Equity Release Council
Equity Release Council are the industry body for the UK equity release sector; representing the providers, qualified financial advisers, solicitors, intermediaries.
The Equity Release Council is a consumer centric trade body focused on key themes of: representative lobbying, leading and setting high standards for consumers and awareness “thought leadership” of how housing wealth can help many financial challenges.
Who They Are
Over the course of almost 30 years, the Equity Release Council continues to represent the equity release sector and exists to promote high standards of conduct and practice in the provision of and advice on equity release which have consumer safeguards at its heart.
These standards and safeguards have allowed the sector to grow, giving financial advisers and their customers confidence in the products, dispelling myths about equity release, and educating the public about the potential to access the wealth in their home for a variety of uses.
The reputation and standing of the brand and the trust developed has seen its membership grow, bringing the sector together and helping it strengthen its voice: providers of equity release plans, solicitors, intermediaries, financial advisers, consultants, surveyors and other industry professionals – all committed to the Principles of membership. The Council builds on this unified voice of its members, while remaining independent from the specific views of individual member firms or particular segments of the equity release market.
What is Their Mission?
To continue to be the recognised voice of authority and the trusted consumer guardian on behalf of their members. They aim to achieve this through universal and transparent representation, progressive and dynamic stewardship and wholehearted commitment to safeguarding.
The Council works to ensure that the role housing equity can play in later life is widely understood – whether for funding care, supporting family members, enriching lifestyle or achieving peace of mind. The equity release sector has provided politicians and policy makers with many pragmatic solutions to a range of socio-economic issues that are increasingly pressing.
As the later life financial planning market continues to attract more interest, there is also more scope to innovate, helping to provide more choice for customers and more opportunity for professionals like you to help people unlock the value tied up in their homes.