Air has launched a series of six later-life lending masterclasses and passed the milestone of more than 70 signatories to its manifesto.

The platform launched its Comprehensive Conversations Manifesto last month with the aim of raising standards and ensuring borrowers get the best possible advice about their options.

More2life, Standard Life Home Finance, Comentis, Viva Retirement Solutions and Eadon & Co are among the latest firms to sign up to the charter.

The Comprehensive Conversations Campaign highlights the issues facing a new demographic of borrowers, many of whom will carry mortgage debt into retirement when they are on a fixed income.

It seeks to support advisers and clients navigate the complexities of the mortgage market, changing regulations, evolving product options, and affordability challenges and income.

In response to the recent FCA review and its consumer duty requirements, signatories to the manifesto pledge to:

• Adhere to regulatory and industry guidance
• Provide support and education to support continually enhancing capabilities within the sector
• Use tools and technology to keep consumer affordability at the heart of the advice process
• Explore all options available to customers and expand advice, product and service offerings where possible
• Ensure that customers have an understanding of non-product related options Create safer tracks for our wider industry to match good customer outcomes

Air chief executive Paul Glynn says: “As the traditional equity release demographic seeking to unlock funds for discretionary spending moves into older age groups, a new generation of potential later life lending customers in their 50s, still shouldering the burden of mortgage payments into retirement, provide advisers the opportunity to grow their customer base and providing long term solutions to their needs.

“This group requires specialist triage and referral services to identify the mortgage solutions that suit their financial situation best, across both mainstream and later life lending sectors.”

More2life managing director Ben Waugh says: “Air’s Safer Tracks initiative will set the groundwork, establishing the benchmark for high-quality broker education, effective sourcing tools, and innovative mortgage technology.

“Real change rarely arrives from individual effort – we must work together to set the standard, and it begins when we talk to each other.”

Comentis chief executive Jonathan Barrett: “It’s vital that all lenders, regardless of their specialist focuses, are prepared to step into a future where they recognise that there is no longer such a thing as a traditional or uniform equity release customer.

“Because of this, recognising and catering to the varying degrees of client vulnerability will be paramount.”