A QUARTER OF OVER 50’S NOT FINANCIALLY PREPARED FOR RETIREMENT

A quarter of those aged 50-61 are not financially prepared for retirement – a new report has revealed

Research from RoyaleLife, the nation’s leading bungalow provider for the over 45s, has shown that a growing number of soon-to-be retirees have been left searching for alternative ways to fund their futures, commonly using equity release schemes as a quick fix to provide retirement cash, not understanding it could lead to financial woes.

The study entitled Bungalows – A resurgence in single storey living, which questioned 1,000 over 50s in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, has led to the nation’s largest bungalow provider to highlight alternative schemes to help alleviate this growing crisis.

Robert Bull, CEO of RoyaleLife, comments, “It comes as no surprise that the pandemic has played a huge part in this, with COVID-19 causing an employment crisis and a record number of people having been made redundant. With the ever-rising cost of living, many people are struggling to save enough because of multiple finance pressures, often prioritising caring, debt and mortgage repayments over saving.”

This echoes the statistics found in RoyaleLife’s research, with those in the East and West Midlands topping the charts by admitting they were not financially prepared for retirement. Those living in Nottingham were the least prepared in the country, closely followed by those in Birmingham, who ranked second.

He continued, “The report has also revealed that those aged 40-65 do not have confidence in their finances, and many don’t understand how much they need to save to enjoy a comfortable retirement, often thinking schemes such as Equity Release are the easiest solution to free up cash quickly.

“Despite working well for some, there is a growing number of those who have experienced drawbacks, with many people finding themselves out of pocket, or worse, faced with a significant amount of interest that is more than the original value of their home.

“However, our innovative Home Part Exchange scheme has seen interest spike significantly since the pandemic, as it provides an excellent alternative for those reassessing their finances, while addressing the understandable concerns that come with other equity schemes.”

Such is the case for Garry Ford, who lives at RoyaleLife’s Meadowlands Court development in Bude and opted for Home Part Exchange.

He said, “My father bought our family home in 1956 and lived there for the rest of his life. He worked four jobs to keep a roof over our heads, eventually becoming mortgage free. We created many happy memories there.

“In the 90s, my father decided to take out equity release to free up some cash and pay for some essential house repairs. After he sadly passed away in 2008, his partner Doreen continued to live there until she passed in 2020.

“Their home sold for £5,000 more than the asking price. Soon after, the equity company took 82% of the sale price and gave us five weeks to empty the house and leave. After legal fees, estate agent and maintenance fees, we were left with just £20,000, which we split between his four grandchildren. It felt like my father’s legacy had been reduced to nothing.”

When faced with the opportunity to take out equity release himself, Garry’s father’s negative experience made him think twice. Urged to look into other options by his concerned children, Garry and his wife Jenny discovered RoyaleLife’s Home Part Exchange scheme.

Home Part Exchange provides 100% of a seller’s home’s market value, based on two independent valuations.

For example, if your home is worth £500,000 and you purchase a RoyaleLife bungalow for £300,000, you keep the remaining £200,000. You can then use this money as you wish – to provide for your family as part of their inheritance, pay off debts, or simply enjoy your golden years.

Garry concluded, “By using Home Part Exchange, we have been able to fund our retirement, and now we have the time – and the money – to be able to enjoy an active social life. We couldn’t be happier with this next chapter in our lives.”

For more information on Home Part Exchange visit: royalelife.com/buying-with-us/home-part-exchange/ 

Read RoyaleLife’s Whitepaper; Bungalows – A resurgence in single storey living here: royalelife.com/white-paper/