Key Equity Release

Key Equity Release: retirement finance advice in the UK

Key Equity Release is a British financial advice firm operating under the legal name Key Retirement Solutions Ltd. Its activity focuses on helping homeowners aged 55 and over to make use of the value built up in their properties to supplement their income during retirement. The company states it has assisted more than one million homeowners and unlocked over £8 billion since it was founded in 1998.

Advice areas

The company structures its offering into three main areas:

• Equity release: includes the lifetime mortgage and the drawdown lifetime mortgage option. It offers tools such as an equity release calculator, an eligibility checker, a lifetime mortgage calculator and a home equity calculator. It also advises those who wish to switch equity release provider.
• Later life mortgages: covers lifetime mortgages and the retirement interest-only mortgage. It has a later life mortgage finder and a free later life finance guide.
• Wills & LPAs: estate planning services including wills, lasting powers of attorney, trusts and living wills. It offers a free guide and a free Wills & LPAs consultation, as well as bereavement support.

History and corporate evolution

Founded in 1998 under the name Home Income Gold, the company changed its name to Key Retirement Solutions in 2001. In 2004 it completed a management buy-out and received its first award. In 2007 it expanded into estate planning, wills and LPAs. In 2013 it moved its head office to Preston. In 2014 it adopted the Key Retirement brand and in 2017 it was acquired by Partners Group. Between 2018 and 2022 it accumulated multiple national awards for its advice and innovation work. In 2022 it was rebranded as Key Later Life Finance to incorporate later life mortgages, and in 2024 it was renamed again, this time as Key Equity Release.

Recognition and memberships

The firm states it has won more than 80 awards and has over 17,000 reviews on Trustpilot, where it is rated 'Excellent'. It is a member of the Equity Release Council and its activity is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under registration number 224987. The company presents itself as 'the UK's most trusted equity release adviser', a claim that comes from its own corporate communication.

Client profile and advice approach

The target audience is UK homeowners aged 55 and over. The company emphasises personalised, no-pressure advice in plain English, which evaluates all available options and not only equity release. Among the use cases it mentions are home improvements, supplementing income and providing financial support to family. An example customer cited on its website describes the release of £68,000 for home renovations.

Free tools and resources

The website makes available to users calculators and eligibility checkers, free guides on equity release, later life mortgages and estate planning, as well as a glossary of terms. It also offers the possibility of speaking to a specialist adviser at no cost to explore the available options.

Location and contact

Baines House, Midgery Court, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 9ZH