- Board and Governance
- Our Standards
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Our Standards
Our standards ask members to act with professionalism and integrity, providing trusted, transparent, tailored, and thorough advice and support
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- For Consumers
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For Consumer
Description
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- For Professionals
- What is Later Life Lending?
Standards 2.0: For professionals
Supporting a responsible and sustainable later life lending market
Introduction
The Equity Release Council is the UK’s trade body for equity release and later life lending.
We set and maintain a robust Standards framework that underpins consumer protection and supports responsible market growth.
Our members commit to adhere to the Council’s Rules and Guidance, a framework designed to promote professionalism, integrity and consistent consumer outcomes across the sector.
Our Standards Framework
The Council’s Standards go beyond regulatory requirements, providing additional safeguards that strengthen confidence in the market.
The framework comprises:
- The Consumer Charter – sets out expectations and commitments to customers
- The Rules – mandatory requirements that members must comply with
- The Guidance – supports interpretation and implementation of the Rules
Together, these elements create a clear, structured and proportionate framework that evolves in response to regulatory developments, market innovation and consumer need.
Governance and Oversight
The Standards framework is overseen by our independent Standards Committee, appointed annually by the Council’s Board.
This structure ensures:
- Independent oversight and challenge
- Technical expertise drawn from across the sector
- Ongoing review to ensure the Standards remain fit for purpose
Our governance model reflects recognised best practice for non-profit organisations and supports transparency in the development and evolution of the Standards.
Implementation and Compliance
Membership of the Council requires firms to demonstrate ongoing adherence to the Rules and Guidance.
This includes:
- Embedding the Standards within internal policies and procedures
- Ensuring staff are appropriately trained
- Supporting clear and consistent consumer communications
- Cooperating with monitoring and oversight processes
The Council works collaboratively with members to promote effective implementation while maintaining the integrity of the framework.
Become a member
Membership signals a firm’s commitment to high professional standards, responsible lending and positive consumer outcomes.
By joining the Council, firms demonstrate alignment with a recognised Standards framework and gain access to specialist resources, collaborative networks and sector representation.
Key Documents for Professionals
Standards 2.0
The Standards are organised into two main sections. The first outlines the core elements, covering the Consumer Charter and the mandatory rules that all Equity Release Council (Council) members are required to follow.
Member-only Resources
Members of the Equity Release Council have access to supplementary materials designed to support compliance and best practice, including:
- Certificate of Compliance with Product Standards
- Adviser Checklist and Supporting Notes
- Fees and Charges Guidance
- Dedicated Adviser Guidance
- Dedicated Provider Guidance
- Fair Value Frameworks and Assessments Guidance
- Post-sale Communications Guidance