The later life Lending market in the UK is now worth up to £153.9bn, an AKG Financial Analytics research paper has estimated.
Sponsored by and produced in collaboration with Key Group, the later life lending service group, the comprehensive research paper also highlights that £54.9bn worth of new lending and product switching took place in 2021 alone.
The analysis shows that over-55s have mortgage borrowing – standard, RIO and equity release – of around £99bn while annual new lending across all products is worth up to £14.9bn and product switching valued at a further £40bn a year.
Developments needed to aid growth
With the paper highlighting general agreement that the need to borrow ‘in’ and ‘into’ retirement will continue to grow, it identified areas that needed further development if an optimum consumer outcome is to be delivered. These included:
- Greater consumer education on if, when and how, property will play a role in their retirement planning.
- Properly integrating the discussion on property wealth into retirement/decumulation processes.
- Bridging the advice gap between standard mortgage and specialist Later Life Lending advice as well as between siloed mortgage and investment advice – crucial if the market is to meet a growing customer demand
- Consider how the market will provide the ongoing training, qualifications and regulatory oversight required to support an increasing number of advisers looking to offer more holistic solutions.
- Encouraging trusted sources of guidance and support such as Citizens Advice and the Money and Pensions Service to develop their holistic Later Life Lending – and wider property related retirement planning – support accordingly.
- Further product development based on research and customer data/knowledge. The increased expectations within the proposed FCA Consumer Duty will have an impact here.
The views of advisers and consumers
The paper found more than half (51%) of advisers had seen an increase in demand for advice on later life lending in the past year and 58% expect a rise in demand over the next 12 months.
The study found demand is expected to continue to build – 77% expect a rise in the next two to five years and 79% in the next six to 10 years with 30% banking on a substantial increase.
Advisers surveyed estimated that on average nearly a third (30%) of their customers aged 55-plus had outstanding mortgage debt with a quarter (25%) also having other debts.
This view is further supported by the consumer research which found that 14% expected to repay their mortgages between the ages of 65 and 70, while worryingly around one in 10 (9%) did not know when they would clear property debt. Around a third (35%) welcomed the ability to borrow in later life.
Overall, when asked about their confidence in achieving a comfortable retirement, only 11% of consumers said they felt they were financially prepared for that stage of their lives.
Instead, 21% said they were quite well financially prepared but cautious about bills while at the other end of the spectrum 22% didn’t think they were financially well prepared and were concerned about this.
Matt Ward, communications director at AKG, said: “While we are pleased to be in a position to unveil an assessment of the size of later life lending in the UK, it has not been without its challenges.
“To achieve this we have sought to estimate the full extent of the whole later life lending market through a combination of the established quantified component parts.
“However, this lack of consistency around a later life lending definition and definitive data sources has highlighted the challenges faced not only by businesses keen to engage but consumers looking to access their housing equity.
“The industry needs to focus on further tightening this understanding, through better coordination of the data and participant agreement on the market’s component parts.
“Such an ongoing revisionist exercise is of benefit to advisers and their clients in what is a large, important, and evolving market, which will be at the heart of delivering positive customer outcomes in retirement and later life.”
Simon Thompson, Group CEO at Key Group, said: “Today’s in-depth research paper clearly highlights that not only is the later life lending market becoming a force to be reckoned with, but that customers, advisers, providers and trade bodies are keen to see it take its rightful place amongst the options people consider as they age.
“By clearly defining the market, AKG has provided a platform on which people and businesses can make concrete future plans.
“Equity release, retirement interest-only mortgages and standard mortgages taken out by older borrowers all have a role to play in helping people to achieve what they need and want in older age.
“As an industry, we need to step up to ensure that people can make their choices with confidence – comfortable in the knowledge that they are getting the best advice, products and support for their individual circumstances.”
Reaction
Jim Boyd, CEO of the Equity Release Council:
“This report not only outlines the challenges for the Later Life Lending market, but also the opportunities on the horizon and the significant role that equity release is set to play in tackling many of these issues.
“The sector is well placed to adapt to further future dynamic shifts such as the need to make older properties greener and the ongoing importance of intergenerational gifting.
“With equity release becoming ever more useful to a wider audience, the standards and safeguards we have established and continue to evolve will ensure that future generations of consumers can access products and advice of the highest possible calibre.”
Dave Harris, CEO of more2life:
“Today’s report not only clearly defines the size of the existing later life lending market but also hints at its future potential with increasing numbers of consumers looking to lenders, advisers and other trusted sources of information for support. While planning your retirement finances used to be a tick box exercise, people now have greater choice and responsibilities than ever before.
“What people can expect from products within the later life lending industry is light-years away from what we saw even ten years ago but this research clearly shows that not only do we need to keep innovating but ensure that the wider adviser community better understands their options. There is much to talk about and the Later Life Lending community needs to start the conversation.”
