Legal & General Home Finance, which focusses on later life lending, has joined the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association.

This brings its membership of banks, building societies and specialist lenders to 41.

The association says that Legal & General head of mortgage broker sales Marie Catch will serve as the company’s representative at meetings.

Imla executive director Kate Davies says that later life lending is becoming an “ever more important part of the mortgage market” and that advice is “critical to better customer outcomes.”

She adds: “We are seeing more intermediaries recognising the opportunities of lifetime mortgages, retirement interest-only and other later life lending products to help their clients in later life.

“Legal & General has been a leader in innovation and change in the equity release market over the last few years and we look forward to working closely as they contribute to the association.”

Catch comments: “The demand for mortgage advice throughout all life stages is changing. With it comes greater opportunity for brokers to develop their business mix and extend their reach as residential clients begin to need later life advice too.

“We look forward to bringing a new voice and perspective to the industry debate, helping shape the future growth of the intermediary mortgage market, especially in the later life arena.”