An equity release is a way to get money out of the equity of your home without taking out a second mortgage or refinancing your current mortgage. Basically, you are selling a portion of your home, allowing you to cash in on the capital without leaving your home. Typically you will sell the equity in your home to the holder of your mortgage. When the house is sold or your estate is divided after your death, that part of the estate is no longer available. 

You can also get an equity release through other companies. These companies may offer other solutions as well, such as a quick property sale. When you sell equity to a company other than your mortgage lender, you are, in a sense, getting a loan. You are paid on the equity of your home, but when the home is sold or your estate is divided the money must go back to the company. This type of arrangement may or may not cost interest. One alternative that I found was to sell my detached house fast, such as the carriage house. This type of arrangement will allow you to cash in on part of your property while keeping the majority of your home for your inheritance. Before making any decision such as this, you should speak with a solicitor about your options as well as gather government information on buying and selling your home.