Regulation in a halfway house Some equity release schemes are to be controlled by the FSA, others not. Emma Simon reports on the confusion

From: The Sunday Telegraph London | Date: March 30, 2003| Author: | Copyright information

THERE were renewed calls last week for the Government to tighten up regulation of the burgeoning equity release market. Stephen O'Brien, the shadow paymaster general, is spearheading a cross-party campaign on this backed by a diverse group that includes mortgage lenders, product providers, financial advisers, the Consumers' Association, the National Consumers Council, Age Concern and Help the Aged.

"Equity release" is a catch-all term applied to the various ways in which elderly property-owners can use their homes to generate income or lump sums, either with mortgages repayable on death, or ...

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