Equity Release

Hodge Lifetime has announced plans to reduce new equity release lending and restructure its business to concentrate on its pension annuity arm.

Equity release provider Stonehaven has temporarily suspended all new lending.

Adviser Equitycare has merged with Better Retirement's domiciliary care brand - Paying for Care at Home.

The equity release industry has spoken out against calls from the Society for Equity Release Advisers (SERA) to ban telephone-based equity release advice.

Homeowners considering equity release are spending longer investigating product choices before making a decision, according to research from the equity release solicitors' alliance (ERSA).

Prudential is to withdraw from the equity release sector in the first quarter of 2010 after deciding to deploy capital to other parts of its business.

Housing wealth could play a greater role in supporting retirement in the future, the Pensions Policy Institute says.

Equity release specialists In Retirement Services has gone into administration.

The equity release market must adapt products, advice and pricing to cater for a changing market, according to Safe Home Income Plans (SHIP), which has called for a Government-led debate on the issue.

The negative reputation of equity release remains the top concern for advisers recommending the products, according to the Hodge Lifetime IFA Confidence Report.