Enhanced Lifetime Mortgage
An enhanced lifetime mortgage allows you to borrow more against your home if you have certain health conditions, medical history, or lifestyle factors that may affect your life expectancy.
Important: Equity release is a long-term commitment and will reduce the value of your estate. It may affect entitlement to means-tested benefits. Independent financial and legal advice is required. All plans recommended are from Equity Release Council approved lenders. Your home may be repossessed if you do not maintain required payments on a secured loan.
About Enhanced Lifetime Mortgage
Enhanced plans use actuarial underwriting to offer higher loan-to-value ratios to qualifying applicants - often significantly more than a standard lifetime mortgage.
The options we compare
Health-Based Enhancement
Conditions including heart disease, cancer history, diabetes, stroke history, Parkinson's, COPD, and many others may qualify for an enhanced plan. The worse the prognosis, the more you can typically release - this reflects shorter expected loan duration.
Lifestyle-Based Enhancement
Lifestyle factors including smoking (current or historical), BMI above a threshold, and certain medications may qualify for enhanced rates even without a diagnosed medical condition.
Just (Just Retirement) Enhanced Plans
Just is a market leader in enhanced lifetime mortgages. Their underwriting considers a wide range of conditions and they consistently offer among the highest release amounts for qualifying applicants.
More2Life Enhanced Plans
More2Life was the first equity release lender to offer enhanced lifetime mortgages (2008). Their Flexi Choice Enhanced plan accommodates a wide range of health conditions with competitive rates.
Aviva Enhanced Assessment
Aviva assesses health and lifestyle information at application and may offer enhanced terms for qualifying applicants. Their long track record means broad experience with complex health histories.
How Much More Can I Release?
An enhanced plan can release 10-25% more than a standard equivalent in many cases. For serious conditions with significant life expectancy impact, the enhancement can be more substantial. We model the standard vs enhanced amount before any application.
How We Help
Confidential health questionnaire
We take a confidential health and lifestyle questionnaire. Nothing you disclose is penalised - the only effect of a health condition is potentially increasing the amount you can release.
Lender matching
We identify which specialist enhanced lenders (Just, More2Life, Aviva, Canada Life) are likely to offer the highest release for your specific conditions and age.
Enhanced illustration
We obtain enhanced Key Facts Illustrations from the most appropriate lenders - showing the increased loan amount versus a standard plan.
Application and completion
The lender reviews your health information - sometimes requesting a GP report. Completion follows the standard equity release process.
Speak to our later life lending specialists
Call 0204 6211776 · Whole-of-market advice across all later life products
Frequently asked questions
Does having a health condition mean I pay more for equity release?
No - enhanced plans typically offer better terms (higher release amounts), not worse. You are not penalised for having a health condition. The lender recognises that a shorter expected loan duration justifies advancing more money.
What conditions qualify for an enhanced plan?
Common qualifying conditions include: heart disease (heart attack, heart failure, angina), stroke or TIA history, cancer (current or historical, depending on type and stage), type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and kidney disease requiring dialysis. Smoking and high BMI may also qualify. Each lender has their own underwriting criteria - we identify which lenders offer the best enhanced terms for your specific conditions.
Do I need to disclose my conditions to the lender?
Yes - health information is provided voluntarily to access enhanced terms. You are not required to disclose health information if you do not want to (a standard non-enhanced quote will be provided instead). However, the purpose of disclosure is entirely to your benefit - to access more money, not to restrict or penalise your application.
What is the difference between Just and More2Life for enhanced plans?
Both are leading enhanced plan specialists. Just typically excels for conditions with significant life expectancy impact (cancer, serious heart disease). More2Life's wide product range accommodates a broader range of conditions including lifestyle factors. We compare both alongside Aviva and Canada Life for every enhanced application.
Can I still get a standard plan if my health condition does not qualify for enhancement?
Yes - if your conditions do not qualify for enhancement (or you choose not to disclose), a standard lifetime mortgage is available on the same terms as any other applicant. Qualifying for an enhanced plan is a benefit, never a gate.