The aim of this scoping study, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, was to review our existing knowledge base about the use (or not, in most cases) of equity release by older homeowners. It pulled together findings across existing literature, conducted data analysis using different data sets and drew on discussions with key stakeholders to identify what is already known about equity release in later life. The research also identified what was missing from the current evidence base and the key research questions that needed to be tackled in relation to current and likely future policy directions. The report proposed how best to answer these key questions.