Air Comment - Equity Release Council Standards Initiative

06 May 2025

Commenting on the Equity Release Council’s standards initiative, Will Hale, CEO of Air said:

Air represents the interests of an ever growing base of more than 10,000 advisers who look to us to support them with research tools which ensure appropriate consideration of all options in a complex and ever-evolving market as well as training and development services needed to maintain the delivery of later life lending advice which results in consistently good outcomes for customers.

We welcome the Council’s commitment to reinforcing good practice across the sector but standards alone are not enough. Air’s priority is to provide practical tools and resources which advisers across all parts of the market, not just ERC members, can use to develop their businesses and to ensure the way they are serving over 50s customers is fit for purpose. Despite the well-intentioned efforts of the Council, and a number of iterations of the standards, our experience suggests that there is still more work to be done if the sector is to fulfil its potential in helping customers appropriately use their housing wealth to support their wants and needs in later life.