Paying a mortgage in retirement

A group of senior citizens sitting outdoors in the sun laughing, discussing paying a mortgage in retirement

Much ink is spilled discussing the difficulties that young people face to get onto the housing ladder. At the other end of the spectrum, a growing number of people now expect to be paying their mortgage off into old age. 

Longer loans 

More than three in 10 homeowners now expect still to have a mortgage at the age of 65, a survey1 has revealed, a figure that has risen from 26% just two years ago. Increasingly, lenders are happy to give an ordinary mortgage to older borrowers, something that used to be less common. 

Options for older borrowers  

Specialist mortgage options exist too. Retirement Interest Only (RIO) mortgages are the newest addition to later-life borrowing options, with over 55s able to apply for a loan between 50% and 70% of the value of their home. With RIO mortgages, borrowers only pay the interest, a feature that makes the mortgage more affordable in retirement. 

Mixing pension and mortgage  

Retirement planning can be a complicated business, working out exactly how much money you need to live on when you are no longer working. Adding mortgage payments into the mix adds a further layer of complexity. 

But the main thing to remember is that there are lots of options for borrowing later in life. There is no need to panic: speak to us to see how we can help you find the most suitable mortgage for your needs.  

1HL, 2023 

It is important to take professional advice before making any decision relating to your personal finances. Information within this article is based on our current understanding and can be subject to change without notice and the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed. It does not provide individual tailored investment advice and is for guidance only. Some rules may vary in different parts of the UK.