MCOB 6.9 Regulated sale and rent back agreements

1A SRB agreement provider must not enter into aregulated sale and rent back agreement unless it follows the process outlined in this section.

1. (1)

   A SRB agreement provider intending to enter into aspecific 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:

   1. (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

   2. (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. (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. (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. (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).

1. (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. (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. (3)

   The written pre-offer document must be accompanied by the Money Advice Service 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.moneyadviceservice.org.uk.

4. (4)

   On providing the Money Advice Service 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. (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.

The SRB agreement provider must not instigate any contact or otherwise seek to communicate with the SRB agreement seller or a member of his family for a period of 14 days from the time that he has been supplied with the written pre-offer document at Stage One, together with the associated legal documentation in draft form.

If the SRB agreement seller or a member of his family makes contact with the SRB agreement provider during the 14 day cooling-off period, for example because he wants to query a term of the written pre-offer document, the provider must endeavour to answer the query in as factual a manner as the circumstances permit but avoid any language or conduct which could be interpreted as amounting to an attempt to exert pressure on the SRB agreement seller to enter into the proposed agreement.

The SRB agreement provider must not charge or seek to charge a potential SRB agreement seller for any fee, cost, or expense unless and until the seller has entered into the regulated sale and rent back agreement following the 14 day cooling-off period.

The SRB agreement provider must not offer to or enter into a regulated sale and rent back agreement with the seller until the 14 day cooling off period has elapsed and must not allow the seller to become contractually committed to enter into any such agreement by signing any associated legal documentation to give effect to it within that period.

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. (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 FCA, he will be given a cooling-off period of 14 days before deciding whether he wishes to enter into the proposed agreement;

2. (2)

   summarising the key terms of the proposed agreement;

3. (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. (4)

   giving the firm's contact details should the lender or provider wish for any further information.

1. (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. (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.

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. (1)

   one year after the end of the fixed term of the tenancy under the regulated sale and rent back agreement; or

2. (2)

   five years from the date of the disclosures and warnings, written offer documents and cooling-off period notices;

   whichever is the longer.