Apply to become a home finance provider

Find out how to apply to us for authorisation if you’re a non-bank lender, lifetime mortgage provider or third-party mortgage administrator.

What to read first

The application process

Our how to apply[1] page explains:

our expectations of all firms
the application process
how to avoid delays with your application

You must read this page in full before submitting your application through our Connect[2] system.

Supporting material

Along with your application form, you'll need to provide a range of supporting documentation including your:

regulatory business plan
financial forecasts
required policies, procedures and other relevant forms on Connect

Check what supporting material[3] you need to include.

Our letters to your sector

We expect you to make our Consumer Duty[4] a top priority.

Read our letter about how you should implement it[5], as well as the relevant letter below that set out the risks of harm and actions we expect your firm to take:

Threshold conditions

Our threshold conditions[9] are our minimum standards for authorised firms.

You'll need to explain how you'll continue to meet each threshold condition.

Perimeter guidance

You'll need to explain how the permissions and investment types in our perimeter guidance[10] match up with your business model.

Sourcebooks

Review the following modules in our Handbook of rules and guidance:

MCOB[11] – you'll need to explain how you'll comply with these rules
MIPRU[12] – this is relevant to the permissions you're applying for
CONC[13] – you need to read this because you're applying for consumer credit permissions

Our how to apply[1] page explains:

our expectations of all firms
the application process
how to avoid delays with your application

You must read this page in full before submitting your application through our Connect[2] system.

Along with your application form, you'll need to provide a range of supporting documentation including your:

regulatory business plan
financial forecasts
required policies, procedures and other relevant forms on Connect

Check what supporting material[3] you need to include.

We expect you to make our Consumer Duty[4] a top priority.

Read our letter about how you should implement it[5], as well as the relevant letter below that set out the risks of harm and actions we expect your firm to take:

Our threshold conditions[9] are our minimum standards for authorised firms.

You'll need to explain how you'll continue to meet each threshold condition.

You'll need to explain how the permissions and investment types in our perimeter guidance[10] match up with your business model.

Review the following modules in our Handbook of rules and guidance:

MCOB[11] – you'll need to explain how you'll comply with these rules
MIPRU[12] – this is relevant to the permissions you're applying for
CONC[13] – you need to read this because you're applying for consumer credit permissions

Prepare your application

You'll submit your application through Connect[15], so make sure you register[13].

Your application must include your:

application form
regulatory business plan (RBP)
financial forecasts – learn how to prepare your firm's financial information[14]
- you must provide at least 3 years of forecasts, but you may wish to provide up to 5 years to support your application
- in your summary you should include a set of the 3 financial statements (balance sheet, profit and loss, cashflow) under a stressed set of assumptions
other relevant forms and supporting material[16]

Below are the specific things we expect to see in your application in order to demonstrate that you can meet our expectations. Note that this advice isn't exhaustive – you may need to consider additional factors as they relate to your business activities.

We know we're asking for lots of information, but if you submit everything required in sufficient detail it'll help us assess and determine your application without delays.

Using your permissions within 12 months of getting authorised

You'll need to demonstrate that your firm can use the permissions you're applying for within 12 months of you getting authorised.

This is so that consumers don't get misled. It also saves us having to cancel any of your unused permissions.

Having adequate funding in place

We expect your firm's funding to be in place for the mortgage book covering 12 months and for operational costs covering 36 months.

Where applicable, you should support this with agreed and evidenced signed heads of terms or equivalent.

We need this information to assess whether you have a viable business and that it will be resourced appropriately, as well as whether you'll use your permissions within the first 12 months.

In your regulatory business plan (RBP)

This is an important document that we'll use to assess your firm's activities, so please be comprehensive. We don't expect to see a generic marketing document. If your RBP isn't detailed enough and tailored to your business, your application will take longer.

Make sure you set out:

the aims and objectives of your firm and why you're applying for authorisation
the full range of activities your firm will undertake, including activities that we don't regulate
why the permissions applied for are needed for your business
details of the product(s) your firm will be providing
the distribution channels you'll be using
details of the customer journey
how the business activities are funded and how revenue is generated
your firm's target market and evidence of the research that's been conducted to show the product or service your firm offers meets the needs and characteristics of the target market
an organisation chart that shows your key staff, roles and where they're located
details of the training that's provided to staff
details of staff incentives
whether your firm is to be a Section 21 Financial Promotions Approver
how you'll source customers, including details of:
- any introducers or lead generators you'll use
- the due diligence you'll carry out on introducers
details of any website or social media advertising – find out how to ensure that your financial promotions and adverts[14] comply with our rules
the experience of senior managers at your firm and explain why you believe they have the necessary skills, experience and regulatory knowledge to lead an authorised firm
if you employ multiple advisers, including any self-employed advisers, how they're to be remunerated and the how their advice is overseen and supervised
whether any parts of your business activities will be outsourced
an overview of the policies and procedures in place, relevant to your firm's business model

You must answer all questions on the application honestly, including on Form As, and provide us with full information regarding any disclosures you make, including details about any removals you've had from lender or product providers’ panels.

If in doubt, let us know as much as possible, even if it may not seem relevant.

If you don't disclose something, we take this very seriously and may consider it to be evidence of dishonesty and/or lack of integrity.

Application fee

You have to pay a fee to submit your application. The fee is non-refundable.

Your fee falls into pricing category 6.

Find out more about our authorisation fees[15], including our pricing categories and how to pay.

Final check and submit

Before you submit everything on Connect, give it one more check to be sure you've included everything.

Our how to apply[16] page has 3 top tips to ensure your application goes smoothly, and explains what happens after you've submitted it.

If you need more help

Please contact us on 0300 500 0597. We're open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9am to 5pm, and Thursday 9.45am to 5pm.

12/11/2024 : Link changed Corrected broken link

15/11/2023 : Information changed Page updated as part of website refresh

25/05/2023 : Link added Authorisation home

19/05/2021 : Link changed IT self-assessment questionnaire

20/07/2020: Link changed broken links fixed

First published: 28/04/2020 Last updated: 12/11/2024 See all updates

Apply to become a home finance provider

On this page

What to read first

Prepare your application

Application fee

Final check and submit

If you need more help

On this page

In this section

More on authorisation