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£100bn owed this year: what options are there to help your clients avoid becoming a mortgage prisoner?

Almost £100bn worth of mortgages are set to mature before the end of 2022. That could leave thousands of homeowners with severe financial concerns this year.

It’s already expected to be one of the most financially challenging winters in recent memory as the UK continues to battle through the cost-of-living crisis, largely driven by historic levels of inflation and increases in energy prices.

Yet, according to Accord Mortgages, many people are also facing serious mortgage uncertainty as their existing terms end.

Whether it’s because interest-only deals have reached maturity, or fixed-rate deals are expiring, mortgage customers face a very different set of challenges to the start of 2022.

The potential for widespread financial difficulty is significant. Coinciding with the planned energy price cap increase, October sees £26.3bn worth of mortgages either maturing or moving to a different basis. 

While in December, this increases to over £29bn. The risk this will heap further pressure on thousands of households during an already financially demanding time is real.
 

Are there any solutions?

The ideal scenario would be to find your client another suitable mortgage or extend their repayment date to a more comfortable time.

However, this year saw the largest single rise in the Bank of England’s base rate for 30 years. And further increases are expected.

This, coupled with affordability challenges amidst the cost-of-living crisis, and some mortgage lenders even putting a block on new applications last month, could leave many feeling locked in with no options; arguably a broadening of the mortgage prisoner issue which has been a focus for policy makers and the regulator over recent years.

But there could be a solution.
 

Downsize

Selling up and downsizing is an option for some. By using funds generated from the sale of their property, your client can repay their existing mortgage and move to something cheaper. 

But downsizing isn’t always easy. Even if your client is open to leaving their home, they may not have enough equity in their property to repay their mortgage and find a new place that meets their needs within budget. 
 

Equity release

An alternative for someone 55 or over is equity release. By accessing some of the value of their property tax-free, your client may be able to stay in their home, repay their existing mortgage and make the choice whether or not to make monthly repayments. 

Equity release also allows your clients to retain full ownership of their property and they can stay in it for as long as they like. There’s even the option to move home in the future with some plans.

Of course, equity release isn’t for everyone. Products have been subject to the same rate increases as the mainstream market, thereby increasing the likely cost of borrowing over the lifetime of the loan. As well, it reduces the estate’s value and is a long-term commitment. But it’s certainly something you should consider bringing to your older clients as a potential solution. 
 

How to offer equity release

If you think equity release may be a suitable option for your client but you’re not qualified to offer advice, don’t worry. That’s where we come in. 

Through Key Partnerships, you can refer your client to us. We then organise expert equity release advice through The Equity Release Experts with no obligation to proceed. 

After receiving advice, if your client decides it’s right for them, and they go ahead, we’ll pay you a referral fee. Our average referral fee in 2021 was £1,980. 

Calculate How Much You Could Earn Through Equity Release Referrals Now

We take all compliance responsibility and will be with your client at every step. And if they decide equity release isn’t right for them, there’s no advice fee. 

You can then continue to look at other options that may be more suited to their preferences or circumstances.   
 

Have a client in mind? 

If you already have a client in mind who may benefit from equity release, making a referral is easy. 

You can either speak with one of our expert account managers over the phone or make a referral online. 

All we need is your client’s name, age and contact details. We do everything else. 

Start Now

Want to find out more? 

Or, if you want to find out more about equity release first, you can access our online resource hub. 

It has everything you need for both you and your client to get a better understanding of equity release and how it could be the answer.  

Visit Our Online Resource Hub

How Key Partnerships can help

We provide a robust referral process to help you broaden your advice proposition without compliance responsibility. 

Key Partnerships work with specialist equity release advisers from The Equity Release Experts. Our whole-of-market advisers have their fingers on the pulse to help find clients a solution to meet their needs.

Alongside supporting your clients, for every case that completes, you could also add a valuable income stream to your business. In 2021, the average Key Partnerships referral fee paid on each completed case was £1,980*. 
References:  
https://www.mortgagestrategy.co.uk/news/almost-100bn-of-mortgages-to-mature-before-year-end/?eea=*EEA*&eea=MkM0TUJPY2hVcmY1OFU1ZEp6STBVcGhHTERmdDNXbmZiejJHVTRZU1VsOD0%3D&utm_source=acs&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=INDIGO_MOST_EDI_ALL_Morning_250822&deliveryName=DM70813

https://www.ftadviser.com/mortgages/2022/08/09/first-few-of-many-four-lenders-pause-new-mortgage-business/
 
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