MortgagesMar 30 2015

Using equity release in retirement planning

twitter-iconfacebook-iconlinkedin-iconmail-iconprint-icon
Search supported by
Using equity release in retirement planning

Although the changes to pension legislation will not have a direct impact on equity release, they are helping to fuel an increasingly positive view of the product. There is an expectation that those who need to access extra funds after retirement will be able to use the value of their property to get those funds.

On a macro level, the equity release market has grown to a record size. Annual data provided by the Equity Release Council shows total mortgage advances reached £1.4bn during 2014 – the highest it has been for a decade.

There are two main types of equity release: lifetime mortgages and home reversion. Respectively these are, a mortgage secured against property (to release a cash lump sum from the equity); and the sale of part or the entire home to a home reversion planner in return for a cash lump sum. The lump sum received in the case of home reversion would usually be higher than under a lifetime mortgage.

The rehabilitation of the product (given a historically tarnished reputation) as a planning tool is supported by anecdotal evidence of a rise in providers in the market. The resulting, more competitive environment is good for customers. Just Retirement’s group external affairs director, Stephen Lowe, estimates there is £1.3tn in housing equity belonging to consumers of 60 and over, which dwarfs their pension assets.

For those taking on debt, equity release may present an attractive alternative in terms of interest rate charges. According to Les Pick, national sales manager at Solihull-based advice firm, The Right Equity Release, “A lot of money released is being used to pay off debt. If you consider that credit card debt can incur a 27 per cent interest rate charge, using equity release may not be as expensive, especially if the consumer pays off the interest monthly or annually. With equity release, the minimum charge would be around 5 or 6 per cent.”

The spectre of compound interest has often been used to argue against taking out lifetime mortgages. However, Mr Pick says this argument falls down now that many lenders allow monthly interest payments or flexible contributions towards and often above the annual cost of interest, “Consumers and their family now have the choice to avoid the effects of compound interest against the estate if they choose.”

Although many might be tempted to turn to equity release as a means of reducing inheritance tax, it is not that straightforward.

On a £1m property for example, if you created debt against the estate, it could potentially reduce the tax charged. At £1m around £350k would be available at a 40 per cent tax rate (assuming a couple with two nil-rate bands). Under current rules, if you took out a £100k debt against the property, the debt would not be taxed, assuming the money released has left the estate and that the deceased survived seven years after the money was gifted. “Reducing inheritance tax is not a reason to take out equity release, but it can be a beneficial by-product”, Mr Pick adds.

Advice is king

The new changes to pension legislation will bring flexibility to access to money and with it, an even greater emphasis on advice. This could also bring equity release to the fore in retirement plans.

Mr Lowe at Just Retirement says, “An adviser is required to talk the client through all the risks involved. As a member of the Equity Release Council, an adviser is required to provide a ‘no-negative equity’ guarantee”. With equity release, he adds, there are considerations that must be allowed for. These could be the value of a customer’s debt doubling after a decade (given the current low interest rates), downsizing and possible constraints (relating to the size of the debt) and also access and entitlement to benefits.

Crucially there will need to be a focus on the amount a client would need to take as well as the regularity with which the funds are released.

“In the future, we can expect people to see their home as part of their pension provision rather than inheritance. We are likely to see retirees using their pensions in flexible ways with the property value to fall back on, should the pension capital diminish.”

Mr Pick warns against regulatory zeal, “If the regulators insist on advisers getting level-4 qualifications, then we might see more advisers leaving the industry. Specialist products need specialist advisers,” he says.