Nationwide Equity Release Review
Nationwide no longer offer equity release lifetime mortgages. If you already have Nationwide equity release, nothing has changed. You can still release more equity if you are eligible and you still have the flexibility to move home.
We work in association with one of the UK’s leading specialists Age Partnership who compare schemes and have access to preferential rates with top UK companies. Their initial advice is completely free of charge and there is no obligation to proceed.
Take look at our Age Partnership Review
The following information applies to their old lifetime mortgage plan - so if you have one you can use as a reminder.
About Nationwide
Nationwide is one of the UK’s largest savings provider and the country’s second largest mortgage provider. Formed by the merger of several companies, Nationwide, formally known as the Nationwide building society launched the UK’s first retail internet banking service and the first mobile banking platform.
Does the Nationwide building society offer equity release?
Nationwide equity release or the Nationwide lifetime mortgage as it’s also known gives people aged 55 and over the opportunity to release tax free cash from their home. There are no monthly repayments to make as the lifetime mortgage Nationwide offer is only repaid once you die or move into long-term care.
However there is flexibility to repay some of the loan on an annual basis.
Nationwide's range of lifetime mortgages are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and they are members of the Equity Release Council, which means you are protected by their ‘no negative equity’ guarantee.
Nationwide equity release options
Nationwide equity release was launched in April 2019, as part of their range of Nationwide later life mortgages. Aimed at helping older borrowers and retirees, there are three options to choose from:
- Nationwide lifetime mortgage
- Nationwide retirement interest only mortgage;
- Nationwide retirement capital and interest mortgage
- For the purposes of this review we will be focusing on their equity release lifetime mortgage.
Nationwide lifetime mortgages
The Nationwide lifetime mortgage has no monthly repayments. Instead the loan and interest are repaid once the last borrower dies or moves into care. Interest rates are generally fixed for life and the maximum Nationwide will let you borrow will depend on your age and property value.
There are no advice, valuation or product fees but as legally required, you will need to pay for independent legal advice. However, as all Nationwide lifetime mortgages come with £1,000 cashback, this could help pay for these costs.
Also, Nationwide lifetime mortgages give you the flexibility to repay up to 10% of the loan each year without having to make mandatory monthly repayments or incurring early repayment charges.
Are you eligible for a Nationwide lifetime mortgage?
To be eligible for equity release through Nationwide you need to be:
- Between 55 and 85 (existing Nationwide mortgage holders are eligible up to 95 years of age)
- A standard homeowner (they will not accept shared ownership or right to buy homeowners)
- Living in mainland UK (Nationwide do not offer lifetime mortgages to residents of the Isle of Man, Scilly Isles, Channel Islands or Northern Ireland)
- Have a standard property that isn’t listed, doesn’t have sheltered accommodation or properties above it and isn’t next to or opposite commercial premises
Nationwide equity release calculator
At this time there isn’t a Nationwide equity release calculator online however you can speak to one of their later life mortgage consultants. They will talk through your options and agree whether equity release is right for you: the calculator below is for Age Partnership.
Please keep in mind that Nationwide only offer their own lifetime mortgages, so you may want to also compare other equity release schemes to fully appreciate the options available. In addition, although a Nationwide calculator isn’t available, other online calculators are available that can help you establish how much equity you could release from your home.
Additional information
Information on equity release by Nationwide is limited however they do have a team of later life mortgage consultants that can talk you through the details. To understand more about Nationwide’s later life mortgages, you can call their freephone number or ask in one of their branches..
They will run through a quick eligibility and affordability check and then an appointment will be arranged. For these checks Nationwide advise that you have information on the following available:
- Income and pensions
- Buildings insurance
- Credit including credit cards, personal loans etc.
- Savings, investments and assets
- Life insurance policies
- Tax details
What should I do now?
We work in association with one of the UK’s leading specialists Age Partnership who compare schemes and have access to preferential rates with top UK companies. Their initial advice is completely free of charge and there is no obligation to proceed.
