Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Mortgage Solutions. Read the original article for full details.

Industry Leaders Call for Integration of Later Life Mortgage Advice

Senior figures from the later life sector are urging advisers across mainstream mortgages and wealth management to break down advice silos for the benefit of consumers. At a recent summit hosted by Air, representatives from Nokkel, Legal & General, UK Finance, and the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI) discussed the need for more holistic advice in the equity release market.

The panel highlighted that the total later life lending market, including mainstream lending, remortgage, and product transfer, is worth around £60bn each year, with equity release accounting for just £2.6bn of that total. It was noted that many advisers who write a significant portion of this lending do not have lifetime mortgage permissions, and that customers over 55 are often not presented with the full range of available products.

The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Mortgage Rule Review and Later Life Mortgage Market Study have emphasised the role of lifetime and retirement interest-only (RIO) mortgages in supporting homeowners’ financial security in later life. The FCA is expected to publish its findings for the Later Life Mortgage Market Study by the end of this year.

Ronnell Reffell of UK Finance pointed out that more than 40,000 new mortgages were taken by over-55s in the last quarter of 2025, demonstrating the scale of the opportunity. However, the panel agreed that a knowledge gap exists, with many advisers not discussing equity release due to a lack of qualifications or expertise.

Stephanie Charman of the AMI suggested that advisers should refer clients to experts if they are not suitably qualified, and called for better signposting and referral practices. Roland Whyte of Nokkel stressed the importance of making property central to retirement planning, noting that technology can help integrate property into holistic wealth strategies.

For UK letting agents and inventory clerks, these discussions underline the growing importance of later life lending products and the need for greater awareness of the full range of options available to older homeowners. As the market continues to evolve, breaking down advice silos could lead to more comprehensive support for clients considering their property wealth in retirement.