Speaking at Mortgage Solutions‘ Equity Release Awards in London last night, SHIP director general Andrea Rozario said the time was right for change and it would work to make the enlarged body a “powerful force for the good of our industry”.
SHIP will reveal the framework of the revamped organisation in early 2012.
Rozario said: “We will no longer simply be the voice of equity release providers, working with the rest of the sector.
“We will be the voice of the entire sector, bringing together providers, solicitors, advisors and all key stakeholders as members of a united industry body that fully represents the whole of the industry and puts the needs of the customer first.”
She added: “The SHIP standards that have, over the past 20 years, helped to redefine the equity release market by giving consumers the confidence they need in providers and the peace of mind that safeguards offer, will be available to all parts of the sector.
“We are now in the process of finalising the format for the new organisation and expect to be in a position to reveal the framework in early 2012.
“We call on the industry to continue to actively engage with the process and help to build an organisation that allows the whole sector to come together.”
