What Age Can You Get Equity Release?

The 55 minimum — why lenders set this threshold

The minimum age of 55 is set for actuarial reasons. Equity release lenders price their products on statistical life expectancy — the younger you are when you take out a plan, the longer the loan is likely to remain outstanding before repayment is triggered. A longer loan term means more compound interest accruing, and correspondingly more uncertainty for the lender.

At 55, lenders are generally willing to offer loans because the expected term is manageable and the loan-to-value ratios at that age are conservative (typically 20–28%). Earlier than 55, most lenders consider the risk too difficult to price reliably, and the regulatory framework for equity release is structured around this threshold.

Home reversion plans — where you sell a share of your property to the provider — typically require age 65, because the discount applied to the sale (you receive less than market value) needs to be justified by a reasonable expectation of the provider holding that share for a meaningful period.

Age and how much you can borrow

The older you are, the more you can typically borrow as a percentage of your property's value. This is because a shorter expected loan term reduces the risk that compound interest will erode all of the property's value before repayment.

Indicative loan-to-value (LTV) ranges by age:

Figures are illustrative only. Actual LTV depends on lender, product, and individual circumstances.

For a detailed breakdown of how much you may be able to release, see our guide: How much can I release with equity release?

Joint applications — the younger borrower's age applies

When a couple applies for equity release together, the lender uses the younger applicant's age to determine the LTV. This is because the loan remains outstanding until the last surviving borrower dies or moves permanently into long-term care — so the lender must plan for the longer of the two lives.

This has a practical consequence: a couple where one partner is 72 and the other is 60 will be offered LTV ratios based on the 60-year-old's age, not the 72-year-old's. The amount available will be lower than if the older partner applied alone.

Couples with a significant age gap may find this affects how much equity they can access. In such cases, an adviser will typically model several scenarios, including a sole application (though this requires careful consideration of what happens to the property when the non-borrowing partner is still alive).

For more on joint plans, see: Can couples get equity release together?

Is there a maximum age?

Most equity release lenders have no upper age limit. Plans are available to homeowners in their 80s and 90s, and some specialist products are specifically designed for older applicants who may also qualify for enhanced terms based on health or lifestyle factors.

At advanced ages, the available LTV is typically higher — sometimes 50–55% or more — because the expected loan term is shorter. Enhanced lifetime mortgages (sometimes called impaired life products) may offer even higher LTVs or lower rates for applicants with certain health conditions.

Does age affect interest rates?

Age itself does not directly determine the interest rate on a lifetime mortgage. Rates are product-specific, and the same product is typically available at the same rate regardless of whether you are 55 or 75.

However, health and lifestyle factors — which are more commonly relevant at older ages — can affect rates. If you qualify for an enhanced or impaired-life product, the rate offered may be lower than standard products, or the LTV may be higher. These enhancements exist because a shorter expected loan term reduces the lender's risk.

Lifetime mortgage rates in 2026 range broadly between 5.97% and 6.28% AER. Rates change regularly — an adviser can confirm current rates available for your specific circumstances.