Miss Blackley

The freedom to visit friends abroad

Jean Blackley loves to travel, and having started her nursing career the day before her eighteenth birthday, pursued her ambitions, working in North Africa, Switzerland, France and Canada amongst other locations.

In 1988, Jean moved to Suffolk and settled down as a Health Visitor, first full time and then part time until her 70th birthday. Now having many friends in various countries, Jean was struggling to travel as often as she would have liked, so after discussing it with her family, contacted Home & Capital about releasing equity from her home.

Initially releasing a lump sum in 2006 to make home repairs, Jean has since taken out a further amount, and still retains a share in her home, allowing her the option to release more in the future.

"Equity release has helped me continue my love of travelling and enable me to continue a comfortable living standard. I found all of the employees at Home & Capital to be very helpful and friendly."

Miss Ashton

First time buyer at 61

Miss Ashton lives in the beautiful coastal town of Boscombe, near Bournemouth. Having become a first time buyer quite late in life at the age of 61, Miss Ashton found that her savings and pensions didn't stretch very far after her monthly mortgage payments.

After commuting to and from London for over 45 years, Miss Ashton wanted to enjoy her retirement, but was finding it hard.

Having worked hard to buy her first home, she did not want to move and downsize, so spoke to a number of equity release advisers about releasing money from the value of her home.

She decided to contact Home & Capital Advisers, "because they have an excellent reputation and recommend products from all SHIP members".

After speaking with an adviser about her personal circumstances, Miss Ashton released a cash lump sum from the value of her home, and now has the option of releasing more in the future should she wish to.

"Equity release has really helped by giving me more monthly income and allowing me to pay off the mortgages. I even had enough left over the put towards a new car! The staff at Home & Capital have been very pleasant and helpful."

Mrs Waters

"I have no hesitation in recommending Home & Capital for equity release"

Like may people these days, Sandra Waters was asset-rich but looking to utilise the capital in her home to enjoy life and have no financial worries. A qualified pharmacist, Mrs Waters ran a pharmacy in the newly opened Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, London in 1963, for six years, until she left to get married. Returning to London in the late 70’s, Mrs Waters had a series of interesting jobs, one of which took her overseas to source new and unique products to sell in the UK. She had always imagined retiring from full time employment and working only now and then in order to supplement her income, however, her circumstances changed and this became impossible. She has recently retired voluntarily from the Pharmaceutical register.

Mrs Waters considered downsizing, and other options before deciding that equity release was the right choice for her as it suited her requirements. She researched many providers for over a year, analysing all the options available in the market place, before eventually deciding a home reversion plan with Home & Capital was the best one for her. 

Mrs Waters says: “Home & Capital were straightforward to deal with and very fair in their estimations. I have no hesitation in recommending them to people in similar circumstances to mine. I now have the freedom to travel anywhere at any time, following my passion, thanks to Home & Capital.”

Mr & Mrs Doyle

Great service - from start to finish

Mr & Mrs Doyle had hoped to live comfortably on just their pensions.  However, they had no extra funds with which to enjoy life. They also needed extra cash for home improvements such as a new roof and modernisation.

Mr Doyle loves to garden and enjoys completing DIY projects around the home and he and his wife both have a keen interest in photography and watercolour painting.

Having spoken to their family about their intentions, they decided to contact Home & Capital to talk about an equity release plan.  As Mr & Mrs Doyle recall: "We found the people at Home & Capital to be courteous and pleasant to deal with. They had very good product knowledge and were efficient in dealing with our case."

Miss Knight

Finding a better way

Having retired from the NHS, Miss Knight thought that she would be in a position to lead a quiet and financially problem-free life.  Unfortunately things did not work out that way. Trying to cope with an interest-only mortgage and a bank loan on top to cover unforeseen expenses, she decided to get in touch with Home & Capital to see if there might be a better way.

After a visit by her local representative, Miss Knight took out a Partial Equity Release Plan, which not only helped to clear her debts but also left sufficient funds to redecorate her house, have a holiday and still keep some aside for emergencies.

"I am very grateful for the advice I received from Home & Capital. Since then, not only have I been coping very adequately but I am now actually saving money regularly - and still going on exotic holidays!  I have recently just paid for a Caribbean Cruise with a friend, something I have always wanted to do!"   

Mr Adair

It works like magic!

Ian Adair is a member of the exclusive Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star Award and has worked as a professional magician.  He became interested in magic after his grandmother gave him a toy box of magic on his fifth birthday.  What began as a hobby later evolved into his chosen profession.

Now, aged 68, Ian is enjoying a well‑deserved retirement.  In order to secure his future, Ian took independent financial advice from a specialist IFA in retirement planning and took out a staged payment Equity Release Plan with Home & Capital. Following completion of the plan, he has been able to repay his mortgage, make improvements to his new home and supplement his income over the period of the plan.

Ian says, "Equity release has enabled me to conjure up the money tied up in my home. Home & Capital have delivered an exceptional level of personal service, which has been an added reassurance for me. I would certainly recommend Home & Capital to other homeowners who are considering equity release as part of their retirement planning."

Mr & Mrs Bandy

Looking to the future

Brian and Betty Bandy enjoy a quiet life in the Sherborne house where they have lived for over 25 years. They could have managed comfortably on a good pension that Brian receives. However, Equity Release for them was a way of getting some of the value tied up in their house.

They sold 75% of the equity through Home & Capital just three years after retiring, with the encouragement of their two daughters and in the knowledge that a family member had lived long and happily with an Equity Release Plan.  They released the remaining 25% a few years later to help with some home improvements.

Mr & Mrs Blanchard

On the move

John and Joan Blanchard had lived in their bungalow by the sea since 1978 after they retired. In 1999 they decided to take out an equity release plan with Home & Capital, and opted for the instalment plan, which delivers an annual payment for up to twelve years, and which many people find to be a useful tool for budgeting purposes.

In 2005 they decided to move home as they were entitled to do under the plan. Once they had found their ideal new home, Home & Capital's Home Services Property section arranged the sale of their previous home and negotiated the purchase of the new bungalow. Because the new bungalow needed to be modernised and adapted to suit Joan's mobility, it was important to have another lump sum available after they moved in. This was easily arranged by taking the rest of the instalments still due, as a one-off payment.

They were then able to finance replacement windows, a new bathroom and kitchen.

Ask them about Home & Capital and they say: "We miss having our chats with Home & Capital about the move - we found the Home Services team really helpful."

Mr Cross

Moving on

Don Cross, a former engineer, started his original equity release plan in 2002, and subsequently took it up to 100% in 2005 to take advantage of the increase in house prices. He later decided to move home, which he could do without penalty as part of Home & Capital's equity release plan.

So, having decided to move from his semi-detached house, to a more suitable purpose-built flat, Don had Home & Capital's Home Services Property team to help him get the best price for both the sale and the purchase.

Now happily settled in his new home, Don says: "I've got the place I wanted in a beautiful spot, thanks to Home & Capital". 

Mr & Mrs Fredericks

Freedom is a butterfly...

Retired Quality Controller Robin, and former Legal Secretary Heather, are full of praise:
"We are so pleased we took out the equity release plan. Our home has certainly helped us out!"

"If you are of retirement age and own your own home then we'd certainly recommend you contact Home & Capital for advice on equity release."

Mrs Fredericks is a keen butterfly enthusiast and noticed: "The brochure we received was illustrated with butterflies and we thought the following verse was very appropriate":

Freedom is a butterfly

Which when pursued is just

Beyond your grasp, but if

You sit down quietly may

Alight upon you!

Mrs Houghton

I wish I'd done it sooner

Elaine Houghton lives in a bungalow on the Isle of Wight but, like most people in retirement, there was no spare cash to fund some home improvements that were much needed.

Mrs Houghton wanted to make her life a little bit easier, now that she was retired, and some extra cash would help.

Not wanting to downsize as she has many happy memories living in her bungalow, she discussed the various options with her family. She eventually contacted Home & Capital because she'd heard of their good reputation.  After several meetings with her local Home & Capital representative, Mrs Houghton decided that an equity release plan was her best option. By taking out a partial equity release plan, she was able to make the required home improvements, and also leave sufficient funds for savings, holidays and emergencies. 

Mrs Houghton reflects: "I really like Home & Capital because they have a very fine staff and they have been very helpful - nothing is too much trouble for them.  I only wish I had done it sooner - Home & Capital have made my life so much easier."

Mr & Mrs Johnson

Fancy that

Pigeon fancier Frank and his wife Elizabeth took out a partial equity release plan with Home & Capital to pay for improvements to their Somerset home and also to put a little aside to help supplement their pension. "After talking to our children we decided that an equity release plan suited all our needs", says Frank.

Six years later they decided to move nearer their family in Kent and exercised their right under the plan to move home without penalty. The dedicated Home Services department at Home & Capital managed the whole transaction - a service that was free of charge.

As they had retained a share in their property, the Johnsons benefited from the increase in the value of their old home and were able to move nearer their family. What's more, without selling a further share of their home, they were able to release significant capital to improve the new home to their own taste.

Mr & Mrs Mayled-Overill

Living the Isle life

Alan and Iris Mayled-Overill came to home ownership relatively late, having rented their London home for most of their married life. But they decided to buy a cottage on the Isle of Wight as they neared retirement. The quiet, easygoing lifestyle that draws visitors to the island was what they wanted for their everyday lives.

Alan and Iris share a good pension income that covers day-to-day expenses. However, their equity release plan from Home & Capital gives them the added freedom to go against the tide and return to favourite places on the mainland for a holiday whenever they feel like it.

Mr Payne

Smooth running all the way

Car enthusiast Derrick Payne is in big demand at weddings and always gets the bride to the church on time. His gleaming white 1971 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow adds a touch of class to the big day. 

However, Derrick, 77, thought he might have to give up his chauffeuring hobby when the car needed an expensive overhaul. But now, by releasing some of the value from his bungalow, he can afford to have the car repaired, plus some home renovations including new windows and a conservatory.

As Derrick says: "I felt that I should be making the most of my money now - while I can enjoy it".

Mr Wood

On the right track

Many people use equity release to travel, pay for nursing care or carry out much-needed repairs on or improvements to their home; but widower Ken Wood used equity release to rescue a vintage locomotive.

The Home & Capital Equity Release Plan had the flexibility to meet all his objectives by releasing 20% of the equity in his Surrey home. The money enabled him to make a real contribution to the railway museum's collection, while reducing his chances of paying inheritance tax. At the same time, it still leaves a substantial proportion of the value of his home for his estate.

"Anyone with a house in the south of England these days is likely to end up paying inheritance tax. Equity release gave me a way of unloading some of the value," says Mr Wood. "I don't mind paying tax while I'm still around, but when I go I want my money used how I choose and not how the Government chooses."

"The value of my home has gone up by almost 20% since we fixed the value, so I feel as though I have lost nothing".

Mr & Mrs Russell

A dream becomes reality

After 40 years of employment in the financial services sector, Tim and Erica Russell are enjoying a well-earned retirement in a lovely seaside bungalow. Their new home is particularly suitable for them because Erica has become increasingly disabled and was no longer able to manage the stairs at their previous home in Gloucestershire. They also wished to move closer to their respective families in South Devon.

In order to maximise the value prior to its sale, Tim and Erica made considerable improvements to their former house, which were financed by an interest only mortgage that remained outstanding when Tim took early retirement in order to care for Erica.

As part of their retirement planning, they considered carefully the financial options available, and as part of this process, met with a member of the Home & Capital Advisers team.  He recommended a Lifetime Mortgage with reasonable and predictable early redemption charges because Tim and Erica expected to be in a position to repay the mortgage in a few years time.

Tim said: “Thanks to our adviser at Home & Capital, we have been able to meet our retirement needs and maintain total flexibility for the future. We never dreamed that this would be possible”.