Will I lose my home with equity release?

No. With a lifetime mortgage that meets Equity Release Council standards, you remain the legal owner of your home and have a guaranteed right to live there for the rest of your life. The lender cannot make you leave.

You keep ownership

A lifetime mortgage is a loan secured against your home, not a sale of it. You stay on the title deeds as the owner. This is different from a home reversion plan, where you sell a share of your home, so it matters which type you choose.

The right to stay for life

Equity Release Council plans guarantee you can stay in your home for life, or until you move into long term care. The loan is only repaid when the last borrower dies or moves into care, normally from the sale of the home.

The no negative equity guarantee

You can never owe more than your home is worth. If the loan plus interest ends up higher than the sale price, the guarantee covers the difference, not your family. This protection is a condition of Equity Release Council membership.