release

An increasingly popular way to unlock some of your property’s value, as a tax-free lump sum or additional income. 

 

We are both Independent Financial Advisers and Mortgage Brokers, a combination which helps us deliver the best advice on Equity Release we can for our customers.

Leaf Financial Advisers Ltd. - Bristol based Equity Release Advisers

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What is Equity Release?

Most equity release plans these days are simply a long-term loan that is repaid when the house is sold.  The interest on the loan can be paid off as you go, or it can be paid off at the end, when the house is sold.

It is generally available to those over the age of 55, who are homeowners.

The cash released can be used for pretty much anything and can be paid out as a lump sum, a series of lump sums, or as an income.

Most plans will ensure that the loan value will never be higher than the value of the house, protecting the estate.  There is also usually the option of ring-fencing some of the equity in the property, helping to protect it from being used to repay the equity release.

Moving house and taking your equity release with you is also an option, as is remortgaging onto new rates in the future.  Although these will be dependant on the situation at the time you come to move/downsize or remortgage.

In short, equity release allows you to take cash out of your property to spend today, which is repaid in the future when the house eventually comes to be sold; although there are a range of flexible options to help you find the right plan for you and your situation.

Andrew Rogers,

Equity Release Adviser,

Leaf Financial Advisers

Headshot Bristol Financial Advisor

Andrew Rogers,

Leaf Financial Advisers

Equity Release Specialist

Charted Independent Financial Adviser

Chartered Accountant

Independent Mortgage Broker

Defined Benefit Pension Specialist

 

Chartered Financial Adviser Certification
Demonstrating financial freedom at 55

Equity Release - Key Features

Flexible Payments mean you can choose how much of the interest (if any) you want to pay each month.  Any not paid is added to the loan to be repaid at the end.

No Income is required to be able to take out an Equity Release loan.

Inheritance Protection allows you to ring-fence some of the property’s equity to be passed down as an inheritance.

Spend your tax-free money on what you choose, with no limitations in the plan on what the cash can be used for.

Lump sum(s) or Income are two of the ways in which you can receive your tax free Equity Release cash.

Ensure you never owe more than your house is worth, with the Negative Equity Guarantee that most plans come with, ensuring that the equity release loan will never be more than the value of your property. 

Remortgaging or repaying completely is an option if your situation changes or rates start to fall and you decide to switch.

Moving or Downsizing is possible as many plans can be transferred to the new property (as long as it meets the requirements) or the plan could be completely repaid if you downsize enough.

Leaf Financial Advisers - Recent Awards

Pension Advisory Firm of the Year Winner

2023

UK Innovation & Excellence Awards

Bristols Most Trusted Financial Advisory Firm

2023

UK Enterprise Awards

Best Ethical Pensions & Investment Advisory Firm

South West
2023

Retirement Planning Awards

Best Nationwide Financial Advisory Firm

South West
2023

Southern Enterprise Awards

How we'll help you

Independent Financial Advice

We offer fully Independent, Whole of Market Advice, accessing the best rates available from across the entire market.

Regulated Equity Release Advice

We are fully Regulated and Authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and members of the Equity Release Council.

Free Consultation

A chance to meet and discuss Equity Release, with a friendly and fully regulated Financial Adviser.  A great opportunity to find out if it’s right for you and ask any questions you may have.  All with zero obligation and in the comfort of your own home at a time that is right for you.

Convenient meetings

Not only do we come out to see you in your own home, to ensure maximum ease and a relaxed environment, but we offer times at almost every day and time – including evenings and weekends.  We work around your schedule, not ours.

Fair and Transparent fees

We will make sure that you are aware of any fees and charges, making sure there are no nasty surprises.

We believe in being transparent and that our £599 fee is great value for money and is proudly listed on our Pricing page.

Jill
★★★★★
Bristol / Bath
After a considerable time wondering if Equity Release was OK, as advised by friends who took it a few years ago I selected Andy from a choice of 4 possible IFAs from the Equity Release Council, within a 10 mile radius of my home. Although not the closest, I liked the Leaf website, with an upfront fixed fee, good reviews and awards (including Most Trusted IFA) and his excellent response to my contact. Impressed that Andy (sensibly and ethically!) chose travel by train and foot to meetings at my home, also attended by my friends who, like me, were impressed by his assurance of no pressure, his knowledge, friendliness, clarification, confidentiality, and quick response to queries. Definitely made the right choice of IFA and would recommend to others.

Complimentary Equity Release Consultation

Taking out an Equity Release plan is a major life decision, and you want to be sure it is the right one for you.  This is especially important as there have been so many changes over recent years.

Whilst there is a large amount of information on the Internet these days it can still be difficult to be sure you have completely taken account of all the pros and cons and risks before going ahead.  Equity release has changed a lot over the years and most would say the changes are all for the better. There is now a lot more flexibility and options to take advantage of to help tailor the Equity Release plan to your own situation and needs. However, this has brought with it extra complexities as there now are a large number of options and choices, which it’s important to understand to make sure you can get the right plan for you.

We offer a free, no-obligation, consultation where you can discuss Equity Release with an experienced Equity Release adviser.  This can be in the comfort of your own home, not only saving you the bother of having to travel to see an adviser, but it can also help lead to a more relaxed, open and hopefully fruitful discussion.

During the session, we will run through your situation and what you are looking to achieve with Equity Release.  We will discuss what options you have, what you are able to release, how much it might cost you and what the process would involve.  You can ask as many questions as you like and there is zero pressure and no unwanted follow-up calls.

 

How does Equity Release work

There are two different types of Equity Release, with the most common type these days being the Lifetime Mortgage.

A Lifetime Mortgage (or Equity Release mortgage) is a specialised loan that is secured against your home, allowing you to take advantage of your property’s value.  In many ways it is very similar to a regular residential mortgage that you have likely taken out at some point in your lifetime.  

With a Lifetime Mortgage there is no need to make monthly interest payments (although you can if you wish) as the Lifetime Mortgage only needs to be repaid, with any remaining interest, when you pass away or move into long-term care.  Any remaining equity in your home after the loan is repaid can be passed on as an inheritance.

An Equity Release provider would need to assess your situation, including value your property, assess your age and possibly health, before deciding how much they would be able to lend you and what the interest rate would be.  An Equity Release adviser would be able to run you through this process to determine what each provider would offer and how much it would cost.

There are a variety of features that can be added to a Lifetime Mortgage, such as a Negative Equity Guarantee (no ensure that the loan is never more than the value of your property), Inheritance Protection (ringfencing some of the property value to allow it to be passed to your loved ones), a Reserve Account, or no monthly payments.  Being able to choose the features and protections of your Equity Release plan can help you personalise it to your unique situation and needs.

How To Invest Ethically

What can I use Equity Release for?

Equity release funds are not only tax-free, they can be used for anything you wish (providing it is legal!). 

  • Equity release for paying off your mortgage.   Equity Release can come in useful for those who face a shortfall when their interest-only mortgage comes to an end, or want to pay off the last chunk of their mortgage to release some income for other day-to-day expenses.
  • Equity Release for clearing debts.  Releasing some equity with a tax-free lump sum could be used to pay off current, more expensive, debts.
  • Home and Garden improvements, from adding a conservatory, landscaping your garden or a conservatory, adding an extension, or converting a loft.
  • Equity Release for Helping Your Family with a deposit for their own first home.
  • And many other uses such as boosting your retirement income or in-home care.

Please read our guide on what the cash from Equity Release can be used for to find out more.

How much equity can I release?

How much equity you can release, if you’re eligible, is based on the value of your house. It’s usually between 20% and 60% of your property’s value for a Lifetime/Equity Release mortgage. For a Home Reversion scheme, you can sell part or all of your property and can expect to be offered between 30% and 60% of the true market value.

The maximum equity you can borrow depends on different factors, like the value of your home, health and your age.

Generally, the older you are, the more money you can get, as a percentage of your property value.

A medically enhanced equity release plan, due to poor health, can allow you access to release larger amounts.  This is because the lender is more likely to be repaid sooner.

You can find out more in our detailed guide on how much equity you can release with an Equity Release plan.

What types of equity release plans are there?

There are 2 main types of Equity Release, a Lifetime Mortgage and a Home Reversion Plan.

What many think of as “Equity Release” is the original Home Reversionary type of Equity Release.  There were pitfalls with this method and it was not suitable for all.  The newer Lifetime Mortgage has overcome most of these issues and is by far the most popular choice these days when taking out an Equity Release plan.

Lifetime Mortgage

This is the most common type of equity release. You borrow money secured against your home.  You retain ownership of your home and when sold, the loan plus any accrued interest is repaid to the lender and the remainder is retained by you.

 

 

Home Reversion Plan

With a Home Reversion plan the provider buys all or part of your property in exchange for a lump sum or income.  You retain a legal right to remain in your home for your lifetime or you decide to move.

At this time, the property is sold and any proportion not owned by the provider is retained by you.

Get in Touch to have a chat about Equity Release

Tel: 01173 823 823

email: contact@leafifa.co.uk

Equity Release Frequently Asked Questions

We answer some of our most commonly asked questions below.  But if you would like to know more then please get in touch and we will be happy to answer any query you may have.

Equity release is a type of financial product that allows people aged 55 and over to access the equity in their homes. It enables them to unlock money by taking out a loan, or by selling all or part of the property.  You can find out more in our article on What is Equity Release.

Equity release is safe because providers are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and governed by the Equity Release Council (ERC)

With lifetime mortgages, you always own your home and any increase in its value is yours. An important feature in today’s equity release plans is the no negative equity guarantee, which means you’ll never owe more than the property is worth when it is sold.

Equity release works by allowing homeowners to take out a loan against the value of their home, or by selling all or part of it. This means that they can access money without having to move out of the property. The loan is then paid back with interest when the homeowner passes away, or moves into long-term care.

Equity release interest rates can be fixed for life, so you do not have to worry about any potential rate hike, payments going up, or more interest being added to the mortgage in the future. We will go through this with you to make sure you are happy with any payments for your new equity release mortgage before you decide to commit to anything. 

The two main types of equity release are lifetime mortgages and home reversion plans. A lifetime mortgage is a loan secured against your home which must be repaid when you die or move into long-term care. A home reversion plan involves selling part or all of your property to a third party.

Equity release is a way of unlocking the value you’ve built up in your home, taken as a lump sum or monthly income.  There’s no need to move out and you’ll still own your home.

The money you unlock through equity release is all tax-free and can be spent in a variety of ways. So, whether it’s repaying your existing mortgage, supporting your loved ones when they need it most or simply boosting your retirement finances, Equity Release could help you live the later life you want.

With Equity Release you don’t have to make monthly payments, unless you choose to. It’s usually repaid when the last borrower moves into long term care or dies.

If you own your own home and are 55 or over, then Equity Release may be available to you.

This is a common concern, but no, you do not usually have to sell your home if your partner dies.  If you are both named on the Equity Release then the need to sell only comes after the last person dies or enters into long term care.

Yes, there are a number of equity release providers based in Bristol who offer both lifetime mortgages and home reversion plans. You can find more information about equity release providers in Bristol on the Financial Conduct Authority’s website.

It is important to shop around and compare different equity release plans to make sure you get the best deal for you. Speak to an independent financial adviser who will be able to explain all of your options and help you decide which one is right for you.

The idea behind downsizing is simply to release funds and reduce financial burdens by moving to a new, smaller home. The difference in value between your current home and new home ends up in your bank account (once expenses have been paid), allowing you to invest it where you see fit.

Equity release on the other hand means you can stay where you are and receive your lump sum or income, are but it will impact any inheritance you plan to leave to family.

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Leaf Financial Advisers Ltd is entered on the FCA register under reference 944216.

Leaf Financial Advisers Ltd is registered in England and Wales, Company number 12950412.  Registered office: 39 Cromwell Road, Bristol, BS6 5HD.

Leaf Financial Advisers Ltd. is an appointed representative of Julian Harris Financial Consultants, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FCA number 153566.

The performance of your investments is subject to risk(s). Its performance may fluctuate based on movements in the market and economic condition(s). Capital at risk. Currency movements may also affect the value of investments. You may get back less than you originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Tax treatment is based on an individual’s unique circumstances.

Think carefully before securing debts against your home. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other debt secured on it.  Please note that some mortgages such as commercial BTLs are not regulated by the FCA. Equity release may involve a lifetime mortgage or a home reversion plan. To understand the features and risks, ask for a personalised illustration. Equity release may impact the size of your estate and it could affect your entitlement to current and future means-tested benefits.

The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) is an agency for arbitrating on unresolved complaints between regulated firms and their clients. Full details of the FOS can be found on its website at www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk. 

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Leaf Financial Advisers

39 Cromwell Road,

St Andrews,

Bristol,

BS6 5HD

 

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