Citation and commencement

1. This Order may be cited as the Legislative Reform (Consumer Credit) Order 2008 and shall come into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

Interpretation

2. In this Order "the 1974 Act" means the Consumer Credit Act 1974(2).

Exemption relating to investment properties

3.–(1) After section 16B of the 1974 Act insert–

"16C Exemption relating to investment properties

(1) This Act does not regulate a consumer credit agreement if, at the time the agreement is entered into, any sums due under it are secured by a land mortgage on land where the condition in subsection (2) is satisfied.

(2) The condition is that less than 40% of the land is used, or is intended to be used, as or in connection with a dwelling–

(a) by the debtor or a person connected with the debtor, or

(b) in the case of credit provided to trustees, by an individual who is the beneficiary of the trust or a person connected with such an individual.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) the area of any land which comprises a building or other structure containing two or more storeys is to be taken to be the aggregate of the floor areas of each of those storeys.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (2) a person is "connected with" the debtor or an individual who is the beneficiary of a trust if he is–

(a) that person´s spouse or civil partner;

(b) a person (whether or not of the opposite sex) whose relationship with that person has the characteristics of the relationship between husband and wife; or

(c) that person´s parent, brother, sister, child, grandparent or grandchild.

(5) Section 126 (enforcement of land mortgages) applies to an agreement which would but for this section be a regulated agreement.

(6) Nothing in this section affects the application of sections 140A to 140C.".

(2) In section 8(3) of the 1974 Act (definition of consumer credit agreement) for "or 16B" substitute ", 16B or 16C".

(3) In section 82 of the 1974 Act (variation of agreements) in subsections (2A), (3)(b) and (5A) after "section 16(6C)" insert "or 16C".

(4) In section 189(1) of the 1974 Act (definitions) in the definition of "exempt agreement" for "or 16B" substitute ", 16B or 16C".

Statements to be provided in relation to fixed-sum credit agreements

4. In section 77A of the 1974 Act (statements to be provided in relation to fixed-sum credit agreements)–

(a) for subsection (1) substitute–

"(1) The creditor under a regulated agreement for fixed-sum credit must give the debtor statements under this section.

(1A) The statements must relate to consecutive periods.

(1B) The first such period must begin with either–

(a) the day on which the agreement is made, or

(b) the day the first movement occurs on the debtor´s account with the creditor relating to the agreement.

(1C) No such period may exceed a year.

(1D) For the purposes of subsection (1C), a period of a year which expires on a non-working day may be regarded as expiring on the next working day.

(1E) Each statement under this section must be given to the debtor before the end of the period of thirty days beginning with the day after the end of the period to which the statement relates.".

(b) in subsection (5)–

(i) for "(1)(a)" substitute "(1E)"; and

(ii) paragraph (b) and the "or" immediately preceding it shall cease to have effect; and

(c) in subsection (7) omit the words "paragraph (a) or (as the case may be) paragraph (b) of".

5.–(1) Section 77A of the 1974 Act, as amended by this Order, applies to agreements whenever made.

(2) Section 77A of the 1974 Act, as amended by this Order, shall have effect in relation to agreements made before the commencement of section 6 of the Consumer Credit Act 2006(3) as if–

(a) the period mentioned in subsection (1B) were a period beginning no later than the day of the commencement of section 6 and ending no later than the day before the first anniversary of that day; and

(b) subsection (1C) did not apply.

6. Paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 to the Consumer Credit Act 2006 is repealed.

7. Regulation 11 of the Consumer Credit (Information Requirements and Duration of Licences and Charges) Regulations 2007(4) is revoked.

Interpretation of s.86B of the 1974 Act

8. In section 86B of the 1974 Act (notice of sums in arrears under fixed-sum credit agreements etc.)–

(a) in subsection (5)(a) for "sum" substitute "payments", for "pay" substitute "make" and for "is" substitute "are"; and

(b) after subsection (12) insert–

"(13) In this section–

(a) "payments" in relation to an applicable agreement which is a regulated agreement for fixed-sum credit means payments to be made at predetermined intervals provided for under the terms of the agreement; and

(b) "payments" in relation to an applicable agreement which is a regulated consumer hire agreement means any payments to be made by the hirer in relation to any period in consideration of the bailment or hiring to him of goods under the agreement.".

Interpretation of s.86C of the 1974 Act

9. In section 86C of the 1974 Act (notice of sums in arrears under running-account credit agreements) after subsection (7) insert–

"(8) In this section "payments" means payments to be made at predetermined intervals provided for under the terms of the agreement.".

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Consumer Credit Act 1974 ("the 1974 Act"). Article 3 inserts a new section 16C into the 1974 Act. This creates a new exemption from regulation under the 1974 Act for certain consumer credit agreements. To qualify sums due under the agreement must be secured by a land mortgage and less than 40% of the land must be used or intended to be used as or in connection with a dwelling by the debtor or a person connected with the debtor. Where the debtors are trustees less than 40% of the land must be used by the beneficiary of the trust or a person connected with that beneficiary.

Article 3(2) of the Order makes a consequential amendment to section 8(3) of the 1974 Act, which contains the definition of a consumer credit agreement.

Article 3(3) makes consequential amendments to section 82 of the 1974 Act. Section 82(2A) is amended so that if an agreement is exempt as a result of section 16C of the 1974 Act, section 82(2) will not apply if the agreement amends an earlier agreement or is amended by a later modifying agreement. Section 82(3) is amended so that if an agreement, which is exempt under section 16C of the 1974 Act, modifies an earlier regulated agreement the exempt agreement will not be treated under the subsection as a regulated agreement. Section 82(5A) is amended to disapply subsection (5) where the modifying agreement is an exempt agreement as a result of section 16C. This means that if an earlier agreement, which is cancellable by virtue of section 67, is modified by an agreement which is exempt as a result of section 16C during the cooling off period provided by section 68, the exempt agreement will not be treated as a cancellable agreement.

Article 3(4) makes a consequential amendment to the definition of "exempt agreement" in section 189(1) of the 1974 Act.

Article 4 of the Order amends section 77A of the 1974 Act. Section 77A now provides that a creditor under a regulated agreement for fixed-sum credit has to give the debtor statements covering consecutive periods of not more than one year. The first statement has to cover the period commencing on the day the agreement is made or the day the first movement on the account occurs. Each statement must be given within thirty days of the end of the period to which it relates. Where a period of one year would expire on a non working day the period may expire on the next working day.

Article 5 makes a transitional provision in relation to section 77A of the 1974 Act. It provides that section 77A, as amended by the Order, applies to agreements whenever made and has effect in relation to agreements made before the commencement of section 6 of the Consumer Credit Act 2006 as if the period mentioned in section 77A(1B) of the 1974 Act were a period beginning no later than the day of the commencement of section 6 and ending no later than the day before the first anniversary of that day. Section 77A(1C) is disapplied for these purposes.

Article 6 repeals paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 to the Consumer Credit Act 2006.

Article 7 revokes regulation 11 of the Consumer Credit (Information Requirements and Duration of Licences and Charges) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1167).

Article 8 amends section 86B of the 1974 Act and defines "payments" for the purposes of that section.

Article 9 amends section 86C of the 1974 Act and defines "payments" for the purposes of that section.

An Impact Assessment has been prepared in respect of this Order and may be viewed at http://www.berr.gov.uk/consultations/ria/index.html.