Equity Release / Annuity / alternatives?

xylophone

I don't think it's an option as the only income Dad has in his name is the state pension 

You are absolutely certain that he has no private/occupational pension provision at all?

For a professional person of your father's age (particularly one whose career was in finance) this is rather surprising.

Cazza

Thanks LHW / Xylophone
Yes, certain there's no private / occupational pension. For the most part of his working years he was self employed. He did have provision for retirement many years ago but the personal and professional impact of the financial situation in the early 1990s left a significant legacy. I was a child so not totally sure on the correct terminology for the regulations at the time but I've been told all the pensions and investments my parents held were "cashed in" and weren't ever replaced (see my previous comment about being good with other people's money but not his own.)