FAQS

Equity is the value of your property less any debt such as a mortgage

Equity Release allows you to unlock the equity in your home without having to sell up and move out so that you can have money to spend on whatever you want or need. An equity release plan is potential retirement planning option for homeowners

Following the journey of equity release from the first plan of the 1960’s to today’s market with a wide choice of SHIP (Safe Home Income Plans) and fully regulated plans with various safeguards and guarantees.

To be eligible for an equity release plan you need to be a homeowner. If you own your own home with a partner then both of you need to be aged 55 or over at the time of the application. Have you tired our simple and free equity release calculator to see if you qualify for equity release, and if so how much?

Equity release can be used for a Varity of things including:

•  Increasing disposable income
• Funding retirement
• Home improvements
• Providing financial help to family members or friends
• Taking a dream holiday or regular breaks
• Repayment of an existing mortgage  
• As a temporary stop-gap to tide you over financially whilst you wait for your pension, an inheritance or any other tied up investments to be released – once you have the cash you’ve been waiting for, you can pay off your loan  
• Funding the purchase of a new home at a higher value than your existing property
• Improving or maintaining a lifestyle standard
• Enjoying hobbies and pastimes • Buying a new car
• Paying for a carer, gardener or cleaner
• Reducing the value of your estate and mitigating inheritance tax

To allow us to answer that question accurately, we will need to talk to you and we can do this in your own home, with a family member in attendance if you wish to make you feel as comfortable as possible Whilst thousands of people do benefit from equity release there are several points to consider before entering into any plan and in some circumstances there are other options that could provide what you are looking for.

An equity release plan can prove to be a useful retirement planning option for homeowners. However, there are alternatives to be considered than could prove a more effective financial solution and HBFS will fully discuss these with you as part of your free initial consultation. Thee include:

• Moving to a smaller or less expensive property  
• Accepting financial support from family and friends
• Claiming your entitlement to means tested benefits
• Local Authority home improvements grants • Using savings or unlocking existing investments
• Using a traditional mortgage

Many people ask if equity release is safe and are worried that they will lose their home as a result of taking out an equity release plan. You WILL NOT lose your home as long as you take out an equity release plan endorsed by the equity release council (SHIP), or one that offers the same guarantee, as this means you will retain the right to remain in your property for life providing it remains your main residence. HBFS is regulated by the FSA and only recommends equity release products endorsed by the equity release council (SHIP) or those with the same set of guarantees.

There are several equity release plans to choose from and choosing the right one for your specific circumstances is vital because it could result in considerable long-term savings. The FSA states that should you opt not to take independent financial advice and go onto choose an unsuitable equity release scheme then you will have fewer grounds for complaint. HBFS is regulated by the FSA and provides independent financial advice especially on equity release.

Your equity release scheme will usually carry on unchanged if care is provided in your own home or if one of you moves to a residential or nursing home. If you both move into a care home, the scheme will usually end and the property will be sold.

No. You can rest assured your arrangement cannot change from the original contract signed with your solicitor.

You may be able to transfer your lifetime mortgage to another property as long as the new property is acceptable to the lender and meets their lending criteria at that time OR you can repay it at any time – but please refer to the lender regarding any early repayment charges that maybe applicable to the product.

Yes; there are three different types of regulated equity release, each of which will be fully explained to you during your initial consultation and we will show you clear examples of how each of them work.

• Lump sum lifetime mortgages
• Lifetime mortgage with flexible cash release
• Home reversion plans 

HBFS are whole of market equity release advisers, which means we deal with all of the equity release product providers and have access to all available plans.

How much tax-free cash you can release depends on number of factors, which will be discussed with you during our advice process. Our initial consultation is FREE of charge so please get in touch to arrange for one of our friendly advisors to visit you in the comfort of your own home, wherever you are in the UK.

• Home Improvements
• Clearing your mortgage
• Improving your lifestyle 
• Financial peace of mind 
• Migrating inheritance tax
•  Helping family members