About the adviser
- Are you authorised by the FCA, and what is your firm's FCA number? Check it on the FCA register before the meeting.
- Do you hold a specialist equity release qualification? (CeRER, ER1 or equivalent.) Required by the FCA to advise on it.
- Are you whole of market, or tied to certain lenders? You want whole of market, and a list of who they searched.
- How are you paid? Fee, commission or both, and how much. Anything above about 2% of the loan or £2,000 deserves a question.
- Are you a member of the Equity Release Council? Not compulsory, but a good sign.
About whether to do it at all
- Is there anything I should try first? A further advance, a RIO, downsizing, benefits I have not claimed, a family loan. If the adviser has not asked about these, ask why.
- Will it affect any benefits I get or could get? They are required to consider this.
- What does it do to what my family inherits, in pounds, at 10 and 20 years? It is in the illustration; make them walk you through it.
About the plan
- Why this lender, and what was second?
- What is the rate, is it fixed for life, and is that the MER or AER?
- Lump sum or drawdown, and why? If you do not need it all now, drawdown should be the default.
- Can I make voluntary repayments, how much a year, and can I stop?
- What is the early repayment charge, exactly, and for how long? Fixed or gilt-linked; when it falls to zero; what is waived on death, care, downsizing or a partner's death.
- Can I move house with it, and what properties would not be accepted?
- Does it have inheritance protection, and what does it cost in loan size?
- Does it meet all five Equity Release Council standards? No negative equity, right to stay, fixed or capped rate, right to move, penalty-free partial repayments.
About the money and the process
- What are all the fees, in pounds, and which are added to the loan?
- How long will it take, and what would slow it down?
- Which solicitor do you suggest and why, and can I use my own?
- If I decide not to go ahead after your research, do I owe you anything?
Answers that should worry you
"Everyone does it." "The rate might go up if you wait." "You don't need to tell the children." "We only use one lender, they're the best." "Sign today and I'll waive the fee." "You can always pay it off." Any of these, and the meeting is over.
Print the Questions to Ask Your Adviser PDF and take it with you. Advisers who are good at their job like clients who ask.
A note on the numbers. Rates, loan-to-value limits, fees and timescales are typical figures at the time of writing (2026) and vary between lenders and with your age, health and property. This is information, not advice. Equity release must be arranged through an FCA-authorised adviser, who will give you a personalised illustration before you commit to anything.
Quick answers
How do I check an adviser is genuine?
Search their firm on the FCA register at register.fca.org.uk and check that equity release ("advising on regulated mortgage contracts" and "home reversion" or "lifetime mortgages") is among their permissions. Then check the person is listed under that firm.
Should I get two opinions?
It costs nothing to have two first appointments, and it is the quickest way to find out whether the first recommendation was the best available.
Ready to talk to someone who can actually do it?
We introduce you to a qualified, FCA-authorised equity release adviser who will look at every option, tell you how much you could release and how fast, and never charge you for the first conversation. No obligation.