MCOB 6
Disclosure at the offer stage
MCOB 6.1
Application
- 01/12/2004
Who?
MCOB 6.1.1
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.1.2
See Notes
This table belongs to MCOB 6.1.1R
(1) Category of firm | (2) Applicable section |
mortgage lender | whole chapter except MCOB 6.8 |
home purchase provider | MCOB 6.1 (except MCOB 6.1.6 G), MCOB 6.2 and MCOB 6.8 |
reversion provider | see MCOB 9.5 for the application of this chapter |
SRB agreement provider | MCOB 6.1.1 R to MCOB 6.1.3 R, MCOB 6.1.5 R, MCOB 6.2, MCOB 6.3 and MCOB 6.9 |
- 30/06/2010
What?
MCOB 6.1.3
See Notes
This chapter applies with respect to an offer made by a firm to a customer with a view to the firm:
- (1) entering into a home finance transaction;
- (2) varying the terms of a home finance transaction entered into by the customer in any of the following ways:
- (a) adding or removing a party;
- (b) making a further advance; or
- (c) switching all or part of the regulated mortgage contract from one interest rate to another;
(whether or not the customer agrees to enter into the home finance transaction or variation).
- 06/04/2007
MCOB 6.1.4
See Notes
- 06/04/2007
MCOB 6.1.5
See Notes
- 06/04/2007
MCOB 6.1.6
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.2
Purpose
- 01/12/2004
MCOB 6.2.1
See Notes
- (1) MCOB 6 amplifies Principle 6 and Principle 7. The purpose of MCOB 6 is to ensure that a customer receives a clear offer document to enable him to check the features and price of the home finance transaction before he enters into it. The offer document should include an updated and suitably adapted illustration (for a regulated mortgage contract) or financial information statement (for a home purchase plan) so that the customer can compare it with the one he received before he applied for the home finance transaction.
- (2) [deleted]
- 06/04/2007
MCOB 6.3
General
- 01/12/2004
MCOB 6.3.1
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.3.2
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.4
Mortgages: content of the offer document
- 06/04/2007
MCOB 6.4.1
See Notes
- (1) If a firm offers to entering into a regulated mortgage contract with a customer, it must provide the customer with an offer document containing an illustration.
- (2) The firm's offer in the offer document must be on the basis of the information set out in the illustration provided in accordance with (1).
- 31/10/2004
Accuracy of the offer document
MCOB 6.4.2
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
Records
MCOB 6.4.3
See Notes
- (1) A firm must make an adequate record of each offer document which it issues to a customer in accordance with MCOB 6.
- (2) The record required by (1) must be retained for a year from the date that the offer document is issued to the customer.
- (3) If, in accordance with MCOB 6.5 (Information to be provided in the offer document or separately), information is included in a separate document that is sent with the offer document, that information must also be retained as part of the record required by (1).
- 31/10/2004
Modifications to the illustration
MCOB 6.4.4
See Notes
The illustration provided as part of the offer document in accordance with MCOB 6.4.1 R (1) must meet the requirements of MCOB 5.6 (Content of illustrations) with the following modifications:
- (1) the illustration must be suitably adapted and revised to reflect the fact that the firm is making an offer to a customer and updated to reflect changes to, for example, the interest rate, charges, the exchange rate or the APR required by MCOB 10 (Annual Percentage Rate), at the date the illustration is issued;
- (2) MCOB 5.6.2 R (2) (a) does not apply;
- (3) MCOB 5.6.15 R (Information to be included at the head of the illustration) does not apply;
- (4) MCOB 5.6.16 R (Section 1: 'About this illustration') is replaced by the following: "Section 1: 'About this offer document': Under the section heading 'About this offer document', the following text must be included:
- (a) 'You are not bound by the terms of this offer document until [insert relevant circumstances, including the names of any documents that must be signed. For example "you have signed the legal charge and the funds are released for your mortgage"]. We are required by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) - the independent watchdog that regulates financial services - to provide you with this offer document.'; and
- (b) (unless MCOB 6.6.1 R applies) "You should compare this offer document with the key facts illustration given to you before you applied for this mortgage, to see how the details may have changed.'";
- (5) Unless (b) applies, MCOB 5.6.17 R (Section 2: 'Which service are we providing you with?') is replaced with the following: "Section 2: 'Which service did we provide you with?'
- (a) Under the section heading 'Which service did we provide you with?' the following text should be presented as two options each with a 'check box', one of which must be marked prominently to indicate the level of service provided to the customer: 'We have recommended, having assessed your needs, that you take out this mortgage. We have not recommended a particular mortgage for you. You must make your own choice whether to accept this mortgage offer.'";
- (b) If the service described in MCOB 5.6.17 R (Section 2: 'Which service are we providing you with?') was provided by another firm, MCOB 5.6.17 R is replaced by the following: "Section 2: 'Which service were you provided with?' Under the section heading 'Which service were you provided with?' the following text should be presented as two options each with a 'check box' one of which must be marked prominently to indicate the level of service provided to the customer: '[name of firm] recommended that you take out this mortgage. [name of firm] did not recommend a particular mortgage for you. You must make your own choice whether to accept this mortgage offer.'";
- (6) MCOB 5.6.29 R (2) does not apply;
- (7) MCOB 5.6.52 R to MCOB 5.6.53 G is replaced by the following: Where all or part of the regulated mortgage contract is an interest-only mortgage, the illustration in the offer document must:
- (a) clearly state that the payments on the regulated mortgage contract cover only interest, and not the capital borrowed;
- (b) state the repayment vehicle the customer intends to use where the firm knows details of the specific repayment vehicle from the application by the customer; if the firm does not know how the customer intends to repay the capital borrowed, the firm must clearly state that the repayment vehicle is unknown, and must provide the customer with a clear reminder of the need to put suitable arrangements in place; and
- (c) include a statement reminding the customer to check regularly the performance of any investment used as a repayment vehicle, to see whether it is likely to be adequate to repay the capital at the end of the term of the regulated mortgage contract;
- (8) the fees recorded in the illustration that is part of the offer document in accordance with MCOB 5.6.66 R (1) must include any fees paid or payable by the customer;
- (9) MCOB 5.6.69 R (5) is replaced by the following: '(where the fee is payable or has been paid to the mortgage lender), whether or not the fee is refundable, and if so, the extent to which it is refundable;'
- (10) [deleted]
- (11) where additional features are included in accordance with MCOB 5.6.92 R and these are credit facilities regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974, the relevant parts of Section 12 of the illustration that is part of the offer document must include the following text: "This credit facility is regulated under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Please refer to the separate credit agreement which describes the facility and the terms on which the credit is available";
- (12) The text required by MCOB 5.6.102 R (2) (a) or (b) should be adapted to include, or tell the customer where they can find, the information required by MCOB 6.5.4 R; and
- (13) MCOB 5.6.113 R applies to the illustration that is part of the offer document if the illustration given out in accordance with MCOB 5 (Pre-application disclosure) was issued by, or on behalf of, a mortgage intermediary.
- 31/10/2006
MCOB 6.4.5
See Notes
- (1) One consequence of MCOB 6.4.4 R(5)(b) is that the mortgage lender will need to know, for each individual transaction arranged by a mortgage intermediary, whether or not the customer has received advice from that mortgage intermediary.
- (2) When complying with MCOB 6.4.4 R(5)(b), mortgage lenders may wish to include a statement after the level of service in Section 2 confirming that the level of service described was given by another firm, and explaining that they, as the mortgage lender, are not responsible for the level of service given, and that the customer should contact the other firm if they have any queries about the level of service provided. For example: "If you have any queries about this service, you should contact [Name of firm]. [Name of lender] is not responsible for the advice or information you received."
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.4.6
See Notes
In adapting and revising the illustration that is part of the offer document in accordance with MCOB 6.4.4 R(1) a firm must:
- (1) avoid amending the format of the information required by MCOB 5.6 (Content of illustrations) where possible, since this could result in the illustration in the offer document being difficult to compare with the illustration originally provided to the customer in accordance with MCOB 5.5.1 R;
- (2) use, where possible, the same headings, ordering of information, and language that appeared in the illustration provided in accordance with MCOB 5.6 (Content of illustrations); and
- (3) only change section headings where necessary (for example 'What you have told us' could be renamed 'Your mortgage requirements').
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.4.7
See Notes
In adapting and revising the illustration in accordance with MCOB 6.4.4 R(1), a firm may:
- (1) add extra information at the beginning and end of the illustration, such as conditions which are not covered by the illustration;
- (2) include greater detail within each of the specified sections than that included in an illustration provided in accordance with MCOB 5 (Pre-application disclosure); and
- (3) leave blank, except for the text 'not applicable', sections that are irrelevant, such as:
- (a) the section on insurance (see MCOB 5.6.73 R to MCOB 5.6.83 G), where the customer is not buying insurance from the firm and the firm does not require insurance to be in place; and
- (b) the section and sub-sections on additional features (see MCOB 5.6.92 R to MCOB 5.6.112 G) if there are no additional features available.
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.4.8
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.4.9
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.4.10
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
Other information contained in the offer
MCOB 6.4.11
See Notes
A firm must ensure that the offer document contains a prominent statement:
- (1) of the period for which the offer is valid;
- (2) explaining, where the regulated mortgage contract contains features, such as additional unsecured borrowing facilities, which could result in the customer borrowing more money, that where such features are used, the amount of the customer's debt will increase;
- (3) explaining when any interest rate change on the regulated mortgage contract takes effect. This statement must be used, for example, to explain cases where an annual review system is used;
- (4) explaining the consequences that might arise from the customer not entering into the regulated mortgage contract, including any fees that the customer has paid which will not be reimbursed;
- (5) explaining that once the regulated mortgage contract is concluded there will be no right of withdrawal; and
- (6) explaining that although no right of withdrawal exists the customer will have a right to repay the regulated mortgage contract in accordance with the terms of the regulated mortgage contract.
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.4.12
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.4.13
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.4.14
See Notes
- 01/11/2007
MCOB 6.4.15
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.4.16
See Notes
If the firm knows at the point that the offer is made to the customer that its interest in the regulated mortgage contract will be assigned (by sale or transfer) and the firm will no longer be responsible for setting interest rates and charges, the offer document must:
- (1) state this; and
- (2) state, where known, who will be responsible for setting interest rates and charges after the sale or transfer.
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.4.17
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.4.18
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.5
Mortgages: information to be provided in the offer document or separately
- 06/04/2007
Tariff of charges
MCOB 6.5.1
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.5.2
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.5.3
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
Mortgage credit cards
MCOB 6.5.4
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.5.5
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
Distance contracts with retail customers
MCOB 6.5.6
See Notes
If a firm makes an offer to a consumer with a view to entering into a regulated mortgage contract a which is a distance contract, it must provide the consumer with the following information with the offer document:
- (1) the EEA State or States whose laws are taken by the firm as a basis for the establishment of relations with the customer prior to the conclusion of the regulated mortgage contract;
- (2) any contractual clause on law applicable to the regulated mortgage contract or on competent court, or both;
- (3) the language in which the contract is supplied and in which the firm will communicate during the course of the regulated mortgage contract; and
- (4) if not provided previously:
- (a) all of the contractual terms and conditions of the regulated mortgage contract to which the offer document relates; and
- (b)
- (i) confirmation that the mortgage lender is authorised and regulated by the FSA;
- (ii) the mortgage lender's FSA register number; and
- (iii) confirmation that the customer can check the FSA register on the FSA's website www.fsa.gov.uk/register/ or by contacting the FSA on 0845 606 1234.
- 01/11/2007
MCOB 6.6
Mortgages: offer documents in place of illustrations
- 06/04/2007
MCOB 6.6.1
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.7
Business loans
- 01/12/2004
MCOB 6.7.1
See Notes
- (1) Where the regulated mortgage contract is for a business purpose, a firm may choose to provide a customer with a business offer document instead of the offer document referred to in MCOB 6.4.1 R.
- (2) If a firm provides a customer with a business offer document in accordance with (1), it must ensure that:
- (a) an updated business illustration, as required by MCOB 5.7 (Pre-application disclosure for business loans), forms part of the business offer document; and
- (b) subject to the tailoring required by MCOB 5.7 (Pre-application disclosure for business loans), the business offer document complies with MCOB 6.4 (Content of the offer document).
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.7.1A
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.7.2
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.7.3
See Notes
- 31/10/2004
MCOB 6.8
Home purchase plans
- 06/04/2007
Offer document
MCOB 6.8.1
See Notes
- (1) If a firm offers to enter into a home purchase plan with a customer, it must ensure that the customer is, or has been provided with an appropriate offer document in a durable medium which includes:
- (a) the period for which the offer is valid;
- (b) an explanation of the consequences that might arise from the customer not entering into the home purchase plan including details of any fees that the customer has paid which will not be refunded;
- (c) an explanation of when the customer will become bound by the offer and the implications of this;
- (d) the charges that a customer may incur under the plan, including the reason for, and amount of, each charge, when they are payable, whether they will be refunded and, if so, when;
- (e) a financial information statement;
- (f) the firm's contact details, including its name and address; and
- (g) how to complain to the firm and whether or not complaints may subsequently be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
- (2) A firm may omit details of the charges that a customer may incur under a home purchase plan from the offer document if they are included in a separate tariff of charges provided to the customer at the same time.
- 06/04/2007
MCOB 6.8.2
See Notes
- 06/04/2007
MCOB 6.8.3
See Notes
- 06/04/2007
MCOB 6.8.4
See Notes
- 06/04/2007
Distance contracts with retail customers
MCOB 6.8.5
See Notes
- (1) A firm must communicate to a consumer the distance marketing information in a durable medium available and accessible to the consumer in good time before the consumer is bound by any distance contract or offer to enter into a home purchase plan.
- (2) If the distance contract or offer has been concluded at the consumer's request using a means of distance communication which does not enable providing the information in accordance with (1) then it must be communicated no later than immediately after the conclusion of the home purchase plan.
[Note: article 5 Distance Marketing Directive]
- 01/11/2007
MCOB 6.8.6
See Notes
- 06/04/2007
MCOB 6.9
Regulated sale and rent back agreements
- 30/06/2010
Process for concluding regulated sale and rent back agreements
MCOB 6.9.1
See Notes
- 30/06/2010
Valuation of the property
MCOB 6.9.2
See Notes
- (1) A SRB agreement provider intending to enter into a specific regulated sale and rent back agreement with a SRB agreement seller and before it complies with the other requirements in this section, must ensure that the property is properly valued by a valuer:
- (a) that meets the competence and independence requirements (see MCOB 2.6A.12 R, MCOB 2.6A.12A R and MCOB 2.6A.13 E); and
- (b) using the definition of "market value" set out in the Valuation Standard of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors from time to time.
- (2) Where the SRB agreement provider has applied to a mortgage lender for financing for a proposed regulated sale and rent back agreement and the relevant lender in accordance with its standard lending practices requires its own valuation of the property to be carried out, the valuation will only satisfy the requirements of (1) if the property is properly valued by a valuer that meets the competence and independence requirements (see MCOB 2.6A.12 R and MCOB 2.6A.13 E).
- (3) The firm must ensure that a copy of the valuation report accompanies the written pre-offer document at Stage One (see MCOB 6.9.3 R).
- (4) This rule does not apply if the SRB agreement seller has already obtained his own recent valuation of the property from a valuer that meets the competence and independence requirements (see MCOB 2.6A.12 R and MCOB 2.6A.13 E).
- 30/06/2010
Written pre-offer document: Stage One
MCOB 6.9.3
See Notes
- (1) As soon as a SRB agreement provider agrees the key terms of a proposed regulated sale and rent back agreement with a SRB agreement seller and before he becomes contractually committed to enter into the agreement, the SRB agreement provider must provide the seller with a written pre-offer document summarising its key terms (Stage One).
- (2) The written pre-offer document must be in the form prescribed by MCOB 6 Annex 2 R and must be adapted by the firm, as appropriate, to the extent specified.
- (3) The written pre-offer document must be accompanied by the FSA consumer factsheet on sale and rent back (even if the firm has already provided this) which the firm must provide to the customer in a durable medium and which may be accessed through www.fsa.gov.uk.
- (4) On providing the FSA consumer factsheet to the SRB agreement seller, the firm must give him an oral explanation of what it contains, so as to ensure that he understands its contents, unless the firm has already done so.
- (5) The firm must ensure that the written pre-offer document is accompanied by all associated legal documents in draft form that the seller will need to sign at Stage Two (MCOB 6.9.10 R) to give effect to the proposed regulated sale and rent back agreement.
- 30/06/2010
Cooling-off: No contact between SRB agreement provider and SRB agreement seller
MCOB 6.9.4
See Notes
- 30/06/2010
MCOB 6.9.5
See Notes
- 30/06/2010
Exercise of cooling-off rights: costs and expenses
MCOB 6.9.6
See Notes
- 30/06/2010
Responsibility of SRB agreement provider during cooling-off period
MCOB 6.9.7
See Notes
- 30/06/2010
Requirement to notify the mortgage lender or home purchase provider where the seller is in arrears
MCOB 6.9.8
See Notes
As soon as a SRB agreement provider has provided the written pre-offer document at Stage One to a SRB agreement seller who is in arrears under his regulated mortgage contract or home purchase plan on the property to which the proposed regulated sale and rent back agreement relates, it must, in a durable medium, immediately notify the mortgage lender, home purchase provider or the providers of other loans that may be secured on the property:
- (1) explaining that the firm is proposing to enter into a regulated sale and rent back agreement with the seller and that, as required by the FSA, he will be given a cooling-off period of 14 days before deciding whether he wishes to enter into the proposed agreement;
- (2) summarising the key terms of the proposed agreement;
- (3) advising the lender or provider that the proposed agreement is likely to be relevant to any repossession action or other forbearance option the lender or provider may already be, or may be contemplating, taking with respect to the property; and
- (4) giving the firm's contact details should the lender or provider wish for any further information.
- 30/06/2010
Data protection
MCOB 6.9.9
See Notes
- 30/06/2010
Written offer document for signing: Stage Two
MCOB 6.9.10
See Notes
- (1) No sooner than 14 days after the SRB agreement provider has supplied the SRB agreement seller with the written pre-offer at Stage One, the provider must provide him with a written offer document for signing (Stage Two), accompanied by any formal legal documentation that the parties will need to sign to give effect to the proposed regulated sale and rent back agreement.
- (2) The written offer document for signing (Stage Two) must be in the form prescribed by MCOB 6 Annex 3 R and must be adapted by the firm, as appropriate, to the extent specified.
- 30/06/2010
Records of written pre-offer documents and written offer documents for signing
MCOB 6.9.11
See Notes
The SRB agreement provider must keep a record of the written pre-offer document at Stage One and the written offer document for signing at Stage Two for a period of:
- (1) one year after the end of the fixed term of the tenancy under the regulated sale and rent back agreement; or
- (2) five years from the date of the disclosures and warnings, written offer documents and cooling-off period notices;
- 30/06/2010
MCOB 6 Annex 1
Distance home purchase plans: information to be provided to retail customers.
- 06/04/2007
This table belongs to MCOB 6.8.5 R. | |||
1.1 | R | Distance home purchase plans: information to be provided to retail customers | |
(1) | the identity and the main business of the home purchase provider, the geographical address at which the home purchase provider is established and any other geographical address relevant for the consumer's relations with the home purchase provider; | ||
(2) | the identity of the representative of the home purchase provider established in the consumer's EEA State of residence and the geographical address relevant for the customer's relations with the representative, if such a representative exists; | ||
(3) | when the consumer's dealings are with any professional other than the home purchase provider, the identity of this professional, the capacity in which he is acting vis-a-vis the consumer, and the geographical address relevant for the customer's relations with this professional; | ||
(4) | Details of the FSA Register and any other trade register in which the home purchase provider is entered and his registration number or an equivalent means of identification in that register; | ||
(5) | confirmation that the home purchase provider is authorised and regulated by the FSA; | ||
(6) | the total price to be paid by the consumer to the home purchase provider for the financial service, including all related fees, charges and expenses, and all taxes paid via the home purchase provider or, when an exact price cannot be indicated, the basis for the calculation of the price enabling the consumer to verify it; | ||
(7) | notice of the possibility that other taxes and/or costs may exist that are not paid via the home purchase provider or imposed by him; | ||
(8) | any specific additional cost for the consumer of using the means of distance communication, if such additional cost is charged; | ||
(9) | the absence of a right of withdrawal; | ||
(10) | information on any rights the parties may have to terminate the contract early or unilaterally by virtue of the terms of the distance contract, including any penalties imposed by the contract in such cases; | ||
(11) | the EEA State or States whose laws are taken by the home purchase provider as a basis for the establishment of relations with the retail customer prior to the conclusion of the distance contract; | ||
(12) | any contractual clause on law applicable to the distance contract and/or on competent court; | ||
(13) | in which language, or languages, the contractual terms and conditions, and the prior information referred to in this table are supplied, and furthermore in which language, or languages, the home purchase provider, with the agreement of the consumer, undertakes to communicate during the duration of this distance contract; and | ||
(14) | whether or not there is an out-of-court complaint and redress mechanism for the consumer that is party to the distance contract and, if so, the methods for having access to it; | ||
(15) | whether or not compensation may be available from the compensation scheme should the firm be unable to meet its liabilities, and information about any other applicable named compensation scheme; and, for each applicable scheme, the extent and level of cover and how further information can be obtained; and | ||
(16) | all the contractual terms and conditions of the home purchase plan to which the offer document relates. |
- 01/11/2007
1.2 | G | A firm is not required to provide this information if it has already done so, for example in an initial disclosure document, and that information remains accurate. |
- 06/04/2007
MCOB 6 Annex 2
- Written Pre-offer Document of a regulated sale and rent back agreement.
- 30/06/2010
- 30/06/2010
MCOB 6 Annex 3
- Cooling-Off Document of a regulated sale and rent back agreement.
- 30/06/2010
- 30/06/2010