Equity Release Council
Financial ServicesEngland, United Kingdom11-50 Employees
The Equity Release Council acts as the industry body for the UK equity release sector, bringing together lenders, advisers, solicitors, surveyors and other professionals under a common standards framework. It represents more than 700 member organizations and works to maintain a safe market by enforcing rigorous standards for advice and products that guard tenure and provide financial protections for consumers. Based in Thornby, England, the council has a long history tied to the development of equity release governance, with standards first established in 1991. It collaborates with consumers, industry participants and policymakers to raise awareness and understanding of equity release and the potential role of housing wealth for people aged 55 and over. In November 2025, it launched Safe Steps, a guidance hub designed to help firms address customer vulnerability in the later-life lending sector.