Real life story

Roger, a retired businessman from North London, and his wife, Jenifer, used equity release to tap into the wealth built up in their home. “We were looking for a way to pay off our existing mortgage and improve the house, but also have some money left over to help our son get his foot on the property ladder. “I’d done some research online to see what options were out there,” explains Roger. “We made an initial call to Key Retirement and were sent some really useful literature to read. A few days later we decided to meet with one of their advisers. He was not pushy or out for the hard sell; he was interested in our needs. “He listened to us as we explained our circumstances and found a plan that was tailored to our needs. Once we felt confident, and had talked it over with our son, we went ahead. “The first thing we did was pay off our existing mortgage. It gave us a great sense of freedom. We then started work to give the house a complete refurbishment. “Our son, who is a primary school teacher, is currently looking at flats, which we will help him with financially. “I would definitely recommend equity release without a shadow of a doubt. We are always telling our friends about it and how it has made our retirement that bit easier.” Mr and Mrs Ward, London