The Equity Release Council (the Council) has launched a new Legal Forum to champion the unique role of legal advice in supporting customers in the later life lending sector.

The Forum aims to evolve and add to existing legal standards in the equity release sector, ensuring they remain fit for purpose to safeguard consumers’ interests.

Members will be responsible for anticipating and highlighting emerging trends relating to legal processes in the equity release market.

The expert committee consists of representatives from several high-profile law firms within the Council’s membership including Equilaw, Ashfords, Boyd Legal, Enact, Goldsmith Williams, Adlington Law and Eversheds Sutherland.

These firms represent both consumers and providers, ensuring the Forum has oversight of the entire legal advice process.

The Forum is chaired by Claire Barker, managing director of Equilaw and the first legal member to sit on the Council’s Main Board. She will report directly to the Board on all matters in the sector impacting the legal process.

As well as working to evolve the Council’s existing standards, the Forum sets out to educate fellow legal professionals, financial advisers and funders on the critical role of legal advice in the sector.

Consumers seeking to unlock property wealth via Council members are guaranteed independent legal advice before taking out a plan: a ‘unique protection’ in the later life market which serves a range of purposes, including assessing mental capacity, ensuring the plan has been explained and the customer is willing to proceed without experiencing duress from any source.

The last two years alone have seen the equity release product range grow by 142%, driven by existing and new providers offering a range of flexibilities.

David Burrowes, Chairman of the Equity Release Council, says the Forum will ‘provide unparalleled insight into the role of legal advice in the equity release process’.

“The Forum brings together representatives of major law firms who have industry-leading technical expertise. It will not only be crucial in helping evolve our standards but also in educating the wider industry about the role of legal advice in delivering good customer outcomes.”

Claire Barker adds: “The Forum will not only help to educate fellow legal professionals and other key stakeholders about the critical role of legal advice in the sector. It will also provide law firms with a chance to influence and shape the discussion around consumer protections in the market.”

“The long-term trend towards accessing property wealth shows that later life lending is fast becoming a crucial pillar of retirement financial planning in the UK.”