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Compare My Equity

The UK No.1 Equity Release Comparison Site

Trusted by 1000s UK Pensioners to Source Your Best Equity Release Deal. Expertise You Can Rely On

Discover How Much Equity You Have In Your Home In One Simple Step

Safely Remortgage & Release Equity

Access Equity Release Interest Rates, Projections & Discover Top The Industry Tips

You might be considering equity release, but knowing where to start can be confusing.  Compare My Equity are experts in equity release comparison. 

We compare lifetime mortgages, retirement mortgages, interest only later life deals for a complete market analysis. 

Understanding the following points are crucial:

  • Which company can you trust with your plans?
  • How to safely release equity from your home and access the best interest rates & deals?

These are major factors in making the right decision. 

Later Life Mortgages provide homeowners over 55 with the freedom to safely tap into the hidden wealth in your home without losing ownership, guaranteed for life. 

For a cash boost in retirement, home improvements or a dream holiday, discover all your options and claim your free discovery call with a qualified later life adviser-without the hassle of speaking to several companies, as we search the entire market for your best deal! 

Get started today, it’s free & simple!

expert@comparemyequity.co.uk

"Superb in sourcing and arranging my lifetime mortgage"
Mr Holloway, Leeds

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Equity release Comparison: How to find the best deal in 2024

As an expert equity release comparison site, Compare My Equity are part of the specialist equity release broker, Later Life Finance.

We are well positioned to provide a complete comparison of the best equity release companies, the top lifetime mortgage providers and the best equity release deals available to homeowners. 

We provide a professional comparison and overview of the options currently available to homeowners, with in depth, side by side equity release comparison and our free equity release calculator provides instant figures to help you get started. 

 We provide a full market comparison of lifetime mortgages for the over 60s to find the top deal for your requirements. 

What is an equity release mortgage?

Equity release mortgages are designed for the over 55’s to safely take tax-free cash (equity) to remortgage onto more flexible payment terms, gift an early inheritance, or to enjoy your best years in financial security

  • Remortgage/debts
  • Home improvements
  • A dream holiday
  • Private health care
  • Pay for an operation
Flexible options
 

The most impressive feature is the level of flexibility with the range of later life equity mortgages we arrange for our customers, who simply want to enjoy the retirement they’ve worked for

For access to the best lifetime mortgage deals, make an enquiry today and access exclusive broker deals and discover how much hidden wealth you’ve got tied up in your biggest asset. 

Pension and insurance firms are better suited to finance the equity release mortgages than large, well-known banks because the funding models required are based on a longer-term lifetime basis. 

Our equity release guide helps answer some of the common questions about raising cash from your home. 

We compare equity release companies including Aviva, Liverpool Victoria, Legal & General, More 2 Life, Canada Life, Just (formerly Just Retirement), One Family, Standard Life, Crown and Livemore. 

This article provides insights into the following:

  1. Comparing the top equity release deals and schemes for UK homeowners and mortgages for the over 75s. 
  2. Comparing equity release plan features, with essential factors to consider such as voluntary repayments, fees and helpful tips for comparing the most suitable equity release providers. 
 

As members of the equity release council, Later Life Finance provide expert advice on releasing equity, and compare and review all equity release companies in the UK to find your best solution. 

Here we compare the top 10 equity release companies and their schemes to help you find the right plan for you. Let’s get started! 

Top 12 Equity Release Comparison

  1. Canada Life

  2. Legal & General

  3. Aviva

  4. Nationwide

  5. Just

  6. LV=

  7. Pure Retirement

  8. Standard Life

  9. Crown Equity Release

  10.  Livemore

  11. More to Life

  12. Later Life Finance 

Get started with our free equity release comparison service

Ready to compare equity release quotes? Book a free call back today to review your options

Transform your finances in confidence with our expert lifetime mortgage broker service

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By submitting this form you agree to be contacted by our regulated partner to confirm your details and provide a comparison and quotation based on additional questions about your circumstances. Any personal data provided through this form will be processed in accordance with our Privacy Notice.

Your information is secure & we don’t sell your data to third parties

Find out the truth about equity release with our free guides

Equity release Comparison: How to find the right solution

In order to help you in comparing the top equity release deals, we compare & review each lender side-by-side to help you research your options. 

If you are considering how much can I borrow on a lifetime mortgage and who the best provider is, we assess factors such as equity release scheme flexibility, setup costs and exit fees for early repayment. 

By doing so, we aim to help you avoid any companies that do not offer the features you require and determine the best provider for your needs.

For homeowners wondering is a lifetime mortgage is a good idea and how to choose a lender, we provide a complete broker service to source the correct solution for your requirements. 

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Comparison of equity release features: What should I be looking for?

When choosing the best equity release scheme for your needs it’s important to think not only about your current requirements, but also what’s important to you in the future. 

For example, avoiding a substantial early repayment charge if you wish to settle the mortgage in the event of downsizing may be more important to you than other features such as the interest rate on the plan. 

Areas to consider are:

1. Interest Rate (Monthly VS Annual Equivalent Rate)

2. Early Repayment Charges (And downsizing protection)

3. Voluntary Repayment Options- Payment frequency, method and flexibility

4. Rules on property type, flat roof, location, construction 

Later Life Finance compare each lenders early repayment fees, as not every company and plan provides the same levels of flexibility for moving home.

Comparing and finding the best equity release company to match your specific needs is crucial, but which is the right equity release scheme for you? 

Later Life Finance compare all equity release interest rates and deals and review all your options to ensure suitable advice. 

Demand is growing amongst over 55’s releasing equity for a cash boost to improve finances, raising funds for interest only remortgages, funding home improvements and gifting an early inheritance. 

 The rise in lifetime mortgage applications over the past 5 years is set to grow further with the increasing costs of living and the desire to enjoy a comfortable retirement.

It’s important to ensure that the solution you choose fits your current and longer-term priorities, such as whether you plan to move home or settle the mortgage early. 

This is because providers have varying levels of options, features, and criteria. This makes the requirement for expert equity release advice even more necessary.

We review all your equity release later Life finance options to ensure you find the most suitable solution for your needs. 

Canada Life Home Finance Compared

“We have 3.4 million customers, 470,000 pension annuities in force, and manage more than £42.2 billion of equities, fixed income and property”

Canada Life are an established equity release provider and offer flexible mortgages which allow you draw down money as and when you need it. 

They have a flexible repayment option which allows some or all of the monthly interest to be repaid to help reduce the effect of compound interest. Up to 10% of the sum borrowed can be repaid per year.

They also offer a feature called downsizing protection, which offers added flexibility for moving home and settling the plan early. 

They have fixed early repayment charges compared to many of the other lenders available.

Legal & General Home Finance Compared

“In June 1836, six lawyers founded Legal & General and our aim to build a better society has been present for as long as we have. 

Today we help over 10 million people with savings, retirement and life insurance”

Legal & General offer two Defaqto 4-star rated lifetime mortgages. They offer flexible mortgages that allow you draw down money as and when you need it.

They offer a flexible repayment option which allows some or all of the monthly interest to be repaid to help reduce the effect of compound interest. Up to 10% of the sum borrowed can be repaid per year.

They also offer a retirement interest only mortgage (RIO), which does not offer the same level of protection as a lifetime mortgage, as there is a risk of repossession if the monthly repayments were defaulted on.

Legal & General offer defined exit fees starting at 10% in year 1 which reduces by 1% each year.

Aviva Compared

“We’re a composite insurer made up of separate business areas, covering everything from pensions to pet insurance”

Aviva offers a choice of two Defaqto 4-star rated lifetime mortgages. 

They offer flexible mortgages that allow you draw down money as and when you need it. 

They have a flexible repayment option which allows some or all of the monthly interest to be repaid to help reduce the effect of compound interest, up to 10% of the sum borrowed can be repaid per year.

Aviva offer defined exit fees starting at 10% in year 1 which reduces by 1% each year.

Nationwide Compared

“We’re a building society, or mutual, owned by our members. That’s anyone who banks, saves or has a mortgage with us”.

Technically Nationwide aren’t a lifetime mortgage lender. They provide mortgages with fixed monthly payments for later life borrowers, including a retirement interest only mortgage. They do not offer a drawdown option.

Their plans differ from a lifetime mortgage as the Nationwide require sufficient income to service the interest payments. The plans are not protected by Equity release council codes of conduct.

Just (JRL Group) Compared

“JRL started out by specialising in guaranteed income for life solutions (provided by pension annuities) and lifetime mortgages”

Just offer a lifetime mortgage that lets you release a one off lump sum or an initial lump sum and extra cash when you need it. They have flexible mortgages that allow you draw down money as and when you need it. 

They offer a flexible repayment option which allows some or all of the monthly interest to be repaid to help reduce the effect of compound interest.  Just also offer a medically enhanced lifetime mortgage.

Liverpool Victoria Compared

“From humble beginnings we’ve been going strong since 1843!”

LV= offer flexible equity release plans that allow you draw down money as and when you need it. 

They offer a flexible repayment option which allows some or all of the monthly interest to be repaid to help reduce the effect of compound interest. Up to 10% of the sum borrowed can be repaid per year.

Liverpool Victoria have fixed early repayment charges compared to many of the other lenders available.

Pure Retirement Compared

“Established in 2014, Pure Retirement was the top of this year’s list of fastest growing businesses in Yorkshire”

Pure Retirement offer equity release plans and have flexible mortgages that allow you draw down money as and when you need it. 

They offer a flexible repayment option which allows some or all of the monthly interest to be repaid to help reduce the effect of compound interest. Up to 10% of the sum borrowed can be repaid per year.

Pure Retirement have several plans with varying levels of exit criteria for early repayment.

Standard Life Compared

Standard Life is “a brand that has been trusted to look after people’s life savings and retirement needs for nearly 200 years”.

Standard Life offers two Defaqto 5-star rated lifetime mortgages. These plans are not available across the whole marketplace. Select brokers can arrange their mortgages.

Later Life finance are able to arrange Standard Life plans.

They offer flexible mortgages that allow you draw down money as and when you need it, and a repayment option that lets you repay some or all of the monthly interest to reduce the effect of compound interest.

Up to 10% of the sum borrowed can be repaid per year.

Standard Life have defined exit fees starting at 8% in year 1 which reduces each year.

 

Crown Compared

“Crown Equity Release is an independent specialist arranger of capital, it has been assisting clients on how to get the most out of their retirement Since 2001”

Crown are an equity release home reversion plan specialist.

A home reversion plan involves selling a share of your property, as opposed to a mortgage where you retain full home ownership.

This arrangement is more permanent than a lifetime mortgage and are difficult to reverse once they are arranged.

More 2 Life Compared

More2life was founded, with big ambitions to change the equity release market by designing lifetime mortgages focussed on customers’ needs”

More 2 Life offer equity release plans include enhanced terms for certain medical issues, which could increase the level of lending available.

They offer flexible mortgages which allow you draw down money as and when you need it. 

They have a flexible repayment option which allows some or all of the monthly interest to be repaid to help reduce the effect of compound interest. 

Up to 10% of the sum borrowed can be repaid per year.

More 2 Life have several options with their early repayment charge criteria, most of which are fixed and defined.

Livemore Compared

“LiveMore was founded in in 2020 to solve a problem that many people aged 50-90+ in the UK face: accessing the mortgage options they need and deserve”

Providing retirement interest only and lifetime mortgages, Livemore are quickly gaining a reputation for efficiency and flexibility in the later life mortgage market. 

Try our equity release calculator It’s completely free and there’s never any obligation to proceed with a solution.

Later Life Finance equity release comparison

Later Life Finance are technically a broker. We are passionate about providing expert equity release advice from the whole market on an independent basis. We have access to the best companies, plans and deals available and compare the whole market. 

Get in touch with our experts on 0800 2465228 for advice on all your options.

Comparing the best equity release options for your plans

best equity release mortgages infographic

Discovering which equity release company is best for your specific requirements is crucial to ensuring you find the right solution for your current and longer-term plans. 

Liverpool Victoria and Canada Life, for instance, offer ‘defined’ early repayment charge criteria for early settlement of the mortgage. 

Canada Life also provides ‘downsizing protection’ for moving home and settling the mortgage early. 

Other well-known names such as Standard Life and Legal & General offer plans with a wide range of features. 

The overall market is competitive, with lenders frequently vying for the most competitive interest rate position.

Some lenders, like More 2 Life, Aviva, and Just, provide medically enhanced lending plans with higher loan-to-value percentages of lending based on health conditions.

When selecting an equity release plan, consider plan features such as the applicable interest rate, any early repayment charges, lender fees, inheritance protection features, and downsizing protection.

Expert advice is important when considering equity release options as lenders have varying levels of plan options, features, and criteria.

The equity release industry is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for consumer protection. 

 It’s not a ‘one size fits all’ approach with equity release companies. 

Voluntary repayments & how to compare schemes

Voluntary repayments are a feature of all lifetime mortgages to make repayments toward the loan amount on a voluntary basis which can help you preserve more equity for inheritance or downsizing in the future, for example. 

Here’s how voluntary repayments work in equity release:

  1. Lifetime Mortgage Basis: Voluntary repayments are more commonly associated with lifetime mortgages, which are the most popular type of equity release product. With a lifetime mortgage, you borrow money secured against the value of your home, and the loan, including any interest accrued, is repaid when you pass away or move into long-term care.

  2. Interest Roll-Up: By default, with a lifetime mortgage, the interest on the loan is typically rolled up, which means it is added to the outstanding balance over time. This can lead to the debt growing substantially over the years and reducing inheritance for your beneficiaries. 

  3. Flexibility: Some equity release plans offer the flexibility for homeowners to make voluntary repayments, which can include both interest payments and capital repayments of up to 10% of the sum borrowed per year. These repayments are made on top of the regular interest accruing on the loan.

  4. Benefits of Voluntary Repayments:

    • Reducing the balance owed: Voluntary repayments allow homeowners to reduce the overall debt that accumulates over time. This can help preserve more of the home’s equity for inheritance.
    • Lower Interest Costs: By paying off some or all of the interest as it accrues, homeowners can prevent interest from compounding, leading to potentially lower overall costs.
    • Flexibility: Borrowers can decide when and how much to repay. This flexibility can suit different financial situations and goals

How Compare My Equity can help you compare the whole equity release market

At Later Life Finance, we have 15 years of mortgage expertise and compare equity release plans, analyse interest rate costs, plan exit criteria, and other factors to ensure we identify the most suitable solution for you. 

We have technical expertise in legal aspects, including property title splits, lease extensions, and trust cases. 

Get in touch with one of our equity release advisers today to discuss your requirements.

Equity release has evolved into a viable, mainstream later life mortgage product. 

With 40 thousand interest-only mortgages maturing per year over the coming decade*, a safe and flexible solution now exists for homeowners to remain in their homes if downsizing isn’t preferable, and to access tax-free equity for retirement, wealth distribution by gifting an early inheritance to family, for aspirational purposes, or simply to help homeowners meet the increasing costs of living.  

Get in touch with an equity release adviser to discuss your requirements today. 

*Source FCA interest only mortgage report

Comparing Home equity loan companies with bad credit?

Equity release with bad credit is possible when comparing several lifetime mortgage lenders. 

Since equity release plans are not income and affordability based for lending purposes credit score is not a deciding factor when applying for the borrowing. 

Get in touch with an equity release adviser to discuss your requirements today. 

*Source FCA interest only mortgage report

Comparing equity release companies:Who is best to avoid?

It is sensible to avoid equity release providers that aren’t members of the Equity Release Council. 

Dealing with a reputable Equity release council registered company and will ensure you access a reputable source for your requirements, as the council maintain several codes of conduct across the industry companies must follow for consumer protection. 

The Equity Release Council protects you from the possible risks of equity release, including a no negative equity guarantee.

Dealing with companies who are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority will also ensure the advice provided is regulated. This is a standard requirement across the lifetime mortgage market as the products are fully regulated by the FCA. 

Comparison Of Equity Release Companies For Your Plans

Once you’ve completed our equity release calculator you will be invited to arrange a free consultation with your expert adviser.

The alternative options to releasing equity including moving home and considering using alternative assets.  Any potential entitlements to means tested benefits will also be discussed. 

Once all your questions have been answered and if suitability for equity release is established, our experts specialise in finding the best providers to meet your needs.

Reviewing the best equity release companies for your requirements will ensure the most suitable solution is found.

Our professional experts are qualified to provide advice on all your options. Your free consultation can be carried out over the phone or via video call for your convenience.

Comparing Equity Release Provider Arrangement Fees

When comparing companies, there are several fees to consider when releasing equity from your home. 

Your adviser will provide a detailed illustration and explain what fees apply, why, and how they are best paid to help minimise the interest costs on the mortgage. 

For example, you may prefer to pay the fees separately, as adding these to the mortgage can increase the level of interest repaid on the mortgage. 

  1. Application fees Comparison

Certain lifetime mortgages have application fees, which are normally around £500. 

If you add them to the loan, interest will be charged on them. Some lenders allow you to pay these separately. 

Mortgages with an application fee and lower interest rate may be more cost effective for people borrowing larger sums. For people borrowing smaller sums a ‘fee free’ plan with a higher rate may be more suitable. 

The difference in interest rates is normally around 0.25% between the fee paid and fee free options.

Some lenders charge a transfer fee of around £35 to send the money to your solicitor when the money is paid to you. 

  1. Early repayment charges Comparison

All equity release companies have early-repayment charges, although lenders have streamlined the  products over the past 10 years to add flexibility when repaying early. 

Many lenders have fixed early-repayment charges which reduce down to zero over 10-15 years.

Downsizing protection is a feature to protect you when moving home and repaying the mortgage early, and is worth considering if you plan to move home and settle.

Your adviser will provide a key facts illustration detailing the specific early repayment charges. 

  1. Redemption fee Comparison

This only applies when the mortgage is finally repaid when you die or move into long-term care (on the last survivor leaving the property in joint cases).

Some firms charge a redemption fee of around £200, whilst some don’t apply this fee at all.

  1. Adding or removing a name to the loan

If you divorce or remarried and add or remove someone to or from the equity release plan this would incur a legal fee.

Allowing around £700 plus VAT for this would be the typical cost in 2023.

  1. Valuation fee

Most equity release lenders do not charge any valuation fees when the plan is arranged. For further advances expect to pay a valuation fee if your home needs revaluing in the event of applying for more money. 

     6. Solicitors fee

You do need a solicitor if you are releasing money from your home. Your adviser can normally recommend an independent firm, or you can choose your own. Your solicitor ensures the Equity Release Council legal standards are met and receives your funds from the lender to pay into your bank account on completion.

Legal costs for equity release vary from £750 upwards depending on the firm. 

 

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Releasing Equity from Your Home

It’s important to compare equity release interest rate market and schemes with an expert. 

We help you find the best equity release plan and we have access to all providers to secure your best deal.

Modern equity release plans are flexible and secure. Repayments on equity release mortgages are voluntary, therefore you have guaranteed home ownership for life. You can continue to enjoy your home in the years to come, whether you choose to make payments or not. 

You retain full home ownership & security for life. Request your quotes today.