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Tax planning
If your estate exceeds the IHT threshold, borrowing wisely now may help mitigate some of that future exposure.
Find out moreFCA-authorised later life
equity release advice
Make your home work harder in retirement — without giving up ownership.
Specialist later life mortgage advice for UK homeowners aged 60 and over. Lifetime mortgages, Retirement Interest-Only (RIO) and other options, compared across the whole market by FCA-authorised advisers. Free initial call, no obligation to proceed.
- Equity Release Council members
- Award-winning advisers
- Whole-of-market specialists
Free, no-obligation. Walk away any time.
Advice fee only if you proceed (up to £995).
Important. A lifetime mortgage will reduce the value of your estate and may affect your entitlement to means-tested benefits. Think carefully before securing a loan against your property.
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Reasons homeowners speak to us
Eight reasons UK homeowners ask about later life lending
Different situations, same starting point — a free, no-obligation conversation with a specialist.
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Gifting now, not later
Many parents and grandparents prefer to give with a “warm hand” — a deposit, school fees, or a wedding while still around to enjoy it.
Find out more3
Helping family onto the ladder
UK first-time buyers increasingly rely on the Bank of Mum & Dad. Releasing some equity can help — without draining pensions or savings.
Find out more4
Care needs at home
Most people would rather stay in their own home than move into care. Modifying the home or funding care at home can be made possible.
Find out more5
A long-postponed treat
A new car. A long trip. A milestone anniversary. After decades of work, some retirees simply want to spend on something meaningful.
Find out more6
Home improvements
A meaningful share of retirement is spent at home. Many want to make it more comfortable, more energy-efficient, or more accessible.
Find out more7
Maturing interest-only mortgage
UK Finance estimates around 120,000 IO mortgages will mature by 2027. If you don't have the funds, later life options can help.
Find out more8
Managing bills & debts
Cost-of-living pressures don't stop at retirement. The right plan can consolidate higher-cost debt into something more manageable.
Find out moreThree later life options, side-by-side
A specialist will compare these for you — not just sell one
There is no single "right" later life mortgage. Your adviser's job is to look at all three, plus the option of not borrowing, and tell you which (if any) suits your situation.
| Feature | Lifetime Mortgage | Retirement Interest-Only (RIO) | Standard Later Life Mortgage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly repayments | None required (interest can roll up or be paid voluntarily) | Interest paid monthly; capital on death/sale | Full capital & interest each month |
| You keep ownership of the home | Yes — 100% | Yes — 100% | Yes — 100% |
| Loan repaid when | Last applicant dies or moves into long-term care | Last applicant dies or moves into long-term care | End of mortgage term |
| No-Negative-Equity Guarantee (ERC members) | Yes | n/a (interest serviced) | n/a |
| Affordability assessment | Light — based on age, property, and plan | Income evidenced; lower-cost than full repayment | Full residential affordability |
| Best suited to | Homeowners 55+ who want flexibility and no required payments | Homeowners 50+ with stable retirement income | Borrowers with sufficient income into later life |
Source: MAB Lifetime product comparison, 2026. Eligibility depends on individual circumstances; not all products will be available in every case.
How much could be released?
Maximum loan-to-value by age of the youngest applicant
Younger applicants release a smaller percentage; the figure grows with age. These are illustrative maximums — the actual figure for your situation depends on the lender, the property, and your circumstances.
| Age of youngest applicant | Max LTV — Single life | Max LTV — Joint life |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 34% | 32% |
| 65 | 40% | 38% |
| 70 | 46% | 44% |
| 75 | 51% | 48% |
| 80 | 58% | 55% |
| 85+ | 60% | 58% |
Source: MAB Lifetime LTV calculator, 2026. Max LTV can depend on applicants' circumstances.
Want to see what could be released on your home?
Request a free callback and a specialist adviser will work it out with you — including whether borrowing is actually the right move, or whether another route (downsizing, RIO, a smaller plan, or nothing at all) might suit you better.
Request my free callbackTwo real stories from our case files
When it's worked well for our clients
Names and details may have been anonymised. Case studies are for illustration only; outcomes depend on individual eligibility, lender criteria and product availability. Excludes costs such as legal fees and stamp duty.
Meet the adviser team
A team that does this as a specialism, not a sideline
Andrew Teeman
Best Individual Later Life Adviser 2025, MAB Later Life Affiliate Principal & Advisor
"Lifetime mortgages, RIO, holistic later life planning — that's the whole job, not a sideline. We've spent years in this market so our clients don't have to."
Later life lending is its own discipline. A great residential broker isn't automatically a great later life adviser — the products, the affordability rules, and the FCA's expectations under Consumer Duty are all different. We do this as our specialism, not as a sideline.
Best Individual Later Life Adviser · British Later Life Lending Awards
"I would just like to say thank you for helping us through the process. You made me feel like a friend rather than a client. The money will mean we will have no financial worries for the rest of our lives. We will certainly recommend Mortgage Advice Bureau."— Roy & Julie, Cheshire
"You have made the process so much easier with your help, knowledge and kind words, explaining everything in detail."— Carol from Suffolk
How the conversation works
Four straightforward steps — at your pace
You fill in the form
Name, phone, best time to talk, postcode, age confirm. Takes about 90 seconds.
A specialist calls you back
At the time you chose. First conversation is short (15–20 mins), free, and there is no obligation.
We look at the options properly
If it's worth a deeper review, we book a longer second call. Eligibility, indicative figures, alternatives (including not borrowing), and costs.
You decide, in your own time
No pressure, no chase calls. If a later life mortgage is right, we arrange it. If not, we tell you, plainly.
We will never push you towards a product. Our role is to give clear, regulated advice and let you make a well-informed decision. The advice fee (up to £995) is only payable if you proceed with a recommendation.
Things you should know before considering equity release or any later life mortgage
- You should always think carefully before securing a loan against your property.
- A lifetime mortgage will reduce the value of your estate and may affect your entitlement to means-tested benefits.
- Clearing an existing mortgage with a lifetime mortgage may result in a higher overall cost of borrowing over the long term.
- Equity release isn't right for everyone. Your adviser will discuss alternatives — including downsizing, other borrowing options, and not borrowing at all — before any recommendation.
- This is a lifetime financial decision. Take your time. Speak to family if you want to. Ask us anything.
Request your free, no-obligation callback
Let's start with how to reach you
Takes about 30 seconds. A specialist will call you back — usually within one working day.
- FCA-authorised
- No obligation
- We never cold-call
1. Your details2. A few details
Frequently asked questions
Your questions, answered
Will I still own my home?
With a lifetime mortgage, yes — you remain the legal owner of 100% of your home. The lender has a charge against the property, in the same way a standard mortgage lender does. With home reversion (a much rarer product we generally don't recommend), you sell a share of the home — which is why we'd ordinarily steer you away from that route.
Will I leave debt to my children?
If the lender is an Equity Release Council member — and we only place plans with lenders that are — the plan carries a No-Negative-Equity Guarantee. The debt repayable on death or move into long-term care can never exceed the home's sale value. Your children will not inherit a debt from the plan.
Will it reduce what I leave behind?
Yes — that's the trade-off, and we'll be open with you about it. A lifetime mortgage will reduce the value of your estate. Some products let you ringfence a percentage of the future home value as a guaranteed inheritance (as in Jack & Paula's case). Your adviser will model the long-term impact before you decide.
Could it affect my means-tested benefits?
Possibly — releasing cash can affect entitlement to means-tested state support. Your adviser will check this before recommending anything. If it would compromise benefits you rely on, we'll say so and look at alternatives.
What if I want to move house later?
Most modern lifetime mortgages are portable to a new property, subject to the lender's criteria. Your adviser will check portability terms before you commit. If you're likely to move within a few years, that's a critical factor and we'll factor it in.
Can I repay the loan early?
Yes — most modern lifetime mortgages allow voluntary partial repayments (typically up to a percentage of the original loan per year, with no early repayment charge) so you can control how much interest rolls up. Full early repayment usually triggers a charge in the early years, but terms vary by lender.
Is this regulated?
Yes. Lifetime mortgages and RIO are fully regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Our advisers are qualified to advise on later life lending products, and Mortgage Advice Bureau (Derby) Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN 466154). We are members of the Equity Release Council.
How much does the advice cost?
The initial callback is free and carries no obligation. If you proceed with a recommendation, MAB charges a fee for later life mortgage advice — the fee is up to £995, and we'll tell you exactly what it will be before you commit. We may also receive commission from the lender; full disclosure is provided in writing.
My bank already said no — can you really do something different?
We can look at it. Mainstream banks assess you against their standard residential affordability rules, which often penalise pension income or shorter remaining term. Later life specialist lenders use different criteria designed for borrowers in retirement — but that doesn't mean every refused application will be approved. We'll review your situation honestly. If we can't help, we'll tell you, and where possible we'll point you to what might.
What's the worst that can happen on the call?
You get 15 minutes of free advice from a regulated adviser, and at the end you decide it's not for you. No pressure, no follow-up barrage, and no charge. That's it.