Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Mortgage Strategy. Read the original article for full details.
Equity Release Lending and Customer Numbers Increase in Q2
Equity release lending in the UK rose by 4% to £597 million in the second quarter of the year, according to the latest data from the Equity Release Council. The council also reported a 4% quarter-on-quarter increase in overall customer numbers, reaching 13,489.
The data shows that 5,307 homeowners accessed housing wealth for the first time in Q2, representing a 9% rise on the previous quarter and returning to levels seen in Q2 2025. Existing customers taking further advances increased by 12% to 1,204, while the number of returning drawdown customers dipped by 1% to 6,978.
Despite these increases, both lending and customer activity remain below Q2 2025 levels. The Equity Release Council noted that the latest figures suggest confidence is returning to the market after a softer first quarter.
Borrowing Trends and Adviser Sentiment
The average new lump sum borrowing fell by 6% over the quarter to £113,779. In contrast, the average initial drawdown borrowing increased by 2% to £63,642.
Adviser sentiment, according to the council, is cautiously optimistic. More than a third (37%) of firms expect enquiries and completions to increase in the third quarter, while 35% anticipate higher application volumes. Nearly half (47%) expect application levels to remain broadly unchanged.
The adviser survey also found that 74% of firms said customers were delaying decisions while waiting for rates to improve, and 55% cited borrowers being unable to achieve the loan-to-value they required. Almost half (47%) expect interest rates to be lower than they were during 2025.
Relevance for Letting Agents and Inventory Clerks
The increase in equity release activity may impact the UK property market, particularly for letting agents and inventory clerks monitoring trends in later life lending and property transactions. The data highlights a potential rise in older homeowners accessing property wealth, which could influence property availability and turnover in the private rented sector.
Source: Mortgage Strategy