Fee-free equity release advice
Equity release advice from The Mortgage Hive.
Clear, regulated equity release and lifetime mortgage advice for UK homeowners aged 55 and over. First, see what may be possible. Then, understand the risks, compare the alternatives and speak to an adviser before making a decision.
Start here
What would you like help with?
Equity release is not just about how much money you could access. Therefore, before making a decision, most homeowners need clear answers on suitability, costs, safety, inheritance, alternatives and whether advice confirms it is the right route.
Is equity release right for me?
Understand when equity release may be worth exploring, when it may not be suitable, and why advice should always consider your wider circumstances.
How much could I release?
Use your property value, age, ownership type and property type to get a quick guide before discussing your options in more detail.
What could equity release cost?
Learn about interest roll-up, fees, early repayment charges, product features and how the balance may grow over time.
Is equity release safe?
See how regulation, advice, lender criteria and product safeguards may help protect homeowners considering later-life lending.
How could it affect my family?
Consider inheritance, gifting money, future care needs, moving home, benefits and whether family should be part of the conversation.
What should I compare first?
Compare equity release with downsizing, remortgaging, retirement interest-only mortgages, savings, pension income and family support.
Start with the calculator, then speak to The Mortgage Hive for clear, fee-free advice on whether equity release is actually worth exploring.
Plain-English explanation
What is equity release?
Equity release lets eligible homeowners access money tied up in their property without having to move home.
How a lifetime mortgage usually works
The most common type of equity release is a lifetime mortgage. With a lifetime mortgage, you normally keep ownership of your home and the loan is secured against your property. Usually, the loan is repaid when you die or move permanently into long-term care.
How you can receive the money
The money can usually be taken as a lump sum, through a drawdown facility, or sometimes as a combination of both. However, interest may roll up if you do not make payments, which means the amount owed can grow over time.
What to check before applying
- You usually need to be aged 55 or over.
- Your home normally needs to meet lender property criteria.
- Any existing mortgage usually has to be repaid as part of the process.
- Equity release can reduce inheritance and may affect entitlement to means-tested benefits.
Why advice matters
That is exactly why advice matters. We compare the risks, the long-term cost, your family position and the alternatives before any recommendation is made.
Start here
Tell us about your home and we will estimate what may be possible.
This is not advice or a guaranteed offer. Instead, it gives a broad guide based on your age, estimated property value and any mortgage you may need to repay.
Your details.
Complete the fields below and click calculate. Then, the card will flip over to show your estimated result.
Your guide result
Your estimated release could be around £0.
This is a guide figure only. A proper recommendation should consider your circumstances, goals, alternatives, risks and lender criteria.
This estimate is based on the information entered. It is not a mortgage offer or financial advice.
Trust and safeguards
What Council standards mean for you.
Equity release is a major financial decision. Council standards are designed to give homeowners clearer protections, clearer explanations and a more responsible advice journey before any lifetime mortgage recommendation is made.
Key safeguards to understand
Important: the Equity Release Council is a trade body, not the regulator. Lifetime mortgage advice is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Equity release may reduce the value of your estate and may affect entitlement to means-tested benefits.
Read about protectionLater-life lending providers
We compare leading equity release lenders.
The right lifetime mortgage lender can depend on your age, property, loan amount, health, repayment preferences, drawdown needs and whether you want features such as inheritance protection.
Provider access, explained properly.
Logos are useful, but suitability is what matters. Therefore, we look at the full picture before deciding whether any plan is appropriate.
Important: lender access, products, rates and criteria can change. These logos are examples of providers that may be considered. Not every lender or plan will be suitable for every client, and a recommendation should only be made after full advice.
How equity release may be used
Why homeowners consider equity release.
Equity release can be used for many reasons, but the reason matters. For example, using it for home improvements is different from using it to clear borrowing or gift money to family. Therefore, a good adviser should check whether the amount, timing and alternatives make sense before recommending anything.
Enjoying retirement
Some homeowners use equity release to improve retirement income, fund plans or create more flexibility in later life.
- Supplementing retirement income
- Funding travel or lifestyle plans
- Creating a cash reserve
Home improvements
Equity release may help fund repairs, adaptations, a new kitchen, accessibility changes or improvements that make the home more suitable in later life.
- Essential repairs
- Bathroom or kitchen upgrades
- Accessibility adaptations
- Energy-efficiency improvements
Helping family
Some people want to help children or grandchildren with a deposit, support costs or gift money earlier. This needs careful family, inheritance and legal consideration.
- Gifted deposits
- Early inheritance
- Family conversations
- Future care needs
Clearing borrowing
Some homeowners look at equity release to repay an existing mortgage, loans or credit commitments. This needs careful advice because replacing one debt with another can have long-term consequences.
- Repaying an interest-only mortgage
- Reducing monthly commitments
- Understanding long-term interest roll-up
Our advice process
Clear advice, not pressure.
Our job is to help you understand whether equity release is worth exploring. We start with your goals, compare the wider options and only recommend a plan if it appears suitable.
1. Understand
First, we look at your goals, property, existing mortgage, family position and future plans.
2. Compare
Next, we compare equity release alongside alternatives such as downsizing, remortgaging, family support or retirement interest-only mortgages.
3. Explain
After that, we explain costs, interest, risks, inheritance, benefits, flexibility and lender criteria in plain English.
4. Recommend
Finally, we only recommend a plan if it appears suitable after understanding your wider circumstances and long-term needs.
Before making a decision
Equity release advice should start with the right questions.
First, it is important to understand why you are considering equity release. Then, the next step is to compare the costs, risks, alternatives and family impact before any recommendation is made.
First, check your reason.
Equity release may be used for home improvements, mortgage repayment, family support or retirement flexibility. However, the reason matters because each goal can affect the advice, product features and alternatives.
Next, compare alternatives.
Before choosing equity release, it is sensible to compare downsizing, remortgaging, retirement interest-only mortgages, savings, pensions and family support. As a result, you can see whether a lifetime mortgage is worth exploring.
Also, review the cost.
Lifetime mortgage interest can roll up if you do not make repayments. Therefore, the balance may increase over time and reduce the value left in your estate.
However, think about family.
Equity release can affect inheritance, future care choices and family plans. In addition, some homeowners prefer to involve adult children or beneficiaries before they proceed.
For example, benefits may change.
Released money could affect entitlement to means-tested benefits, depending on how it is taken and held. Consequently, benefit checks should be part of the advice process.
Finally, get advice first.
A good adviser should explain the risks in plain English, compare suitable options and only recommend equity release if it fits your circumstances. Ultimately, the aim is clarity rather than pressure.
Important: equity release can reduce the value of your estate and may affect entitlement to means-tested benefits. Therefore, you should always receive regulated equity release advice before making a decision.
Featured equity release insights
Start with the most useful equity release insights.
Explore selected guides, articles and updates covering suitability, lifetime mortgages, costs, inheritance, alternatives and later-life lending decisions.
Suitability
Guide
Is Equity Release a Good Idea in 2026?
Pros, cons, risks and alternatives
A balanced guide to when equity release may help, when it may not, and what to check before advice.
Read insight
Lifetime mortgage
Guide
How Does a Lifetime Mortgage Work?
A plain-English guide for homeowners over 55
Understand ownership, interest roll-up, drawdown, repayments and what happens later.
Read insight
Calculator
Guide
How Much Equity Release Can I Get?
Age, property value and health explained
Learn what affects the amount available and why lender criteria can vary.
Read insight
Costs
Guide
Equity Release Interest Rates and Costs
What you really need to know
Review interest, fees, long-term projections, repayments and early repayment charges.
Read insight
Family impact
Guide
Equity Release and Inheritance
What happens to your family and estate?
Understand estate impact, beneficiaries, family conversations and inheritance protection.
Read insight
Alternatives
Guide
Alternatives to Equity Release
Downsizing, RIO mortgages and family support
Compare the main routes before deciding whether equity release should be explored.
Read insightWant every article, update and guide?
The full Equity Release Insights page brings together guides, articles, lender updates, rate updates, weekly summaries and later-life lending commentary in one place.