Free Equity Release Calculator | Bower

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Free Equity Release Calculator

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Your property value must be atleast 70,000
This is required to calculate the amount of equity that can be released.
Any remaining mortgage will need to be paid off with the equity released.
Youngest homeowner must be 55 or over
The calculation will be based on the youngest applicant.
The property's postcode is required to give an accurate calculation.

By supplying your email address, you are confirming that you are happy for us to contact you via email regarding products and services relevant to your enquiry.

What is Equity Release?

Equity release is a way to help people over 55 release the money in their home (the equity) without having to move or sell.

The amount of money you can get depends on how much your house is worth, minus any money you still owe on your mortgage.

And it’s good to know that unlike some other companies, we are not tied to any lenders. So, we search the whole of the market to find you the best plan.

Award Winning Equity Release Advice

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Ethical and transparent

Members of the Equity
Release Council, with our CEO
also on the Standards Board.

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Expertise and experience

Established in 2006, we have
years of experience
specialising in equity release.

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Environmental

Our carbon-neutral policy
focuses on a greener future
for generations to come.

As independent “whole of market” financial advisers, Bower will compare the entire market to access the lowest rates and most flexible/suitable product

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Is Equity Release regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)?

All equity release plans are regulated by the FCA that are called Lifetime Mortgages or Home Reversion Plans. Bower is also regulated by the FCA to give Equity Release advice as stated on the FCA register under our firm registration number 451607.

Is Equity Release Safe?

However, equity release has safeguards and guarantees in place to help protect those that take out a plan as hundreds of thousands of UK home owners have done for many years.

Bower is also a member of the Equity Release trade body the Equity Release Council.

It is important to understand that entering into a regulated equity release mortgage can reduce the amount of inheritance you leave behind and for some people can affect their eligibility for state welfare and or their tax position.

Some of the guarantees include:

  • The ‘No Negative Equity’ Guarantee which ensures that neither the borrowers nor the family will ever owe more than the value of the property.
  • As long as you follow the terms and conditions of the loan, you will not lose your home and providing it remains your main residence can live there for as long as you wish.
  • There will be no debt or money owing left for loved ones to pay.
  • You can move to another suitable property if desired.

Could You Be Eligible For Equity Release?

The amount of equity you are able to release will depend on several factors such as your age, the type of property you own and its value. You can use our free equity release calculator above to get an estimate of how much you could release. In order to be eligible to apply for a lifetime mortgage, you will need to:

  • Be at least 55 years old or above.
  • Own a home within the UK – excluding the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
  • The property must be worth £70,000 or more.
  • You want to borrow at least £15,000.
  • The property is your main, permanent residence and isn’t be unoccupied for more than six months at a time.
  • Ideally you will be mortgage-free, or only have a relatively small mortgage on your property. If you have not paid off your mortgage, then any money received will initially be needed to pay off any outstanding mortgage debt with the balance paid to you.

Why Choose Us?

At Bower we are dedicated to providing a reliable, impartial, equity release advice service for our customers. You can feel completely confident and safe in the knowledge that our only priority is giving the right advice for you, even if it is not to take out a plan. We are proud to say that we have received many awards of the past years, voted for by both the public and industry partners. We are authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and work closely with the Equity Release Council.

As a member of The Equity Release Council, we recommend the plans that adhere to their code of conduct. In cases where there may be more suitable plans for (whatever reason), we’ll discuss this with you so you can make an informed decision.

Want To Know More About Equity Release?

For those who would like an estimate of how much cash they may be able to unlock from their home try our free, easy to use and instant Equity Release calculator above.

Part of our service has always been the offer of home visits for those customers who prefer a face-to-face talk on the comfort of their own home. However, both the restrictions of the pandemic and our commitment to going green has enabled us to adapt and refine our offerings to be able to provide our comprehensive services through the use of video chat, phone advice, emails and zoom calls.

If you are keen to find out more about how equity release works and what might be available to you, then do not hesitate to use our contact page or call us on 0800 411 8668 and one of our knowledgeable, friendly advisors will be happy to help.

We know just how much of a genuine, positive, lasting difference equity release has made to the lives of our customers and thousands of other throughout the UK. Get in touch with Bower today and find out how we can help make a difference to yours.

At Bower, we will understand your unique circumstances and advise you to ensure you are receiving the best plan to meet your objectives. There are plans that allow you to make voluntary repayments and move home, subject to lender criteria. However, early repayment charges may apply in certain circumstances.

Equity release requires paying off any existing mortgage. Any money released, plus accrued interest to be repaid upon death, or moving into long-term care. Equity release will reduce the value of your estate and your entitlement to means-tested benefits now or in the future, and impact long-term care funding.

Bower Home Finance provides independent, impartial whole of market advice with an award-winning customer service experience. Initial advice is provided at no cost to you and without obligation. Only if you choose to proceed and your plan completes, would a typical advice and administration fee of £1,495 be payable.

If you are considering equity release, we strongly recommend that you read our equity release page carefully and talk to one of our specialists before deciding if you wish to proceed.

To find out more about any of the products and the service we provide, please call us on freephone 0800 411 8668request a call backemail us, or join our live chat you’ll find on our website.

Please be aware that equity release may involve a home reversion plan or lifetime mortgage which is secured against your property. All features and risks are thoroughly explained in your free personalised illustration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What equity release providers do you use?

Bower are independent ‘whole of market’ equity release advisers, which means we have relationships with all equity release product lenders and have access to every regulated company and plan on the market. Most of the equity release lenders are the large pension companies in the UK and they are all regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). These companies provide the money for equity release, lifetime mortgages and home reversion plans, not the banks.

In the UK you are required to have advice from a FCA regulated company before taking out an equity release plan, that is where we come in. The advantage of coming to Bower is that you will have access to all the equity release companies in the UK, not just one company. This means that you could save thousands of pounds by accessing a lower interest rate and a more suitable plan, for instance one with low early repayment charges or the flexibility to make over payments.

There are also some companies who deal exclusively with one or a panel of equity release lenders, so members of the public do not receive whole of market advice from them. If you don’t use an independent, whole of market adviser such as Bower, then you could miss out on the perfect plan for you that has more of your requirements and a lower interest rate, potentially costing you tens of thousands of pounds over the life of your plan. For those with an existing plan, it may be better for you to stay with your existing provider. We can advise you whether it will be cheaper and better to move companies or stay where you are and take a further advance for instance. This will all depend on the plan you are on, the amount you owe and your property value. No matter how old your plan, we can help.

Bower works for you and is fully independent so we always put your interests first.

Your adviser will take you through the full range of lenders we work with during your free, no-obligation appointment.

Some of these lenders include:

  • Aviva
  • Scottish Widows
  • Hodge Lifetime
  • Legal and General
  • Just Retirement
  • Liverpool Victoria (LV)
  • More2life
  • Partnership
  • Canada Life
  • Pure Retirement
  • One Family
  • Bridgewater
  • Home & Capital
  • Crown Equity Release
What safeguards does the Equity Release Council offer?

The Equity Release Council Standards Board makes sure that all lenders and advisers adhere to a strict code of conduct that includes a number of safeguards for customers.

Members of the ERC can guarantee that their customer’s products and services conform to the best practices of the sector, ensuring they are fully informed and continually protected.

Bower is a member of the Equity Release Council and only recommends Equity Release Council plans, or those with the same set of guarantees.

These guarantees are in your best interests and include the following promises:

  • No Negative Equity Guarantee — this means you or your family will never owe more than the value of your home
  • You retain the right to remain in your home for life providing it remains your main residence
  • For lifetime mortgages, interest rates must be fixed or, if they are variable, there must be a “cap” (upper limit) which is fixed for the life of the loan
  • You can move to another suitable property (subject to the new property meeting the lender’s acceptable property criteria)

It is your right to seek independent legal advice from an equity release solicitor of your choice

How much equity can I release?

This depends on the value of your property and your age. In certain circumstances, your health is also taken into account as it may allow you to release more equity.

What are the alternatives to equity release?

There are a number of alternatives, including downsizing to a smaller property or moving to a less expensive area, using savings, borrowing in the form of a loan or by asking a relative or friend.

These are some of the alternatives to equity release:

  • Savings, investments or other assets that could be drawn on
  • Downsizing your property or moving to a less expensive area to access some equity from your home’s value (although the cost of moving and agency/legal fees should be considered)
  • Continuing in, or returning to, paid work to top up your income
  • Letting out a room in your house to a tenant
  • Accepting financial support from a relative or a friend may be an option, although it is understandable that some would prefer not to have to ask to borrow money from loved ones
  • Arranging a traditional mortgage
  • Looking in to Local Authority home improvement grants
  • Ensuring all your entitlements to mean-tested benefits are being claimed (your Bower specialist will check this for you as part of our expert equity release service)

While there are different types of equity release plan to suit different individual needs, it’s not always the right option for everyone. Before taking out an equity release plan our advisers will go through all the advantages and disadvantages, and also the alternatives that could let you raise the money in another way. Get in touch and we will happily discuss all your options and can make a recommendation as to which one may be best for you.