Equity Release for a Holiday Home. For Gary and Wendy, retirement wasn’t about slowing down. It was about freedom, flexibility and finally enjoying life on their terms after decades of hard work, raising a family and putting everyone else first.
Like many homeowners approaching later life, they had a clear vision of what they wanted next: warmer weather, a relaxed pace of life and the ability to spend long stretches of the year somewhere sunny. Spain had always been their dream. But with four children, grandchildren starting to arrive and Christmas traditions firmly rooted in the UK, selling their family home outright never felt right. “We didn’t want to choose between our family and our lifestyle,” Wendy explained. “We wanted both.”
A Common Dilemma for Later-Life Homeowners
Gary and Wendy’s situation is one HFA Later Life sees often. Many homeowners aged 55+ reach retirement with a valuable property, modest pensions and clear lifestyle goals. What stops them isn’t desire, it’s the fear of making the wrong financial decision.
Selling the family home would have meant cutting ties with the UK base they loved. Downsizing didn’t appeal either. They didn’t want to compromise space, comfort or the ability to host family gatherings.
That’s when equity release entered the conversation, not as a last resort, but as a planning tool.
Exploring Equity Release as a Lifestyle Choice
When Gary and Wendy contacted HFA Later Life, they weren’t sure equity release was even appropriate for them. Like many people, they assumed it was only for covering bills or financial shortfalls.
What surprised them was how flexible modern Lifetime Mortgages had become.
By releasing a portion of the value tied up in their UK home, they could:
- Retain full ownership of their property
- Remain living there for life
- Access tax-free cash
- Avoid monthly repayments
- Use the funds exactly as they chose
This meant purchasing a holiday home in Spain without selling their UK base or draining pensions they wanted to preserve.
A Life Split Between Two Homes
Today, Gary and Wendy live a lifestyle they never thought possible. They spend autumn and spring in Spain, enjoying warm weather when the UK is cold and grey. When summer arrives, they return home, close to family, familiar routines and British sunshine.
“It’s funny,” Gary says.“We always imagined we’d escape the UK summers, but now we actually enjoy them. We used equity release for a holiday home”
Christmas, birthdays and long family visits all take place in the UK home they’ve lived in for years. Their Spanish property has become their bolt-hole. A place of rest, warmth and slower living.
An Unexpected Financial Benefit
One of the most surprising outcomes came later. As Gary and Wendy are back in the UK during peak summer months, they began renting out their Spanish home. Demand was strong. The location, timing and flexibility worked perfectly.
Those 8–10 weeks of summer rentals now generate the same income Gary earned during a full year of work. “It completely changed how we felt about retirement,” Wendy said. “We’re not worrying about money anymore, we’re enjoying life.”
Why Advice Made the Difference
Equity release isn’t suitable for everyone, and it’s never about rushing decisions. What made this work for Gary and Wendy was careful planning, clear explanations and advice tailored specifically to their goals.
HFA Later Life helped them understand:
- How much equity they could safely release
- The long-term impact on their estate
- Safeguards built into modern plans
- How to structure the release responsibly
The result wasn’t just a financial solution, it was peace of mind.
Start Planning Your Own Flexible Retirement
Equity release doesn’t have to mean choosing one life over another. For many homeowners, it’s about creating options – flexibility, comfort and freedom without compromise.
If you’re aged 55+ and wondering how your home could support the lifestyle you want now, a conversation could change what feels possible.
Visit www.HFALaterLife.uk to explore your options with clarity and care.
Disclaimer:
Equity release includes Lifetime Mortgages and Home Reversion Schemes. We can advise and arrange Lifetime Mortgages and will refer to an approved specialist for Home Reversion schemes.
This is a Lifetime Mortgage. These are only applicable to those 55 and over, and it could affect eligibility to state means-tested benefits and the inheritance you may leave. To understand the features and risks, ask for a personalised illustration.
There may be a fee for mortgage advice. The precise amount will depend upon your circumstances and will be agreed with you before proceeding, but we estimate it will be £1,500 payable at completion for equity release products.
