Consumers will tend to use an intermediary to help them choose and take out a mortgage. The services provided by these mortgage brokers may be provided on both an advised and non-advised basis but will require authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) unless an exemption or exclusion applies.

Mortgage brokers that are authorised by the FCA then need to comply with specific rules when providing those services to ensure they maintain compliance. As a firm that’s either considering becoming a mortgage broker or already authorised as one, you should be aware of the FCA rules that apply. The rules on how you are expected to conduct your activity can largely be found in the FCA’s Mortgages and Home Finance: Conduct of Business Sourcebook (referred to as ‘MCOB’). There are also additional FCA rules that apply to all firms, including the complaint handling rules and rules on the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SM&CR).

You should also be aware of how the different permissions apply to enable mortgage brokers to take different steps when providing its services to customers, such as by providing advice or not.  Certain systems and controls should also be in place depending on a firm’s permissions to ensure that they do not breach the rules or operate outside of their permitted activities.

Mortgage brokers seeking FCA authorisation require a coherent compliance monitoring framework and must be able to demonstrate that the business model is one that meets the FCA’s requirements. They should also be aware of specific requirements that must be satisfied to become authorised including the need for Professional Indemnity Insurance and a minimum capital resource requirement. Those in control or who will have management responsibilities within the firm must also be suitable and appropriate.