Equity Release

That depends on whether you’ve borrowed alone or with another person. If you’ve borrowed alone, your lifetime mortgage will be due for repayment in full when you pass away or go into long-term care (terms and conditions apply). If you borrowed with another person such as your husband/wife or partner, your lifetime mortgage will be repaid when the last one of you passes away or needs to go into long-term care, subject to our terms and conditions.

This depends on what type of lifetime mortgage you choose. If you choose the Lifestyle Lump Sum Max option, you take out a lump sum amount and the interest is fixed at the start of the loan. Our Flexible option means that you take out an initial loan and have access to a reserve of money in the future when you need it. The interest on the initial lump sum is fixed at the start of the lifetime mortgage, but money you take out after that will be charged at the current interest rate at the time.

Interest is charged on both the amount you borrow and any interest already added. This quickly increases what you owe and will reduce the value you have in your property, possibly to nothing. Once you’ve been referred to a financial adviser, they’ll give you a personalised illustration, which will show how the size of the loan will increase over time. Taking out a lifetime mortgage will reduce the value you have in your home, and the amount of inheritance you can leave will also be reduced as a result. Your tax position and eligibility for welfare benefits may also be affected.

Equity release is a way of releasing some of the money tied up in your home. Aviva offers lifetime mortgages, which are a type of equity release plan. With our lifetime mortgages, you can continue to live in your home and use the money to get more from your retirement. Whether it's to top up your income, make home improvements, buy a new car or even take a special holiday - it's up to you how you spend it. A lifetime mortgage is a loan secured on your home. Taking a lump sum, plus the costs and interest, will reduce the value you have in your home, and therefore the amount of any inheritance you leave. Your tax position and any entitlement to welfare benefits may also be affected.

When you see an adviser, they’ll assess your needs and recommend whether equity release is suitable for you, or if there are better options. Although any adviser we refer you to won’t be employed by us, they can only advise you about our lifetime mortgages.

Yes, you'll still be the legal owner of your home. You’re not required to move out or hand over your ownership.

With Aviva, you’ll have the flexibility to move home and transfer your lifetime mortgage to your new property, as long as it meets our lending criteria at the time. If you move to a property of a lower value, then we may require you to repay part of your original loan and interest. If you move to a property of the same or a higher value, then we will not ask you to repay any part of your loan and interest. We may, however, ask for your existing property to be valued if your new property is of a similar value, which you'll need to pay for.

When you take out a lifetime mortgage with Aviva, the arrangement fee is deducted from the amount you receive. However, you’ll be required to pay the costs of a solicitor acting on your behalf. We’ll pay all our legal fees and the disbursements involved in setting up your lifetime mortgage. There may be an independent valuation fee – we’ll discuss this with your adviser. You can find out more fee information by reading our tariff of charges.

When you call us, we’ll refer you to an equity release adviser. There will be no fee for the advice upfront, as we include the cost within the interest rate you pay if you decide to take out a lifetime mortgage. There will, however, be an arrangement fee which will be deducted from the amount you receive. You will also be required to pay your own legal fees when you instruct a solicitor to act on your behalf. Please be aware that although the adviser is not employed by us, they can only advise you on our lifetime mortgages. There may be an upfront cost payable if you choose to seek independent financial advice.

No. The loan and the interest on it is only repaid once you die or go into long-term care (terms and conditions apply).

If you decide to take out a lifetime mortgage with Aviva, you’ll be responsible for paying valuation fees, your own legal fees and an application fee. You can find out more information by reading our Tariff of charges.

Although the amount of inheritance you can leave will always be reduced, you can choose an inheritance guarantee on Aviva’s lifetime mortgages to ensure you can leave something from the value of your home. However, this will reduce the amount of money you can borrow.

Yes, but you should remember that a lifetime mortgage is a long-term commitment, made to last until you die or move into long-term care. Repaying your loan in full before then may mean you have to pay substantial early repayment charges. For new customers from 28th April 2014, once you've had your lifetime mortgage for one year, you can make voluntary partial payments, with no early repayment charge. The maximum you can pay back each year is 10% of the amount borrowed. You can repay in up to four instalments a year, and the minimum you can pay in each instalment is £500.

Yes, as long as the new property fits our lending criteria at the time.

Yes, but any outstanding mortgage debt must be repaid before you take out a lifetime mortgage, or with the money you release.

You must maintain the property and keep it in a good state. The property must also be insured and you must pay all property-related bills, such as council tax and utility bills. The property also needs to continue being your main residence – this means you’ll also need our agreement for anyone else to live with you. If the property is a leasehold you must also pay any extra maintenance fees, service charges or other sums

You don’t have to pay any tax on the money you take out, but taking out money may affect your tax position more generally.

It could affect your entitlement to means-tested welfare benefits, such as council tax benefit, pension credit and certain health benefits.

This will depend on a number of things, such as the type of lifetime mortgage you have, the current value of your home and if you’ve chosen a feature like an inheritance guarantee.

We offer two types of lifetime mortgages. The Lifestyle Lump Sum Max enables you to release a one-off sum of money at the start of the plan. Our Lifestyle Flexible Option means you take a lower initial loan but then have access to a reserve of money in the future.

If you choose the Lifestyle Flexible Option, you may be able to benefit from a lower rate of interest on the loan amount, if you qualify for enhanced terms. If you choose the Lifestyle Lump Sum Max and qualify for enhanced terms, you may also benefit from a lower rate of interest, or you may be able to borrow a larger amount.

No, but you do have to be at least 55.

As you need to involve a solicitor when you take out equity release, the time it takes to complete your application can vary. Typically, once Aviva receive your application it takes about 3 months before you receive your money.

You’ll be transferred to one of the equity release adviser firms on our panel, who’ll be able to offer you advice based on your needs. These advisers are not employed by us, but can only advise you on Aviva lifetime mortgages. All of these firms are members of the Equity Release Council.

Yes. Equity release is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA is an independent body reporting to the government that helps to ensure that financial products offered to the public are fair, and meet required standards. Aviva is also a long-standing member of the Equity Release Council, a trade body set up in 1991 to help protect people taking out equity release. We make sure that we meet the strict standards set out in their Statement of Principles.

The Equity Release Council is a trade body set up to protect people taking out equity release. You can find out more by visiting their site: equityreleasecouncil.com

This depends on your will’s current provisions. If you have any concerns, we suggest you speak to your solicitor.