But that doesn't mean that owners should just borrow without a plan ... helpful ways homeowners can exploit this overall rise in equity to their advantage. Below, we'll detail three of them.

The owner of high-street pharmacy chain Boots is being bought by a private equity firm, and it will no longer be a public company listed on a stock exchange.

The US owners of Boots have agreed to be acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners as the struggling retailer looks to turn itself around after years of losing money.