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Over-65s property wealth grows by £4,833 in six months

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20/10/2021
Properties owned outright by over-65s have increased in value by £24.2bn in the past six months, equivalent to £4,833 per homeowner, data shows.

The total wealth tied up in pensioners’ homes now totals £1.25trn, according to equity release adviser Key.

Property values grew in all parts of the UK apart from London where average values fell as house prices underperformed.

The biggest gains in the past six months were in Scotland and the south east, with over-65s gaining more than £13,000 and nearly £12,000 respectively.

Since Key started analysing the mortgage-free property wealth of the over-65s in 2010, homeowners have seen growth of 61 per cent – a total of more than £476bn which is equivalent to around £95,000 per household over the past 11 years.

Over-65s have not seen the same boost to their incomes as they have seen to the value of their homes. Most recent government data shows average pensioner incomes after housing costs only rising £12 to £331 per week – the equivalent of 3.7 per cent – over the last 11 years.

Pensioner couples have average incomes of £482 which is 6.8 per cent higher than 11 years ago, while single pensioners’ average incomes are 4.5 per cent higher at £231.

The only region to see property values drop in the past six months was London where average prices are around £6,647 lower. All other regions saw growth of at least nearly £1,000.

More than a fifth of all property wealth held by over-65s is in the south east with the south west and East Anglia the next biggest regions for over-65s property wealth.

Will Hale, chief executive at Key, said: “The recent end of the Stamp Duty holiday may cool the property market somewhat but over-65s homeowners will continue to have a substantial amount of wealth tied up in their houses.

“This wealth can be accessed through products such as equity release and be used by older homeowners to address financial needs and wants through later life.

“The 61 per cent rise in the property wealth of over-65s over the past 11 years dwarfs single digit increases in average pensioner incomes over that period and underlines the case for advisers and customers considering all assets when looking at financial planning at and through retirement.”

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