Can Equity Release Ease the Burden of an 'Unsustainable Pension'?

The public sector pensions system in the UK is in need of a major overhaul as the current final salary model is "unsustainable", according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

These comments could spark an increase in the popularity of equity release schemes such as lifetime mortgages.

According to the CBI, unless a "more affordable" system is put in place, taxpayers face a burden of around £1 trillion.

John Cridland, CBI deputy director-general, said: "This is a difficult and emotive area and not one that should be rushed. Public sector workers deserve a good retirement, but they and their employers should pay their own way.

"A new government needs to acknowledge the problem, establish the true costs and let the taxpaying public decide what they are prepared to pay for."

An Equity release calculator, such as that offered by Key Retirement Solutions, could show expats in Spain, who may still own property in the UK how much they could add to their retirement income by releasing some of the capital tied up in their property assets in the UK.