Unlock tax-free cash from your home.
Independent, FCA-regulated equity release advice in Tunbridge Wells.
FCA-regulated equity release specialists.
Lifetime mortgages and home reversion plans explained.
Long-term cost and interest roll-up modelling.
Inheritance, estate planning and family impact assessed.
Advising clients in Tunbridge Wells, across Kent, and nationwide.
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Equity Release advice in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you are considering equity release in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, or elsewhere in the UK, taking specialist financial advice can be critical to your long-term financial security. Equity release allows homeowners to unlock tax-free cash from their property, but it also involves complex trade-offs around cost, inheritance, and future flexibility.
As independent, FCA-regulated advisers, we assess whether Equity Release is appropriate for your circumstances before making any recommendation. This includes reviewing lifetime mortgage options, modelling long-term costs, considering alternatives, and assessing the potential impact on your estate and family.
Every situation is different. We offer a free initial consultation to understand your objectives, explain your options clearly, and confirm whether equity release is suitable for you. While our advisers are based in Tunbridge Wells, we support clients across Kent and nationwide.
What is Equity Release?
Equity release allows homeowners aged 55 or over to unlock tax-free cash from the value of their home, without having to move. It is a long-term financial commitment that is usually repaid when the property is sold, usually after the last homeowner passes away or moves into long-term care.
What types of Equity Release are available?
There are two main types of Equity Release: Lifetime Mortgages and Home Reversion Plans.
A Lifetime Mortgage involves borrowing against the value of your home while retaining ownership.
A Home Reversion Plan involves selling all or part of your property to a provider in exchange for a cash lump sum or income, while continuing to live in the property rent-free.
Most Equity Release advice focuses on lifetime mortgages, as home reversion plans are now far less common.
How does a lifetime mortgage work?
A lifetime mortgage is a long-term loan secured against the value of your home. Unlike a traditional mortgage, there are usually no required monthly repayments. Instead, interest is added to the loan over time.
The total amount owed increases as interest is charged on both the original loan and the interest already added. The loan is normally repaid when the property is sold, typically after the last homeowner passes away or moves into long-term care.
Because the balance can grow significantly over time, a lifetime mortgage can reduce the value of your estate and the amount left to loved ones. It may also affect future options such as downsizing, moving home, or entitlement to certain benefits.
Who is eligible for Equity Release?
Equity Release is usually available to homeowners aged 55 or over. Eligibility will depend on factors such as the value and condition of your property, how much you wish to release, and your personal circumstances.
Minimum property values and release amounts can apply, and both homeowners must meet age requirements where a property is owned jointly.
What happens when the property is sold?
When the last homeowner passes away or moves into long-term care, the property is sold and the Equity Release loan, plus any interest that has built up, is repaid from the sale proceeds.
Any remaining value forms part of your estate and can be passed on to your beneficiaries.
Will Equity Release affect my inheritance or benefits?
Yes. Because interest builds up over time, Equity Release will usually reduce the value of your estate and the amount left to loved ones.
Releasing cash may also affect entitlement to certain means-tested benefits and could have tax implications, depending on how the money is used.
Is Equity Release safe?
Equity Release products are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Many plans also include safeguards such as a no negative equity guarantee, meaning you or your estate will never owe more than the value of your home when it is sold, provided it is sold for the best price reasonably obtainable.
How much can I borrow with Equity Release?
The amount you can release through Equity Release depends primarily on your age and the value of your property. In general, the older you are, the higher the percentage of your home’s value you may be able to access.
Other factors can also influence how much you can borrow, including whether the property is owned jointly, the type and condition of your home, and the specific features of the lifetime mortgage chosen. Interest rates and product flexibility can also affect the overall amount available.
While it can be tempting to focus on the maximum amount available, releasing more money will usually mean higher long-term interest costs and a greater reduction in the value of your estate. For this reason, Equity Release advice often focuses on borrowing only what is needed, rather than the maximum possible amount.
As part of our advice process, we model how different borrowing levels could affect your finances over time, including the potential impact on inheritance.
How much could you release?
Instant estimate based on age and property value. Updates automatically.
Figures are estimates only. Actual availability depends on lender criteria, property type and personal circumstances. Releasing more usually increases long-term interest and reduces inheritance.
Want a personalised figure?
We can confirm eligibility and provide a tailored illustration, including long-term cost and inheritance impact.
Arrange a free consultation →
How we help you decide whether equity release is right for you.
Equity Release can be a useful tool in later life, but it is rarely a simple or purely financial decision.
Our role is to help you understand whether Equity Release is appropriate for your circumstances, how much to release if you do proceed, and how that decision may affect your finances, lifestyle and estate over time.
Independent Advice FCA-regulated Independent Financial Advisers in Tunbridge Wells. We are not tied to one lender, so advice is built around you.
Borrowing Decisions Equity release is not about taking the maximum. We help you choose how much to release, when to act, and why.
Long-term Modelling We model interest roll-up and different borrowing levels so you can see how costs may build over time, before deciding.
Family Impact We assess how equity release could affect your estate and inheritance, helping you balance access to funds with what you leave behind.
Alternatives Explored Where appropriate, we explore alternatives or combinations, such as downsizing or pension income planning, to fit your goals.
Local & Nationwide Based in Tunbridge Wells, advising across Kent and the UK. Meetings are available in person, by phone, or secure video call.
Collaborative Approach We welcome family involvement and liaise with your solicitor, keeping advice, illustrations, and paperwork coordinated and clearly explained.
Careful Support We take extra care where vulnerability may be a factor, ensuring you have clarity, time, and no pressure to proceed.
Regulatory trust.
We work in line with Equity Release Council standards and the Personal Finance Society’s Financial Vulnerability Charter. These frameworks ensure key protections are in place and that additional care is taken where vulnerability may be present.
As advisers working within Equity Release Council standards, we ensure key safeguards are clearly explained and reflected in every recommendation.
- Solutions that are suitable and fairly priced.
- Support where vulnerability may be present.
- Right to remain in your home for life.
- Clear explanation of your rights.
AV Trinity follows the Personal Finance Society’s Financial Vulnerability Charter, embedding additional safeguards when health, life changes or financial stress may be factors.
- Enhanced care for vulnerable clients.
- Clear, jargon-free explanations.
- Extra time and flexibility in decision-making.
- Supportive, pressure-free advice process.
If you’re considering Equity Release, the next step is simply a conversation.
Our free initial consultation is designed to give you clarity, not pressure. We’ll take the time to understand your circumstances, explain your options clearly, and help you decide whether Equity Release is right for you, now or at all.
There’s no obligation to proceed.
Equity Release is a major decision. We’re here to help you think it through.
Equity Release can affect your finances, lifestyle and family for many years. Speaking with a specialist adviser helps you understand whether it’s appropriate for your circumstances, how much to release if you proceed, and the long-term implications, including costs and inheritance.
Leave your details and an experienced Equity Release adviser will get in touch to discuss your situation.
Based in Royal Tunbridge Wells, we advise clients across Kent and throughout the UK. Your initial consultation is free, confidential, and comes with no obligation to proceed.
Why choose AVT?
Independent financial advice.
FCA-regulated advisers.
Free, no-obligation consultation.
Equity Release Council standards.
Clear long-term cost modelling.
Calm, pressure-free approach.
Our location.
AV Trinity Limited
Oakhurst House
77 Mount Ephraim
Tunbridge Wells
Kent
TN4 8BS
Tel: 01892 612 500
Email: info@avtrinity.com
Areas we cover.
We advise clients across the UK. Locally, we support clients throughout Kent, including Ashford, Maidstone, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge. In East Sussex, we advise clients in areas including Bexhill, Crowborough, Eastbourne, Hastings, Heathfield and Uckfield.
Equity Release: detailed questions and answers.
The information below provides detailed answers to common equity release questions if you’d like to explore specific topics in more depth or return to a particular point later.
What are the two types of Equity Release?
Who can apply for Equity Release?
How much Equity Release can I get?
How does Equity Release affect benefits?
Does Equity Release affect inheritance tax?
Does Equity Release affect care fees?
How does Equity Release work when someone dies?
Can I move home with Equity Release?
What is Equity Release?
Equity Release allows homeowners aged 55 or over to access a lump sum or a series of smaller amounts from the value of their home, while continuing to live there.
Equity release can play an important role in retirement planning and has become far more common over the last decade. Stricter regulation, improved safeguards and greater product flexibility mean modern equity release schemes are very different from earlier versions.
Today, many plans allow homeowners to tap into housing wealth safely, often without the need to make monthly repayments (although voluntary repayments are now available with some products).
What are the two types of Equity Release?
There are two main types of equity release: Lifetime Mortgages and Home Reversion Plans.
Lifetime Mortgages
A lifetime mortgage involves taking a loan secured against your home.
You retain full ownership of your property. Interest on the loan is usually rolled up (compounded), although some plans allow optional monthly repayments.
The loan and any rolled-up interest are repaid when you die or move into long-term care. If the plan is taken out jointly, repayment does not take place until the last surviving applicant dies or moves into care, allowing both partners to remain in the home for life.
Home Reversion Plans
A home reversion plan allows you to sell part or all of your home to a provider in return for a tax-free lump sum, while retaining the right to live in the property rent-free for life under a lifetime lease.
On death or moving into long-term care, the property is sold and the provider receives their agreed share of the proceeds. For example, if 50% of the property was sold under a home reversion plan, 50% of the sale proceeds would be paid to the provider.
Both Lifetime Mortgages and Home Reversion Plans are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Who can apply for Equity Release?
Equity release may be considered by anyone aged 55 or over who owns their own home, whether applying individually or as part of a couple. For joint applications, the youngest applicant must be at least 55.
Provider criteria typically include the following:
The property must be your main residence and not left unoccupied for more than six months at any one time.
You are mortgage-free or have only a small remaining mortgage, which must be repaid as part of the arrangement.
The property is located in the UK (excluding, in most cases, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) and is usually worth £75,000 or more.
You wish to release at least £10,000–£15,000, depending on provider criteria.
Property type, tenure (freehold or leasehold), condition and location all influence eligibility. Your adviser will gather and assess this information to establish whether you meet a provider’s criteria.
How much Equity Release can I get?
The amount you may be able to release depends primarily on:
Your age
The value of your property
Your health (in some cases)
Whether you want access to drawdown facilities
Equity release is based on loan-to-value (LTV), which typically increases with age. Each provider applies its own LTV scale.
To give a broad illustration, assuming good health and a property value of £450,000:
Age 55: approximately £94,500 (21% LTV)
Age 65: approximately £135,000 (30% LTV)
Age 75: approximately £184,500 (41% LTV)
You can use our Equity Release Calculator to get a quick, indicative estimate.
Equity Release or remortgage?
Equity release is not the only way to access property wealth in later life.
If you have sufficient income from employment or pensions, a traditional remortgage may be an option. There are also Retirement Interest Only (RIO) mortgages, which work similarly to standard mortgages but are designed specifically for people aged 55 and over.
With more choice comes more complexity. An experienced adviser can help you compare equity release with alternative borrowing options and recommend the most appropriate solution for your circumstances.
How does Equity Release affect benefits?
Releasing equity from your home can affect eligibility for means-tested state benefits, such as Pension Credit or Council Tax Reduction.
If you’re unsure what benefits you currently receive or may be entitled to, Age UK’s benefits calculator is a useful starting point. However, personalised advice is important, as the way funds are released and used can significantly influence benefit entitlement.
Does Equity Release affect inheritance tax?
Any money released through equity release is tax-free when received, but it may affect the value of your estate for inheritance tax (IHT) purposes.
IHT may be payable at 40% on estates above the Nil Rate Band, subject to available allowances and thresholds.
Money spent is removed from your estate
Money gifted may have IHT implications
Money retained remains part of your estate
Your adviser will take these considerations into account when advising you.
Does Equity Release affect care fees?
Equity release can be used to help fund care in later life, whether care is provided at home or in a residential setting.
Local authorities assess care funding using a means test, which considers both savings and property wealth. Equity release can sometimes reduce assessable assets, but if funds are retained or income is received, this may increase the amount you are asked to contribute.
If equity release is taken shortly before care is needed, local authorities may treat this as deliberate deprivation of assets. Timing and intention are therefore important, and professional advice is essential.
How does Equity Release work when someone dies?
With a Lifetime Mortgage, the loan and rolled-up interest are repaid when the last applicant dies or moves into long-term care, usually from the sale of the property.
With a Home Reversion Plan, the property is sold and the provider receives their agreed share of the proceeds. If the plan was taken jointly, repayment occurs only after the last surviving applicant leaves the property.
Can I move home with Equity Release?
In many cases, equity release plans can be transferred to a new property, provided it meets the provider’s lending criteria.
If the new property is of lower value or a different tenure type, you may need to repay part of the loan. Legal and valuation fees will also apply.
Early repayment charges are not usually payable when transferring a plan to a suitable new property.
Is Equity Release safe?
Equity release is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and subject to strict standards when arranged through members of the Equity Release Council.
Protections include:
A structured advice process.
Independent legal advice.
A no negative equity guarantee.
Security of tenure for life, subject to terms.
As with any financial decision, equity release has both advantages and disadvantages, which should be carefully considered.
When is Equity Release a good idea?
Equity release may be suitable for a range of reasons, including:
Supplementing retirement income.
Paying off an existing mortgage.
Funding care or home adaptations.
Supporting family members.
Managing estate and inheritance planning.
Improving quality of life in later years.
Equity release is a long-term commitment, and professional advice is essential before proceeding.
Where can I find out more?
You can use our Equity Release Calculator to see how much equity you could release from your home.
There is wide-ranging advice on Equity Release from Money Helper.
The industry body for the UK Equity Release sector is the Equity Release Council.
You can find essential guidance on Equity Release from Age UK.
Age UK’s benefits calculator will provide an estimate of what benefits you could be entitled to.
You can read the Equity Release Council ‘How to access property wealth in later life’.
Where can I get Equity Release advice in Kent?
Based in Royal Tunbridge Wells, AV Trinity provides nationwide Equity Release advice.
We advise homeowners throughout Kent, including Sevenoaks, Maidstone, Tonbridge and Ashford, as well as clients across the UK via telephone and secure video meetings.
As an equity release specialist, we help clients understand the risks, benefits and long-term implications before making any decisions.