Retirees' £891bn property wealth to boost equity release

Pensioners who own their homes outright have gained an average of £3,725 each from their houses in the past three months taking their property wealth to a new record high.

In the five years since Key started monitoring the housing wealth of the over-65s, in January 2010, total pensioner property wealth has increased by 14% or £111 billion which equates to £23,700 on average for every homeowner.

Its Pensioner Property Index shows over-65 homeowners now own property wealth of £891.249 billion outright with pensioners across almost all of the UK benefiting.

Key believes the strong growth in property prices will drive expansion of the equity release market further. Customers releasing property wealth are taking around £68,500 on average, its figures show.

Retired homeowners in London were the biggest winners gaining an average of around £14,238 each in the past three months, while homeowners in the South East of England are more than £8,290 better off and pensioners in East Anglia are £8,524 better off.

Key’s figures show a fifth of all pensioner property equity is owned by over-65s in London with total wealth of £178.894 billion. Nearly two-thirds of pensioner property wealth is concentrated in London, the South East, the South West and East Anglia.

Dean Mirfin, technical director at Key Retirement, said:

“The strength of the housing market is reflected in the growth in the amounts being released through equity release plans which are now an average £68,500 – an amount which dwarfs the average pension pot in the UK.

“The success of property investment for millions of over-65s homeowners highlights how homes are major assets which should be considered as part of anyone’s retirement planning

“Property prices rise and fall but over-65 homeowners control more than £891 billion in assets which can make a major contribution to enhancing retirement lifestyles. Pensioners however need specialist advice before accessing their property wealth.”