Equity release

I am wondering if anyone can assist.  I am on ESA support and have live in a one bed.    My sister pays my mortgage,  she is partially sighted.   I realise i am very lucky to have a place of my own.  The flat needs loads done and I bought it with those intentions until I became ill and could not work.  My bathroom is over thirty years old and the windows over a hundred and basically the flat gets  mouldy and damp.   The front and back fence are old battered and worn and I am feeling like I stick out like a sore thumb in the street.  There are also broken panes.  The landlord to the upstairs flat has said he wants to improve the windows as its a converted house.  I have zero funds and was thinking about equity release.  I am over 55 years old and was thinking I need £20,000.   Has anyone any experience of this?   I understand the saving rules etc....  I was thinking of the draw down equity release where you only take the money when needed.  I get the windows done and use some of the funds etc....      I don't know what else to do really as as time goes by things get worse.  Thanks