Over-55s draw £500m equity from their homes in six months But the overall increase in total cash released was down to borrowers taking more money per transaction. This is born out by figures from the industry trade body, the Equity Release Council, in the graph below, showing individual loan sizes now at their largest - over £55,000 - since the onset of the financial crisis in 2008. In the early phase of the crisis several large providers including Northern Rock ceased lending. There was also a fall in demand as borrowers feared house price collapses. But now both availability of equity release arrangements, and borrower confidence, appear on the rise. Dean Mirfin, a director at Key Retirement Solutions, said: "The sales trend is firmly up. But the values released continue to grow faster than sales, highlighting how customers are confident about making use of their property wealth. Nigel Waterson of the Equity Release Council said: "More and more people are discovering how their housing equity can provide greater financial flexibility in retirement." There are a number of critics of the growing equity release industry, who have warned that it should be considered as only one of several options. Releasing equity by downsizing to a cheaper property is often cited as a better alternative - although in many patrs of the cuontry this is impractical as bungalows and other properties most suitable for older owners are often, also, among the most expensive. Just Retirement, another finance firm specialising in older customers, estimates two-thirds of householders aged over 65 - a group made up of six million individuals - own more than £100,000 in property equity. Find out how much cash you could release with The Telegraph Equity Release Service calculator