Mortgage Credit Intermediaries

A Mortgage Credit Intermediary is authorised under the European Union (Consumer Mortgage Credit Agreements) Regulations 2016 to:

  • Present or offer credit agreements to consumers
  • Assist consumers by undertaking preparatory work or other pre-contractual administration in respect of credit agreements
  • Conclude credit agreements with consumers on behalf of a creditor

Mortgage Credit Intermediaries may also be authorised to provide advisory services (i.e. the provision of personal recommendations to a consumer in respect of one or more transactions relating to credit agreements).

A person, other than a credit institution or a person admitted to carry out credit intermediation activities in another EEA Member State, shall not carry out mortgage credit intermediary activities or provide advisory services unless:

  • He/she is the holder of an authorisation granted for that purpose by the Central Bank; and
  • Holds a letter of appointment in writing from each undertaking for which he/she is an intermediary.

Mortgage Intermediaries

A Mortgage Intermediary licenced under the Consumer Credit Act 1995 ('the CCA') is a person (other than a mortgage lender or credit institution) who, in return for commission or some other form of consideration:

(a) arranges, or offers to arrange, for a mortgage lender to provide a consumer with a housing loan which falls outside the scope of the European Union (Consumer Mortgage Credit Agreements) Regulations (such as equity release products), or

(b) introduces a consumer to an intermediary who arranges, or offers to arrange, for a mortgage lender to provide the consumer with a housing loan.

It is an offence for a person to engage in the business of being a mortgage intermediary unless

  • He/she is the holder of an authorisation granted for that purpose by the Central Bank; and
  • Holds a letter of appointment in writing from each undertaking for which he/she is an intermediary

Frequently Asked Questions for Mortgage Credit Intermediaries / Mortgage Intermediaries

Please note that the following is for guidance purposes only.

The Regulations transpose Directive 2014/17/EU on credit agreements for consumers relating to residential immovable property into Irish law.

The Regulations apply to;

"(a) a credit agreement which is secured by a charge, a mortgage or by another comparable security commonly used in an EEA Member State on residential immovable property or secured by a right related to residential immovable property, and where the person to whom the credit is provided is a consumer; and

(b) a credit agreement the purpose of which is to acquire or retain property rights in land or in an existing or projected building, and where the person to whom the credit is provided is a consumer."

Entities holding an authorisation as a Mortgage Intermediary under the Consumer Credit Act, 1995, as at 21 March 2016 are deemed to be authorised under the Regulations to engage in the activities of a 'Mortgage Credit Intermediary', as defined in the Regulations, for the remainder of the period for which the mortgage intermediary authorisation is valid. Such entities will not be required to comply with any additional requirements imposed under the regulations until 21 March 2017.

Further details on how to become authorised are included under Authorisation Process

The Central Bank will send an acknowledgement by e-mail within three days of receipt of all applications.

Details of the qualifications and/or experience required can be found in the Minimum Competency section of our website.

You are required to notify the Central Bank of any additional appointments you obtain. This notification can be submitted via a 'change request' through the Portal and will be reflected on the Register of Mortgage Credit Intermediaries in due course

You are required to notify the Central Bank of the termination of any appointments. This notification can be submitted via a ‘change request’ through the Portal and will be reflected on the Register of Mortgage Credit Intermediaries in due course.

Contact RIauthorisations@centralbank.ie