Cashing in kept me in my home - Published:31/08/07
For 81 years, Dennis Halliday has lived in the same home, surrounded by cherished mementos of his long career as a River Thames master boat designerPOLL: Equity-rich, cash-poor pensioners are increasingly cashing in on the worth of their home If you are, what option are you most likely to takeThis is Money has been named Financial Website of the day in recognition of its campaigning reporting >> ReadBut despite still possessing a vice-like handshake that betrays his past line of work, his health is not quite what it once wasThough celebrating his 86th birthday nowadays, he is now confined to the ground floor of his house When he is not in hospital, he is heavily dependent on carers who visit three era a day and do everything from preparing his food to putting him to bedWhen his carers are not in attendance, Margaret Ahmed, his gently neighbour in Chiswick, west London, keeps a close look at on himMargaret works from home and has an enduring power of legal representative, which means she can sort out Dennis's money should he be temporarily hospitalised and bills need payingDennis, who has never married, is an extremely arrogant gentleman and is determined to end his days in his own home 'My look after and father died here and I want to do the same,' he says He shudders at the thought of leaving into a care home or moving to a smaller home, but the care he receives is not cheap - £1,200 to £1,600 a month It is an expense he is able to bear because he has just released some of the equity in his houseHe has done this by taking out an equity let go scheme - a lifetime mortgage These plans let anyone from the age of 55 to tap into the value of their home without having to put up for sale, move out, or make subsequent monthly interest payments in its place, interest charges are deferred until the planholder dies, when the capital borrowed and interest are repaid from the landLifetime mortgages differ from home reversion schemes - the other main shape of equity release product Here, a homeowner sells a piece of their home for a discounted cash sum When they expire, the slice goes to the plan companyEquity release crop are offered by many companies, including Northern astound, Norwich Union, Prudential and Standard LifeAccording to latest figures, sales of equity release schemes are steadily increasing The sector's trade body, Safe Home profits Plans (Ship), says that sales are running at £12 billion a day with more than 30,000 new plans put up annuallyYet ignorance about equity release remains extensive According to Norwich Union, the sector's biggest player, more than 50% of Britons do not know what evenhandedness release isElizabeth Boardall, head of marketing for Norwich amalgamation's post-retirement crop, says: 'It is worrying that so many people are unaware of the basics of equity let go when it is now a viable alternative for many approaching, or in, retirement'The insurer has just shaped a DVD for consumers who want to learn more Until Dennis saying his solicitor to update his will this year, he admits he was unaware of equity release But once he told him that he was struggling with his care cost, he was referred to Angela Guylee of Blake Independent Financial armed forces in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, who specialises in equity releaseShe recommended that Dennis take out a lifetime mortgage with Cardiff-based provider Hodge Equity let go By releasing £150,000 of equity from his home, which is appreciated at £1m, and putting the profits into an investment bond topped up with private savings, Dennis has plugged the journal shortfall between his personal income, which comprises his state retirement fund, attendance payment and a small private pension, and the cost of his care cost and household billsCrucially, the equity released will not compromise any of his benefits, though if he had been in receipt of means-tested benefits such as pension credit, this would not have been the caseIf his care fees rise, he has the option to draw down a further £100,000 Interest on the £150,000 loan will roll up at 65% fixedHowever, if he draws further funds, he will pay the speed that Hodge is charging at the time on the new funds - at present 689%Like all equity release products offered through providers that are members of Ship, Dennis's loan will never exceed the worth of his home, but interest charges rack up rapidly If Dennis lives another five years, his £150,000 loan will balloon to almost £207,500 If he lives for another ten years, that shape will be £286,800Guylee says: 'Equity release products are not for everyone Indeed, the first obsession I urge clients to consider are to either downsize or take out a loan where interest is charged monthly rather than be allowable to roll up'• Ship provides general information on evenhandedness release at 0870 241 6060 or ship-ltdorg Norwich amalgamation's DVD is available on 0800 404 7137 Advisers specialising in evenhandedness release can be found at unbiasedcouk Financial Mail has also shaped a guide in association with specialist Key departure Solutions Copies are available from 0800 085 5755Select a loan term 12 months (1 day 24 months (2 existence 36 months (3 existence 48 months (4 existence 60 months (5 existence 72 months (6 existence 84 months (7 existence 96 months (8 existence 108 months (9 existence 120 months (10 years)Please select a type of insurance existence insurance Home and contents Car Breakdown services physical condition - medical physical condition - dental Travel favorite - dog favorite - cat GOThinking about investing in possessions This is Money has the best.
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Cashing In Kept Me In My Home >>
PruHealth PMI package set for launch with Boots - Published:03/05/07
far above the ground street health and beauty retailer Boots has announced that it will be launching an affordable private checkup insurance (PMI) package in conjunction with Prudential's physical condition arm, PruHealthResearch carried out by Boots indicates that some four fifths of customers are unwilling to invest in a package due to prohibitive costsHowever, well over a third of consumers have said they would be ready to purchase a competitively priced dealThe Boots and PruHealth PMI package provides access to every registered private sanatorium and NHS private patient component, as well as access to over 13,000 consultantsFull cancer cover at every stage of action is also available on the PruHealth wrap up, which also enables direct paymentShaun Matisonn, chief executive of PruHealth, supposed: "By teaming up with a trusted company similar to Boots, we aim to create private health insurance more accessible and affordable via the high street, and really start to change people's attitude to.
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The postman cometh - Published:30/10/06
Identity fraud greater than before 17 per cent over the first quarter of 2006, with fraudsters increasingly turning to position as a vulnerable point for vital informationThey are helped in this by the fifth of people who do not trouble informing others when they move home, despite 50 per cent of all deception using people's previous addressesThis laziness means that 23 per cent of households have received banks statements intended for a previous resident, claims the investigate by PrudentialA further 50 per cent have received usefulness bills, polling details, insurance certificates and credit card statements meant for someone who has moved onAll of these documents provide enough detail for a crook to help fake an individuality, potentially ruining the true owner’s credit record"Despite more than 100,000 people being affected by identity deception each year, a quarter of households are unconcerned about individuality fraud and be unsuccessful to take even basic precautions," said Nick Fox of Prudential"Being a victim of identity robbery causes a huge problem and can cost thousands of pounds, however there are simple ladder that people can take in order to significantly minimise their danger"MoneyExpert Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA register No 301654) The Financial Services Authority does not regulate some forms of mortgage agreement,.
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