ERSA to formally launch in Jan

The body will unveil a website and hold a special event for consumers and intermediaries to meet ERSA members next month. ERSA consists of six members who are all specialists in the field of equity release; Equilaw, Ashfords, Gwyn James, Goldsmith Williams, Lees Lloyd Whitley and Birchall Blackburn.

The body said it had been set up to provide a focus of information on independent legal advice about equity release from both an equity release borrower's perspective and also to be a source of information for intermediaries.

Claire Barker, chairman of ERSA, commented: "Since we announced the forming of the Alliance in June, we have been overwhelmed by the messages of support from the industry. It seems this is exactly what the equity release sector needs to help move it forward into the mainstream. We look forward to bringing consumers and intermediaries alike a first class service in 2009."