Leon and Maggie Cooper-Smith were just over 60 when they retired, or at least they thought they did. They bought a charming thatched cottage on the Norfolk Broads, thinking they would be able to pay it off with cash from their pension plan. But the economy went sour and so did their pension plans, leaving them with 40 percent less than what they had expected.

So they opened up their home as a bed and breakfast to supplement their retirement benefits.

"I started working at 16, and I thought I've done enough," Leon, who is now 72 years old, told the BBC.

"You do want to retire and do want to have some fun during the final active years that you've got."

The Cooper-Smiths are not the only people of retirement age who have been affected by the recession and have had to find ways to continue to fend for themselves. The government's care system for the elderly has also taken a toll - an estimated 6000 elderly with intensive needs and 275,000 with less intensive needs do not receive formal care.

As a result, more and more are cashing in on the value of their homes to raise enough money to be able to look after themselves in old age. Those who own homes usually turn to equity release providers. But they will not just hand you the cash, there is usually an early repayment charge, which can go anywhere from five to 25 percent and may apply to just the original loan or to any accrued interest.

If the early repayment charge, together with the existing mortgage, is too high, then you may not be able to afford even a move to a smaller decent house. It may even prevent you from transferring to an alternative plan or provider.

Fortunately, retirees now have someone else to turn to. If they need to make a quick home sale, whether it's because they need the cash for urgent medical needs or they need to be able to pay off their mortgage to be able to fully enjoy their retirement years, they can sell to cash home buyers. They are all over the United Kingdom and on the Internet, it's really simple to get in touch with them.

When they sell to cash buyers, there are no estate agent, legal, or repayment charges from the time they are made an offer to the closing of the sale. There's even an option to sell and then rent back for a fair and reasonable price, if they choose to spend the rest of their lives in the same house. Too good to be true? Well, cash home buyers will purchase your home slightly below the market value, but with the ease and speed at which you will be able to get your hands on much-needed cash, you can actually be avoiding potential losses due to delay.

But a "sell my house quick" scheme is not just for retirees. It could be for anyone needing to sell their house fast - those who are going through divorce, for instance, or relocating for a new job, or can no longer afford to refinance. This is also especially true for another age group, the young adults or those who are just starting to build their lives.

While previous and some existing borrowers may have lucked out on enjoying low interest rates, impossibly high interest rates are affecting new home buyers' ability to take out a loan. Add to that the fact that banks, despite billions of pounds of taxpayers' money support, are tightening lending. In fact, according to the British Bankers Association, only 1000 mortgages a day were approved in July; figures were double that before the credit crisis hit.

But again, taking out a bank loan or refinancing is not the only solution, especially when you already own a house. Much like retirees, young adults when starting a new chapter in their lives, if they need quick cash for whatever reason, they can sell their property to cash home buyers, solve their financial troubles, and look forward to a long bright future ahead.