FAQs

What is the Home for Life Plan?

The Home for Life Plan provides a simple way for you to secure your next home for significantly less than the market value through the purchase of a Lifetime Lease. Plus, you are able to purchase a percentage of the property value to safeguard for the future, to provide an inheritance if you wish.

What is a Lifetime Lease?

A Lifetime Lease is a legally binding agreement applied to the purchase of a new home and is registered at the Land Registry.

It protects you and provides you with the legal right to live in your chosen home with no rent, mortgage, or interest repayments for your lifetime.

Is the Home for Life Plan equity release?

No, the Home for Life Plan is not equity release. It’s not a mortgage or loan and cannot be applied to your current property. It’s an alternative option for people looking to move home.

Equity release is a way of taking equity from the value of your current property. Typically it's a long-term loan that's repaid using your home once you pass away or go into long-term care. As there is no financial lending (or any repayments) with a Home for Life Plan, you will not be accruing interest, and there will be no loan balance to clear when the plan ends.

Can I get a Home for Life Plan on my current home?

The Home for Life Plan can only be applied to the purchase of a new property. It is not a mortgage or a loan and cannot be used to release equity from your current property.

I don't own a property; can I get a home for Life Plan?

Yes, of course! The Home for Life Plan can help people aged 60 or over to secure their next home for less than the market value. Most people will fund their move using the sale of another property, but you don’t need to.

If you are renting or a cash buyer that’s not a problem! Our team would work with you to find a property in your desired location that is within your budget. This would usually mean that you’d need a starting budget of at least £50,000 to find a property on the open market in England or Wales.

To see an estimate of how much you could save with a Home for Life Plan, use our no-obligation online calculator. If you have nothing to sell, simply put £0 in the question regarding your property’s value and add the amount you do have to fund your move in the ‘savings’ section.

My partner isn't over 60, can we get a Home for Life Plan?

The Home for Life Plan is only available to people aged 60 and over. If your partner or the person you’re moving with is under 60, unfortunately they wouldn’t be able to benefit from the plan.

We’d recommend you wait until you are both over 60 – which would mean you’d both be legally protected and have the right to live in the property for the rest of your lives, rent and mortgage free.

Can I leave an inheritance with the Home for Life Plan?

Yes, your Home for Life Plan is tailored to help you achieve your goals, including leaving an inheritance, gifting an early inheritance, or both!

For many people guaranteeing an inheritance for their loved ones is a priority. So everyone has the option to safeguard up to 50% of the future value of the property. This is detailed within the Declaration of Trust document.

I have a Home for Life Plan, can I move?

Yes, the Home for Life Plan is portable.

While your Home for Life Plan is designed to ensure you secure a home that suits your long-term needs, we understand things may change over time. That's why the plan is portable and can move with you to a new home, should you need.

If you do decide you want to move home again, please be aware that you would need to cover the typical costs associated with moving, such as estate agent and solicitor's fees, SDLT, and removal costs for example.

Please note: These costs are intended as a guide and do not detail all possible costs associated with moving home.

Can I decorate my home?

Absolutely! It’s your home to decorate exactly as you want. Whether it’s new wallpaper, painting, or putting down new laminate floor, you can do it!

If you want to undertake any major renovations, such as a new conservatory or an extension, you’ll need to get permission.

If you have questions about any alterations or updates that you want to make to the property, just give us a call.

What happens if I go into full-time care?

Any move takes a great deal of time and consideration, and moving into full-time residential care is no different. We understand that moving into a care home can offer you security, peace of mind and companionship, especially if you are in need of medical support. If you do move into care, and a qualified medical practitioner certifies that you are permanently incapable of returning to the property your Home for Life Plan will end.

If you have safeguarded a percentage of the property’s value, this will be transferred to you and will form part of your assets. Care costs, assessments and options vary wildly from area to area, so it’s always worth seeking advice from your local authority during this time.

What happens when I pass away?

We know that this is a really difficult topic to cover for anyone, but it will happen to everyone one day.

If you’re the only person on the Home for Life Plan living in the property then it will be sold, and the proceeds will go to Homewise or its investment partners.

If you’ve safeguarded a percentage of the property’s future value, then this will be transferred to your estate.

If you have a partner on the plan, then they will retain the right to live in the property rent and mortgage free until they ether move into long-term residential care or pass away.

Do I choose from the properties I've seen online?

No, a Home for Life Plan can be purchased for pretty much any property on the open market with any estate agent, anywhere in England or Wales (subject to Terms & Conditions).

Homewise does not own the properties you may see advertised on Rightmove or Zoopla. These are simply free second adverts for vendors, through our trusted partnerships.

Can I leave an inheritance with the Home for Life Plan?

Yes, your Home for Life Plan is tailored to help you achieve your goals, including leaving an inheritance, gifting an early inheritance, or both!

For many people guaranteeing an inheritance for their loved ones is a priority. So everyone has the option to safeguard up to 50% of the future value of the property. This is detailed within the Declaration of Trust document.

My partner isn't over 60, can we get a Home for Life Plan?

The Home for Life Plan is only available to people aged 60 and over. If your partner or the person you’re moving with is under 60, unfortunately they wouldn’t be able to benefit from the plan.

We’d recommend you wait until you are both over 60 – which would mean you’d both be legally protected and have the right to live in the property for the rest of your lives, rent and mortgage free.

Can I leave an inheritance with the Home for Life Plan?

Yes, your Home for Life Plan is tailored to help you achieve your goals, including leaving an inheritance, gifting an early inheritance, or both!

For many people guaranteeing an inheritance for their loved ones is a priority. So everyone has the option to safeguard up to 50% of the future value of the property. This is detailed within the Declaration of Trust document.

Do my family need to be involved in the planning process?

Homewise is a family-run business, and we treat our customers like family. That's why we know how important it is to have loved ones involved during the planning and moving process.

We recommend inviting them to join you for the call with your Customer Account Manager, to give them the opportunity to ask any questions they may have. We have a brochure available that you can pass on to your friends and family which will help them to understand how Homewise can help you with your move.

Remember, you are not alone. The Homewise team will be on hand to support you, and your family, every step of the way, and you can contact us at any time.

What happens if I go into full-time care?

Any move takes a great deal of time and consideration, and moving into full-time residential care is no different. We understand that moving into a care home can offer you security, peace of mind and companionship, especially if you are in need of medical support. If you do move into care, and a qualified medical practitioner certifies that you are permanently incapable of returning to the property your Home for Life Plan will end.

If you have safeguarded a percentage of the property’s value, this will be transferred to you and will form part of your assets. Care costs, assessments and options vary wildly from area to area, so it’s always worth seeking advice from your local authority during this time.

Who are Homewise?

Homewise is a family-run business and we’ve been helping people find their ideal home since 1971, when Reg Neal, a local businessman, recognised the limited options and lack of choice available to older homeowners and wanted to help provide them with options.

Over 50 years later, Homewise is still run by the Neal family, and we continue to help people over 60 to find their dream homes where they can live happy and secure, rent and mortgage free for their lifetimes.

Our customers can be moving alone or with other people, but they must be aged sixty or older and eligible to live in the UK to benefit from our services.

To find out more about Homewise and our history, visit the 'About Homewise' page on our website.

Is Homewise regulated?

Homewise is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK regulator for financial companies, because we are not a financial company. We provide property products and services, not financial products. We don’t offer any form of financial service (such as a loan, mortgage or equity release). All of this means we do not fall under the remit of the FCA.

Whilst the market in which we operate is not subject to regulation we regularly benchmark our customer processes and procedures against the highest standards by using an independent auditor. You can trust that we are experts in property and the Home for Life Plan, and our Code of Practice is set up to ensure an honest and clear service is provided, our customers at the heart of all that we do.

Do my family need to be involved in the planning process?

Homewise is a family-run business, and we treat our customers like family. That's why we know how important it is to have loved ones involved during the planning and moving process.

We recommend inviting them to join you for the call with your Customer Account Manager, to give them the opportunity to ask any questions they may have. We have a brochure available that you can pass on to your friends and family which will help them to understand how Homewise can help you with your move.

Remember, you are not alone. The Homewise team will be on hand to support you, and your family, every step of the way, and you can contact us at any time.

Does Homewise own all the properties they advertise on Rightmove?

No, the property listings you see on Rightmove and Zoopla are free second listings. We partner with trusted estate agents in England and Wales, and this service, called Market Plus, is one that they provide to their vendors free of charge. We don’t own any of these properties.

I've read conflicting reviews about Homewise, and I am feeling unsure

Unfortunately, these days there are many opportunities for people who have never spoken with Homewise to publish their misconceptions and misunderstandings about our service and what the Home for Life Plan is.

We would always encourage you to read the truth about Homewise. You can read real customer reviews through Feefo, an independent review service. There are videos you can watch from our team – learn how Reg Neal started helping people over 50 years ago and today it is still a family business run by his sons. You can also read our blog on the 8 most common myths about Homewise.

Most importantly though, just ask us! We value honesty and will always be open and honest with our customers.

What would happen if Homewise went into administration?

This isn’t something we’re expecting to happen but, just in case it does, we’ve put plans in place.

If everything does go wrong and Homewise is no longer around then you and your Home for Life Plan and the Lifetime Lease is still protected.

The Lifetime Lease is registered at the Land Registry, protecting you as the Lifetime Lease Owner and if you have safeguarded any of the property’s value then this is secured via the legally binding Declaration of Trust. It is not dependent on Homewise.

How do I stop seeing Homewise listings when searching on Rightmove and Zoopla?

A Home for Life Plan is only available to those aged 60+ and may not be the ideal solution for you, and that's ok! You can filter your search results on Rightmove or Zoopla to exclude Homewise listings.

If you exclude 'retirement properties' this will stop the over 60s listing showing in your search. You won't miss out on any properties being sold in your area, you'll just see the standard listing from the agent selling the property, at the full market price.

Why is my property listed online with Homewise?

If you are selling your property with one of our estate agent partners then they will have included the second "Market Plus" listing as a free, optional, marketing opportunity for you.

The Market Plus option is detailed in your vendor agreement with your estate agent.

Please be assured Homewise is not selling your property and you will still receive the full agreed selling price when your estate agent sells your property - not the advertised Homewise guide price.

If you do not want the extra exposure from the Homewise listing then you can opt out at any time. Please instruct your estate agent and the Homewise listing will be removed.

Read our detailed guide about Market Plus to find out more.

How do I remove the Homewise listing for my property?

You can request for the Homewise listing to be removed at any time. Simply contact your estate agent and they will process the request.

Please note: Portal feeds can take up to 24hrs to refresh and the listing may remain visible during this time.

If you wish to contact Homewise directly regarding a Market Plus listing, please email marketplusagreements@homewise.co.uk with your full address. Depending on the system configuration and the partner estate agent, we may be able to process your request directly, but your estate agent is best placed to help and advise in any case.

Who are Homewise?

Homewise is a family-run business and we’ve been helping people find their ideal home since 1971, when Reg Neal, a local businessman, recognised the limited options and lack of choice available to older homeowners and wanted to help provide them with options.

Over 50 years later, Homewise is still run by the Neal family, and we continue to help people over 60 to find their dream homes where they can live happy and secure, rent and mortgage free for their lifetimes.

Our customers can be moving alone or with other people, but they must be aged sixty or older and eligible to live in the UK to benefit from our services.

To find out more about Homewise and our history, visit the 'About Homewise' page on our website.

What is the Home for Life Plan?

The Home for Life Plan provides a simple way for you to secure your next home for significantly less than the market value through the purchase of a Lifetime Lease. Plus, you are able to purchase a percentage of the property value to safeguard for the future, to provide an inheritance if you wish.

What is a Lifetime Lease?

A Lifetime Lease is a legally binding agreement applied to the purchase of a new home and is registered at the Land Registry.

It protects you and provides you with the legal right to live in your chosen home with no rent, mortgage, or interest repayments for your lifetime.

Is the Home for Life Plan equity release?

No, the Home for Life Plan is not equity release. It’s not a mortgage or loan and cannot be applied to your current property. It’s an alternative option for people looking to move home.

Equity release is a way of taking equity from the value of your current property. Typically it's a long-term loan that's repaid using your home once you pass away or go into long-term care. As there is no financial lending (or any repayments) with a Home for Life Plan, you will not be accruing interest, and there will be no loan balance to clear when the plan ends.

Is Homewise regulated?

Homewise is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK regulator for financial companies, because we are not a financial company. We provide property products and services, not financial products. We don’t offer any form of financial service (such as a loan, mortgage or equity release). All of this means we do not fall under the remit of the FCA.

Whilst the market in which we operate is not subject to regulation we regularly benchmark our customer processes and procedures against the highest standards by using an independent auditor. You can trust that we are experts in property and the Home for Life Plan, and our Code of Practice is set up to ensure an honest and clear service is provided, our customers at the heart of all that we do.

Who are Homewise?

Homewise is a family-run business and we’ve been helping people find their ideal home since 1971, when Reg Neal, a local businessman, recognised the limited options and lack of choice available to older homeowners and wanted to help provide them with options.

Over 50 years later, Homewise is still run by the Neal family, and we continue to help people over 60 to find their dream homes where they can live happy and secure, rent and mortgage free for their lifetimes.

Our customers can be moving alone or with other people, but they must be aged sixty or older and eligible to live in the UK to benefit from our services.

To find out more about Homewise and our history, visit the 'About Homewise' page on our website.

What is the Home for Life Plan?

The Home for Life Plan provides a simple way for you to secure your next home for significantly less than the market value through the purchase of a Lifetime Lease. Plus, you are able to purchase a percentage of the property value to safeguard for the future, to provide an inheritance if you wish.

What is a Lifetime Lease?

A Lifetime Lease is a legally binding agreement applied to the purchase of a new home and is registered at the Land Registry.

It protects you and provides you with the legal right to live in your chosen home with no rent, mortgage, or interest repayments for your lifetime.

Is the Home for Life Plan equity release?

No, the Home for Life Plan is not equity release. It’s not a mortgage or loan and cannot be applied to your current property. It’s an alternative option for people looking to move home.

Equity release is a way of taking equity from the value of your current property. Typically it's a long-term loan that's repaid using your home once you pass away or go into long-term care. As there is no financial lending (or any repayments) with a Home for Life Plan, you will not be accruing interest, and there will be no loan balance to clear when the plan ends.

Is Homewise regulated?

Homewise is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK regulator for financial companies, because we are not a financial company. We provide property products and services, not financial products. We don’t offer any form of financial service (such as a loan, mortgage or equity release). All of this means we do not fall under the remit of the FCA.

Whilst the market in which we operate is not subject to regulation we regularly benchmark our customer processes and procedures against the highest standards by using an independent auditor. You can trust that we are experts in property and the Home for Life Plan, and our Code of Practice is set up to ensure an honest and clear service is provided, our customers at the heart of all that we do.

Can I get a Home for Life Plan on my current home?

The Home for Life Plan can only be applied to the purchase of a new property. It is not a mortgage or a loan and cannot be used to release equity from your current property.

I don't own a property; can I get a home for Life Plan?

Yes, of course! The Home for Life Plan can help people aged 60 or over to secure their next home for less than the market value. Most people will fund their move using the sale of another property, but you don’t need to.

If you are renting or a cash buyer that’s not a problem! Our team would work with you to find a property in your desired location that is within your budget. This would usually mean that you’d need a starting budget of at least £50,000 to find a property on the open market in England or Wales.

To see an estimate of how much you could save with a Home for Life Plan, use our no-obligation online calculator. If you have nothing to sell, simply put £0 in the question regarding your property’s value and add the amount you do have to fund your move in the ‘savings’ section.

My partner isn't over 60, can we get a Home for Life Plan?

The Home for Life Plan is only available to people aged 60 and over. If your partner or the person you’re moving with is under 60, unfortunately they wouldn’t be able to benefit from the plan.

We’d recommend you wait until you are both over 60 – which would mean you’d both be legally protected and have the right to live in the property for the rest of your lives, rent and mortgage free.

Can I leave an inheritance with the Home for Life Plan?

Yes, your Home for Life Plan is tailored to help you achieve your goals, including leaving an inheritance, gifting an early inheritance, or both!

For many people guaranteeing an inheritance for their loved ones is a priority. So everyone has the option to safeguard up to 50% of the future value of the property. This is detailed within the Declaration of Trust document.

Do my family need to be involved in the planning process?

Homewise is a family-run business, and we treat our customers like family. That's why we know how important it is to have loved ones involved during the planning and moving process.

We recommend inviting them to join you for the call with your Customer Account Manager, to give them the opportunity to ask any questions they may have. We have a brochure available that you can pass on to your friends and family which will help them to understand how Homewise can help you with your move.

Remember, you are not alone. The Homewise team will be on hand to support you, and your family, every step of the way, and you can contact us at any time.

I have a Home for Life Plan, can I move?

Yes, the Home for Life Plan is portable.

While your Home for Life Plan is designed to ensure you secure a home that suits your long-term needs, we understand things may change over time. That's why the plan is portable and can move with you to a new home, should you need.

If you do decide you want to move home again, please be aware that you would need to cover the typical costs associated with moving, such as estate agent and solicitor's fees, SDLT, and removal costs for example.

Please note: These costs are intended as a guide and do not detail all possible costs associated with moving home.

Can I decorate my home?

Absolutely! It’s your home to decorate exactly as you want. Whether it’s new wallpaper, painting, or putting down new laminate floor, you can do it!

If you want to undertake any major renovations, such as a new conservatory or an extension, you’ll need to get permission.

If you have questions about any alterations or updates that you want to make to the property, just give us a call.

What happens if I go into full-time care?

Any move takes a great deal of time and consideration, and moving into full-time residential care is no different. We understand that moving into a care home can offer you security, peace of mind and companionship, especially if you are in need of medical support. If you do move into care, and a qualified medical practitioner certifies that you are permanently incapable of returning to the property your Home for Life Plan will end.

If you have safeguarded a percentage of the property’s value, this will be transferred to you and will form part of your assets. Care costs, assessments and options vary wildly from area to area, so it’s always worth seeking advice from your local authority during this time.

What happens when I pass away?

We know that this is a really difficult topic to cover for anyone, but it will happen to everyone one day.

If you’re the only person on the Home for Life Plan living in the property then it will be sold, and the proceeds will go to Homewise or its investment partners.

If you’ve safeguarded a percentage of the property’s future value, then this will be transferred to your estate.

If you have a partner on the plan, then they will retain the right to live in the property rent and mortgage free until they ether move into long-term residential care or pass away.

Does Homewise own all the properties they advertise on Rightmove?

No, the property listings you see on Rightmove and Zoopla are free second listings. We partner with trusted estate agents in England and Wales, and this service, called Market Plus, is one that they provide to their vendors free of charge. We don’t own any of these properties.

I've read conflicting reviews about Homewise, and I am feeling unsure

Unfortunately, these days there are many opportunities for people who have never spoken with Homewise to publish their misconceptions and misunderstandings about our service and what the Home for Life Plan is.

We would always encourage you to read the truth about Homewise. You can read real customer reviews through Feefo, an independent review service. There are videos you can watch from our team – learn how Reg Neal started helping people over 50 years ago and today it is still a family business run by his sons. You can also read our blog on the 8 most common myths about Homewise.

Most importantly though, just ask us! We value honesty and will always be open and honest with our customers.

What would happen if Homewise went into administration?

This isn’t something we’re expecting to happen but, just in case it does, we’ve put plans in place.

If everything does go wrong and Homewise is no longer around then you and your Home for Life Plan and the Lifetime Lease is still protected.

The Lifetime Lease is registered at the Land Registry, protecting you as the Lifetime Lease Owner and if you have safeguarded any of the property’s value then this is secured via the legally binding Declaration of Trust. It is not dependent on Homewise.

Do I choose from the properties I've seen online?

No, a Home for Life Plan can be purchased for pretty much any property on the open market with any estate agent, anywhere in England or Wales (subject to Terms & Conditions).

Homewise does not own the properties you may see advertised on Rightmove or Zoopla. These are simply free second adverts for vendors, through our trusted partnerships.

How do I stop seeing Homewise listings when searching on Rightmove and Zoopla?

A Home for Life Plan is only available to those aged 60+ and may not be the ideal solution for you, and that's ok! You can filter your search results on Rightmove or Zoopla to exclude Homewise listings.

If you exclude 'retirement properties' this will stop the over 60s listing showing in your search. You won't miss out on any properties being sold in your area, you'll just see the standard listing from the agent selling the property, at the full market price.

Why is my property listed online with Homewise?

If you are selling your property with one of our estate agent partners then they will have included the second "Market Plus" listing as a free, optional, marketing opportunity for you.

The Market Plus option is detailed in your vendor agreement with your estate agent.

Please be assured Homewise is not selling your property and you will still receive the full agreed selling price when your estate agent sells your property - not the advertised Homewise guide price.

If you do not want the extra exposure from the Homewise listing then you can opt out at any time. Please instruct your estate agent and the Homewise listing will be removed.

Read our detailed guide about Market Plus to find out more.

How do I remove the Homewise listing for my property?

You can request for the Homewise listing to be removed at any time. Simply contact your estate agent and they will process the request.

Please note: Portal feeds can take up to 24hrs to refresh and the listing may remain visible during this time.

If you wish to contact Homewise directly regarding a Market Plus listing, please email marketplusagreements@homewise.co.uk with your full address. Depending on the system configuration and the partner estate agent, we may be able to process your request directly, but your estate agent is best placed to help and advise in any case.

Still have a question?

No problem, request a call from our friendly team and we'll be happy to help answer any questions, big or small.

Read our brochure

Explore the Home for Life Plan in detail and learn about our complimentary Move Simply service, along with examples of how we've helped customers too.