The European Pensions and Property Asset Release Group (EPPARG) and EY have today published the fourth edition of their Global Equity Release Survey report.
The report highlights that the equity release market has remained robust at a global level, despite geopolitical headwinds, and remains on track to more than double in size by 2035. The global market is expected to reach $52bn by 2035, as compared to current volumes of $17.7bn, to be driven primarily by strong projected growth in North America.
The report, which is based on figures for 2025/26, analyses data received from market participants across 14 countries and cities internationally with established or developing equity release markets and explores their growth potential. The 14 countries and cities span Europe, North America and Australia, which are among the largest equity release markets in the world, and Hong Kong has also participated in the survey for the first time.
“The results of the survey show equity release markets remain strong with continuing opportunities for significant growth and huge medium- to long-term potential, despite geopolitical challenges globally. We strongly believe the challenges of ageing populations in many countries will lead to unsustainable social, economic and intergenerational costs. A safe equity release market has a vital role to play in later life lending and planning, with many elderly homeowners across the globe wishing to remain independent for longer. Allowing elderly homeowners to draw on their housing wealth as an asset also unlocks significant economic and social benefits with the money released going directly into the economy, helping to create jobs, businesses and wider wealth,” said Steve Kyle, Secretary General of EPPARG.
“To make the most of future potential, it will be important to ensure that proportionate consumer-focused industry standards are in place, which not only protect consumers, but also contribute to an enabling environment to foster innovation. We are pleased to see more interest from new innovative start-ups and from more established businesses in developing their national markets and exploring cross-border funding and market entry possibilities. Since a lack of funding remains a major barrier to growth in a number of European countries, we would like to encourage the involvement of socially aware funders and investors to enter this space which will drive both commercial and social benefits.”
“Momentum is growing in the European equity release market with cross-border funding relationships starting to give equity release providers the firepower they need to scale. We look forward to continuing to support global collaboration in this sector and unlocking the potential of equity release to transform retirements around the world,” added Ben Grainger, Partner at EY.
Among the key findings of the survey are that lump sum products remain the most popular product globally, with combination products of lump sum and annuity being taken out by a majority of customers in France and Hong Kong. Annuity and drawdown products are also available in a number of countries.
Additionally, digitalisation, automation and AI are playing an increasing role in equity release provider processes, with all respondents expecting to use them for customer due diligence and marketing within five years, and the need for increased customer awareness and understanding was the most common theme cited by respondents to enhance the prospects of future growth,
