Equity Release – cause for optimism

Looking at The Equity Release Council’s (ERC) recent data¹ for Q4 2024, it highlights that there were over 15,000 active customers in the market during the period, the highest recorded since Q3 2023. 

With customers, either agreeing new plans, taking drawdowns from existing plans or agreeing further advances (extensions) to existing plans, total lending in Q4 2024 reached £622m, a significant rise from the £525m recorded in Q4 the previous year. 

The report highlights a 3.3% rise in UK house prices, which contributed to larger loan sizes for both drawdowns and lump sum mortgages. It also notes that product availability has improved over the last year. The market also saw a rise in returning customers using further advances, with a 27% increase in Q4, which, according to ERC Chair, David Burrowes, reflects “the confidence that homeowners have in leveraging their property wealth responsibly.” 

Confidence returns 

Marking a third consecutive quarter of growth, signalling returning consumer confidence, Burrowes commented, “The equity release market has turned a corner and there is cause for optimism. Interest rates have started to settle and if the growth seen in 2024 continues to gain momentum, 2025 will see more customers considering the option to access their housing equity using an increasingly diverse range of innovative products.” 

Speaking of customers making use of reserve facilities to manage borrowing efficiently over time, Burrowes said this demonstrates “the versatility of equity release in addressing diverse financial goals, from home improvements to supplementing retirement income.” 

¹ERC, 2025 

As a mortgage is secured against your home or property, it could be repossessed if you do not keep up mortgage repayments. Think carefully before securing other debts against your home. Equity released from your home will be secured against it.