Home & Capital - Consumer protection and regulation

Consumer protection and regulation

Safe Home Income Plans (SHIP)

Formed in 1991, SHIP was established as a trade body supported by the leading providers of equity release plans. It is dedicated entirely to the protection of plan holders (the consumer) and the promotion of safe equity release plans.

With just four founder-members (including Home & Capital and Hinton and Wild, which is now part of the Home & Capital group of companies) SHIP has expanded with the market and now has 17 members, which are believed to account for around 90% of equity release transactions by volume.

SHIP’s Code of Practice ensures that the homeowner;

has security of tenure for life
will not owe the lender more than the value of their property at the end of the plan (this is called a No Negative Equity Guarantee)
chooses an independent solicitor to act for them
has the right to move without financial penalty

These four safeguards have become the cornerstone of SHIP members and helped provide consumer protection before the market became regulated and continues to give added comfort beyond regulation.

In addition, SHIP members require that all plan applications are submitted through suitably qualified financial advisers – something no other sector of the financial services market requires.

Click here to link to the Safe Home Income Plans (SHIP) website

Regulation

The equity release market is fully regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Lifetime mortgages have been regulated since October 2004 and home reversion plans since April 2007.

FSA regulation covers the arrangement and provision of plans, the advice provided during the selling process and the administration of plans throughout their period of existence.

Click here to link to the Financial Services Authority (FSA) website

Privacy Policy

Who we are

Home & Capital Trust Group Ltd is an equity release company, incorporating three companies registered with the Financial Services Authority (FSA);

Home & Capital Advisers Ltd (FSA number 438338)

Home & Capital Trust Ltd (FSA number 464223)

Home & Capital Trustee Company Ltd (464862)

Your data

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Data that allows us to remember you - this saves you from re-keying information when you return to the site and allows us to arrange our website content to match your preferred interests. We use "cookies" to collect this data. Cookies are text-only strings of information that are stored on your web browser or hard disk. You have the ability to accept or decline cookies by modifying the settings of your web browser.

Your IP address (this is your computer's individual identification number for internet connection) that is automatically logged by our web server.

Your preferences and use of email updates that are recorded by emails we send you (only if you have selected to receive email updates).

Use of your data

Home & Capital Trust Group Ltd is committed to respecting your privacy and any personal information that we obtain from this website will be collected and used in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and other applicable UK legislation. The information we collect may be used;

For the purposes of administration by us and your intermediary (if you have one) and may be disclosed to regulatory bodies for the purposes of monitoring and/or enforcing our compliance with any regulatory requirements.
For research and statistical purposes.
For communication of changes and/or developments to our products or services as they apply to you.

Home & Capital Trust Group Ltd may use your information to keep you informed by email or direct mail about our products and services that may be of interest to you. If you do not wish to receive these, please ensure that the relevant box at the end of the enquiry form contains a tick when entering your personal details. However, you can contact us at any time to have your details removed from lists used by us for direct marketing purposes.

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Your rights

You have the right to request a copy of any information we hold about you. Please write to us at;

Home & Capital Trust Group Ltd

31 Goldington Road

Bedford

MK40 3LH