The short answer is no.
Equity release providers have to set a minimum age for their products because otherwise, they would not be commercially viable. Lifetime mortgages require the applicant to be 55 or over and home reversion plans are offered to those 60 and over. The main reason for this is because equity release is designed to provide people with extra cash during their retirement. Some people also want to release equity from their homes to help loved ones out financially.
At Access Equity Release we can advise on other types of mortgages so it is worth getting in touch to investigate your options.
Here are some other ways to release the equity in your home if you are under 55:
Transfer of equity to qualify for equity release
If you jointly own a property with a partner who is over 55 then one option could be to transfer your share to them so they are the sole applicant for equity release. This is something you should think carefully about and you should get advice. If you are not married to your partner, you could be left with no protection if your relationship breaks down. You may also have to pay legal fees and Stamp Duty depending on the value of the property.
Secured loan
If you are aged under 55 but want to access cash, a secured loan could be an option. This is a loan backed up with collateral – ie. financial assets you own such as a car or house. You will offer your property as security to the lender in return for borrowing a certain amount of money. An asset will usually need to be valued at over £10,000.
Taking out a secured loan is a decision that should not be taken lightly. Borrowers must be certain that they want to use their asset as collateral and weigh up the risk of losing it if they default on the loan.
If you don’t want to put up collateral in return for a loan, a personal loan could be an option. These are generally aimed at customers who are still working and earning a regular income. A personal loan may be an option if you only need to borrow a small sum over a short amount of time.
Remortgage
If you would like to take out a larger amount of cash, a remortgage could be an option. This is something you can do while still paying off the mortgage. You will need to be near the end of your current mortgage term to be considered for it, otherwise you may face early repayment charges. A remortgage can be a better way of finding lower interest rates and better mortgage terms.
This can be a popular option for people who have seen the value of their home increase and want to get a better rate on their monthly repayments. However, it will mean that the loan-to-value ratio will increase. This can be a good option if you are still earning an income and will be able to continue making monthly repayments.
Downsizing
Selling your home and moving to a smaller, cheaper property is another option to consider in order to release cash. Of course, this isn’t always suitable and many people choose to look into equity release because they would prefer to stay in their home.
:: If you are over 55 and would like to know more about the equity release options open to you click here
Use our Equity Release Calculator to work out how much cash you could release.
It is important to take expert advice on equity release before deciding whether it is right for you. Contact us to find out more from one of our highly trained advisors.
