How does a lifetime mortgage work?

Lump sum lifetime mortgage vs drawdown lifetime mortgage

A lifetime mortgage is the most popular form of equity release, where interest is charged on a compound basis. There are two types of lifetime mortgages; a lump sum lifetime mortgage and a drawdown lifetime mortgage.

Lump sum lifetime mortgage

A lump sum lifetime mortgage is where you receive all the money you release in one go and there are typically no monthly repayments to make unless you choose to.

With our lifetime mortgages you could release from £10,000 to £1.5 million, depending on your personal circumstances.

When you complete your lifetime mortgage, you’ll receive all your tax-free cash in a single lump sum.

This can be ideal if you have several expenses to cover at once, such as repaying an existing mortgage, gifting to a family member and home improvements.

Drawdown lifetime mortgage

With a drawdown lifetime mortgage, you still get access to tax-free money and again there are typically no monthly repayments to make unless you choose to. However, instead of receiving your funds in one lump sum, you can take the money as and when you need it following an initial release of at least £10,000.

This could be suited to you if you don’t need all your money upfront and want access to cash later down the line. It could also work out cheaper – as you only pay interest on the money you release and at the time you receive it, meaning you’re not paying interest on cash you don’t need. It’s worth noting, though, that the interest rate applied to any drawdowns you make will be the prevailing rate at the time, not the rate you initially secured.

How compound interest affects your lifetime mortgage

There are no monthly repayments to make on a lifetime mortgage unless you choose to. As a result, you are charged interest not only on the loan itself, but also the interest that’s already been accrued, otherwise known as compound interest. This will result in your debt growing bigger over time.

For example, at the end of the first month of your lifetime mortgage (or year, depending on your plan), the interest will be charged on the original amount that your borrowed. Following this, in the second month or year of your plan, and each period thereafter, the interest will be charged on the full balance of your loan, including any previous interest accrued at that time. This cycle continues until the plan comes to an end.

Reducing your cost of borrowing

Dependant on your circumstances, however, there are ways to reduce your total cost of borrowing on the funds released through equity release. These include:

Making ad-hoc or regular repayments

For those whose circumstances allow it, making ad-hoc or regular repayments on your lifetime mortgage will help with reducing your total cost of borrowing. That’s because you’ll be paying off some of what you owe, meaning the interest will be charged on a smaller amount.

With all Standard Life Home Finance's Horizon lifetime mortgages, you have the option to make repayments, if you wish, without incurring early repayment charges, subject to criteria. We recommend that this is discussed with your equity release adviser to understand what would deliver the best outcome for your existing circumstances and future needs.

Considering a drawdown lifetime mortgage

By accessing your funds as a drawdown, you can release the money you need when you need it. This means you’ll only be charged interest on the funds you release.

Remortgage to another equity release plan in the future

If interest rates were to reduce after taking out your lifetime mortgage, you may have the option to secure a lower rate by remortgaging your current lifetime mortgage plan. By securing a lower rate, you could reduce your total cost of borrowing. However reduced interest rates in the future isn’t guaranteed.

It’s important to discuss this with your equity release adviser and consider that there may be an early repayment charge (ERC) payable if you choose to remortgage.

All Horizon lifetime mortgages come with fixed ERCs of 8 years, allowing you to repay your lifetime mortgage loan in full after this time without incurring any early repayment charge.

What to consider before taking out a lifetime mortgage

When considering equity release, we want you to be aware of the following before making a decision.

You can unlock cash from your home, tax-free, to help meet your needs in later life
You’ll always retain full ownership of your home and can stay in it for as long as you wish with a Horizon lifetime mortgage
You can choose to make reduced or no monthly repayments to suit your circumstances
You’ll never owe more than your home’s worth with a Horizon lifetime mortgage
You may be able to remortgage your plan in the future to release further funds or secure a better interest rate, although this isn’t guaranteed and may be subject to early repayment charges

A lifetime mortgage is a loan secured against your home and subject to compound interest, meaning the amount you owe can grow quickly
Equity release will reduce the value of your estate and may affect your entitlement to means-tested benefits
Equity release may leave you with limited or no property equity remaining
Equity release will reduce your financial options in the future
A lifetime mortgage is a long-term financial product and is not designed to be fully repaid until the death or entry into long-term care of the last remaining borrower, otherwise early repayment charges may apply

Getting the right advice

If you are considering a lifetime mortgage, it is a Financial Conduct Authority regulation that you first seek advice from a qualified equity release adviser, who will help you understand your options and advise on what is right for you.

All Equity Release Council members agree to abide by Equity Release Council rules, guidance and standards, and have signed up to the Council's Statement of Principles. When finding your equity release adviser, you can search the Equity Release Council's database of registered equity release adviser members.