Compare Standard Life Equity Release Quotes Against The Market

Standard Life is one of the most prestigious names in UK financial services, with a history spanning nearly 200 years. In the equity release market, the brand operates as Standard Life Home Finance (part of the Phoenix Group).

They are widely regarded as a market leader due to their highly flexible "Horizon" product range, which combines competitive rates with some of the strongest consumer protections in the industry.

If you are wondering whether Standard Life is the best provider for your equity release, get in touch below and one of our independent advisers will review this.

Who is Standard Life Home Finance?

Standard Life Home Finance provides lifetime mortgages specifically for the over-55 market. While they are a major lender in their own right, they also recently expanded their reach by integrating their product range with more2life (another top-tier lender) in late 2025. This ensures that their popular products remain widely available through a variety of financial advice channels in 2026.

What is Standard Life Equity Release?

Standard Life specializes in lifetime mortgages - the most common form of equity release. They do not offer home reversion plans. Their offering is built around the Horizon brand, which is known for its "tiered" approach, allowing you to choose a plan based on how much equity you need to release.

Key product types include:

• Horizon Lump Sum: A single tax-free payment.

• Horizon Drawdown: An initial payment plus a pre-approved cash reserve that you can tap into as needed. You only pay interest on the money you actually withdraw.

• Horizon Interest Reward: A unique "hybrid" plan. If you commit to paying some or all of the interest for a set period (5, 10, or 15 years), you receive a significant discount on your interest rate that lasts for the life of the loan.

Key Features of Standard Life Plans

Standard Life is often the "go-to" for advisers because of its flexible terms and industry-leading protections:

• Fixed Early Repayment Charges (ERCs): Unlike many lenders who charge penalties for 15 years or more, Standard Life’s ERCs are typically fixed for only 8 years. After year 8, you can repay the entire loan with zero penalty.

• Downsizing Protection: If you decide to move home and the new property isn't eligible for a lifetime mortgage, you can repay the loan in full without a penalty (usually active from day one on Horizon plans).

• Significant Life Event Waiver: On joint plans, if one partner passes away or moves into long-term care, the surviving partner has 3 years to repay the loan in full with no early repayment charges.

• Voluntary Repayments: You can pay back up to 10% of the initial loan amount each year without penalty, helping you manage the interest roll-up manually.

• Inheritance Protection: You can choose to "ring-fence" a percentage of your home's value to guarantee it goes to your heirs.

Interest Rates and Costs

Standard Life remains highly competitive, often featuring in "best-buy" tables for their lower-LTV (Loan-to-Value) plans.

• Interest Rates: Typical rates largely depend on the specific Horizon tier and your age as well as the overall strength of your application.

• Arrangement Fee: They typically charge a £995 arrangement fee for their best rates, though "fee-free" options are often available at a slightly higher interest rate.

• Free Valuation: They offer a free initial property valuation on all new applications.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for a Standard Life Horizon plan, you generally need to meet these benchmarks:

• Age: You must be aged between 55 and 84.

• Property Value: Your home must be worth at least £99,000.

• Property Type: Standard Life is known for being flexible with non-standard properties, including homes in higher flood-risk areas and those with certain types of historic credit issues (CCJs).

• Loan Amount: Minimum borrowing usually starts at £10,000.

Standard Life Equity Release Reviews

Standard Life Home Finance holds an "Excellent" 4.8/5 rating on Trustpilot. Customers consistently praise the speed of their drawdown process and the professionalism of their case handlers. Advisers often rank them as the best for "transparency," specifically because their early repayment charges disappear so much sooner than those of their competitors.

Pros and Cons of Standard Life Equity Release

Pros:

• Shortest ERCs: 8-year penalty period is one of the best in the market.

• Interest Reward Discounts: Significant savings for those who can afford temporary monthly payments.

• Downsizing Protection: Offers great peace of mind if you plan to move in the future.

• Flexible Underwriting: More likely to accept "difficult" properties or minor credit blips.

Cons:

• Arrangement Fees: Their most competitive rates usually come with a £995 fee.

• No Home Reversion: They only offer lifetime mortgages.

• Age Limit: The upper age limit of 84 is lower than some competitors like LV= or Legal & General.

How to Apply

Standard Life Home Finance products are available exclusively through qualified financial advisers. This ensures that you receive a full suitability report. The process typically takes 6 to 10 weeks from the initial advice meeting to the money arriving in your solicitor's account.

Get started here to book a free, no-obligation chat with an equity release adviser who specialises in Standard Life’s product range and can compare it against the market for you.