MCOB applies as described in this chapter.

The purpose of this chapter is to set out to whom, for what activities, and within what territorial limits the rules, evidential provisions and guidance in MCOB apply.

1 Firms which outsource regulated activities are reminded of the guidance on outsourcing in SYSC 3.2.4 G and SYSC 84.

1. (1)

   This sourcebook applies to activities carried out in respect of four5 types of product: regulated mortgage contracts (which includes lifetime mortgages), home purchase plans, home reversion plans and regulated sale and rent back agreements.5 Together, these products are referred to as home finance transactions.3

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2. (2)

   Lifetime mortgages and home reversion plans are together referred to as equity release transactions.3

3. (3)

   The application of most of this sourcebook is expressed by reference to four types of firm: lenders/providers, administrators, arrangers, and advisers. Arrangers and advisers are together referred to as intermediaries. This includes those firms that provide business loans to customers under a regulated mortgage contracts (see MCOB 1.2.3 R to MCOB 1.2.9 G). A single firm may fall into more than one of these types. PERG 4 contains detailed guidance on regulated mortgage activities and PERG 14 contains detailed guidance on home purchase activitiesandreversion activities.3

For detail of the tailored provisions applying, see the section on 'business loans' set out in each relevant chapter.

1. (1)

   In order for a loan to fall within the definition of a regulated mortgage contract, at least 40% of the total of the land to be given as security must be used as or in connection with a dwelling. Therefore, the variation in approach provided for in MCOB 1.2.3 R(2) can only apply where the loan being used for a business purpose is secured against a property at least 40 per cent of which is used as a dwelling. It cannot apply to a loan secured on property that is used solely for a business purpose.

2. (2)

   Whether a regulated mortgage contract is for a business purpose will be a matter of fact to be determined by a firm depending on the individual circumstances of each case. In the FSA's opinion, a regulated mortgage contract secured, for example, on the borrower's own home, but used to finance the purchase of a single buy-to-let property will not be for a business purpose.

In determining whether a customer is a large business customer for the purposes of MCOB 1.2.3 R(1), a firm will need to have regard to the figure given for the customer's annual turnover in the customer's annual report and accounts or business plan. In addition, a firm may rely on information provided by the customer about the annual turnover, unless, taking a common-sense view of this information, it has reason to doubt it.

1. (1)

   Firms are reminded of the requirement in MCOB 2.2.6 R that any communication should be clear, fair and not misleading when substituting an alternative for the term 'mortgage' in accordance with MCOB 1.2.7 R(1).

2. (2)

   Possible alternatives to the term 'mortgage' include, for example, 'secured business overdraft', 'secured loan' or 'secured business credit'.

The disclosure rules in MCOB place particular emphasis on the description of borrowing. Where the regulated mortgage contract is for a business purpose, a firm should reflect this emphasis in any disclosure by first describing any borrowing before addressing the other facilities provided under the regulated mortgage contract.

For detail of the tailored provisions applying to home purchase plans, see the section on 'home purchase plans' set out in each relevant chapter.

Authorised professional firms should be aware of the following:

1. (1)

   PROF 5 (Non-mainstream regulated activities); and

2. (2)

   MCOB 3.1.9 R (Authorised professional firms) and the exception in article 55 of the Financial Promotion Order (Communications by members of the professions) which applies in relation to financial promotion of qualifying credit or of a home reversion plan3 of authorised professional firms under MCOB 3.2.5 R(3) (Exemptions).

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The effect of article 28A of the Regulated Activities Order would normally mean that arrangements made by a party to a home finance transaction3 would not fall within the home finance activity3 of arranging. So in a direct sale, a home finance provider3 would not be carrying on the regulated activity of arranging but, where the transaction proceeds to completion, would instead be involved in a regulated activity comprising entering into a home finance transaction3. However, the provisions in MCOB on arranging home finance transactions3 are applied to pre-contractual arrangements by a home finance provider3.

Parts of MCOB relate to distance contracts (or distance mortgage mediation contracts and distance home purchase mediation contracts2) with consumers3. These expressions are derived from the Distance Marketing Directive, and the following paragraphs provide some guidance to firms on their meaning:

1. (1)

   consumer3

   The Distance Marketing Directive applies for distance contracts with 'any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business or profession', for which the term 'consumer' has been adopted. Examples of individuals who would be regarded as consumers3include:

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   1. (a)

      personal representatives, including executors, unless they are acting in a professional capacity, for example a solicitor acting as executor; or

   2. (b)

      private individuals acting in personal or other family circumstances, for example, a trustee of a family trust.

2. (2)

   Distance contract

   To be a distance contract, a contract must be concluded under an 'organised distance sales or service-provision scheme' run by the contractual provider of the service who, for the purpose of the contract, makes exclusive use (directly or through an intermediary) of one or more means of distance communication 3up to and including the time at which the contract is concluded. So:

   3
   1. (a)

      the firm must have put in place facilities designed to enable a customer to deal with it exclusively at a distance, such as facilities for a customer to deal with it purely by post, telephone, fax or the Internet. If a firm normally operates face-to-face and has no facilities in place enabling a customer to deal with it customarily by distance means, the Distance Marketing Directive3 will not apply. A one-off transaction effected exclusively by distance means to meet a particular contingency or emergency will not be a distance contract; and

      3
   2. (b)

      there must have been no simultaneous physical presence of the firm and the other party to the contract throughout the offer, negotiation and conclusion of the contract. So, for example, contracts offered, negotiated and concluded over the Internet, through a telemarketing operation, or by post will normally be distance contracts.

The mere fact that an intermediary (acting for the supplier or for the consumer3) is involved, does not make the sale of a financial product or service a distance contract. There will not be a distance contract if there has been simultaneous physical presence of the intermediary and the consumer3 at some stage in the offer, negotiation and conclusion of the contract.1

1. (1)

   Although MCOB does not apply directly to a firm's appointed representatives, a firm will always be responsible for the acts and omissions of its appointed representatives in carrying on business for which the firm has accepted responsibility (section 39(3) of the Act). In determining whether a firm has complied with any provision of MCOB, anything done or omitted by a firm's appointed representative (when acting as such) will be treated as having been done or omitted by the firm (section 39(4) of the Act).

2. (2)

   Firms should refer to SUP 12 (Appointed representatives), which sets out requirements which apply to firms using appointed representatives.

MCOB applies to regulated mortgage contracts entered into on or after 31 October 2004. Variations made on or after that date to contracts entered into before that date are not subject to FSA regulation but may be subject to the Consumer Credit Act 1974. PERG 4.4.13G2 contains guidance on the variation of contracts entered into before 31 October 2004.1

Principle 2 requires a firm to conduct its business with due skill, care and diligence. The purpose of MCOB 1.6.3 R is to reinforce this. The FSA would expect firms to take appropriate steps to determine whether any mortgage it proposes to enter into is subject to FSA regulation.

1. (1)

   MCOB 1.6.4 R(2) means, for example, that if a firm discovered immediately after completion that a loan was a regulated mortgage contract, the firm would be required to comply with MCOB 7.4 (Disclosure at the start of the contract).

2. (2)

   Although MCOB 1.6.4 R recognises that firms may become aware that a mortgage is a regulated mortgage contract at a late stage, the FSA expects this to be an extremely rare occurrence. It could arise, for example, if a firm has acted on the understanding, verified as far as was practicable, that in respect of a particular mortgage contract less than 40% of the land would be used in connection with a dwelling. If it was discovered later that more than 40% of the land was used in connection with the dwelling (and provided that all the other legal requirements were met) the mortgage will be a regulated mortgage contract to which MCOB applies.

3. (3)

   MCOB 1.6.3 R and MCOB 1.6.4 R do not override the application of MCOB to any regulated mortgage contract. MCOB applies notwithstanding a firm's genuine belief that a mortgage is unregulated. In deciding whether to take disciplinary action as a result of a breach of MCOB, the FSA will take into account whether the action by the firm was reckless or deliberate (see DEPP 6.2.1G (1)(a)). 3

   3