Ever since a disastrous period for early unregulated schemes in the late 1980s and early 1990s, equity release has continually suffered from suspicion and distrust among homeowners. Many have been scared away as a result of publicity surrounding losses and anguish suffered by equity release customers. Things have undoubtedly improved significantly since then and now the most common types of equity release scheme - lifetime mortgages are regulated by the Financial Services Aut