Almost a fifth of those who use property to generate income do so for their retirement.1 But is this a good strategy?
For many of us, our houses are our most valuable asset and we may plan to use them to fund our retirement. But is this a good strategy? Here are some of the pros and cons.
Over the past two decades, many UK properties have outearned their owners. According to the latest Land Registry figures, the semi-detached house in London bought in 1995 for the average price of £97,000 would have been be worth nearly £580,000 in September 2019, an average rise of £20,100pa.2
Many people want a smaller home as they get older. This also gives you the chance to release a tax-free sum of money for retirement because there is no capital gains tax to pay when you sell your main residence.
If you don’t want to leave your home, equity-release schemes can allow you to release capital but still live in your property, and in some cases can be structured so you can still leave an inheritance to your family.
Saving into a pension lets you claim back tax you have paid on income, an option not available with your property. And you can take a 25pc lump sum tax-free from your pension. Relying on your home means you don’t get the benefits of either proposition.
Equity release is more expensive than a mortgage. And even though lifetime mortgage rates are coming down, this is still a relatively expensive form of finance.
New government rules on stamp duty and tax relief on mortgage interest make this less viable.
A hybrid approach is likely to be most efficient. A qualified financial adviser will be able to speak to you about which assets to use first to fund retirement efficiently.
Equity release will reduce the value of your estate and can affect your eligibility for means-tested benefits.
Tax treatment varies according to individual circumstances and is subject to change.
Whether you’re considering starting your first pension or trying to choose the right retirement options, a financial adviser can help you make the most of your pension savings.
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1 https://www.pensionsage.com/pa/One-fifth-of-people-using-property-to-generate-income-have-done-so-for-retirement.php
2 https://landregistry.data.gov.uk/app/ukhpi/browse?from=1977-06-01&location=http%3A%2F%2Flandregistry.data.gov.uk%2Fid%2Fregion%2Flondon&to=2019-11-01 Quilter takes no responsibility for the accuracy of the facts and figures referenced within the article and within the source material quoted. Advice will be provided by an appointed representative of Quilter Financial Services Limited or Quilter Mortgage Planning Limited, which are wholly owned subsidiaries of Quilter plc. Investments may fall as well as rise in value and you may not get back what you put in. Quilter plc products and services are provided through its two divisions: Advice and Wealth Management and Wealth Platforms. For a list of its companies and their regulatory authorisation details, visit quilter.com. Quilter plc’s business is registered in England and Wales. The content of this promotion has been approved by Quilter Financial Services Limited and Quilter Mortgage Planning Limited. Quilter Financial Services Limited and Quilter Mortgage Planning Limited are entered on the FCA register (https://www.fca.org.uk/register) under reference 440703 and 440718.
