The later life mortgage broker said this demonstrated how recent low rates had driven a ‘middle class stampede” towards the sector.

Its data showed the average amount released by its customers has risen 31% in 12 months, climbing from £86,000 to £112,700 in April.

The cause of the shift, the business said, was the increasing popularity of lifetime mortgages among wealthier homeowners who have “cottoned on” to the historically low interest rates and the boost in living standards that equity release can provide.

Rates on lifetime mortgages have more than halved in recent years to below 3% in many cases.

This shift to a wealthier audience was borne out by a simultaneous increase in the average value of the properties that are being presented for underwriting, said Responsible Life.

The average value of homes being used to secure lifetime mortgages was 19.4% higher than a year ago, at £487,000— which is nearly double the average UK house price of £256,405.

The broker said while it was true house prices had been gaining strongly over the same period — rising 10.2% in the year to March — this was not enough to explain the shift.

Even after accounting for house price inflation, the average value of the properties being mortgaged was still 8.2% higher.

This confirmed, it said, lifetime mortgages were attracting wealthier customers, who were increasingly using equity release to gift money to children and loved ones, renovate their homes, pay off existing interest-only mortgages and fund their retirement.

Home improvements

The broker also believed a pandemic home improvement boom buoyed by the extra time people were forced to spend at home during repeated lockdowns has helped to drive up the level of borrowing.

Home improvement remained the second most popular reason to use a lifetime mortgage.

Steve Wilkie, executive chairman of later life mortgage broker Responsible Life, said: “There’s no doubt there has been a middle-class stampede for lifetime mortgages over the past year thanks to interest rates sinking to historic lows.

“Wealthier homeowners have cottoned on to how rates have come down and now see lifetime mortgages as an affordable way to improve their standard of living in retirement.

“Gone are the days when they were considered a product of last resort. That couldn’t be further from the truth now.

“The pandemic has also played its part in driving up the level of borrowing. Repeated lockdowns have not only spurred huge housing demand but there has also been a home improvement frenzy. This remains the second most popular reason to take out a lifetime mortgage.”