Agricultural Finance Guide

FCA Regulated Agricultural Finance: What to Check

Understanding FCA regulation in agricultural and farm equipment finance - what is regulated, what to verify, and why it matters.

FCA Regulation and Agricultural Finance

Agricultural finance occupies an interesting regulatory space. Finance arranged for business farming purposes - such as HP or leasing of farm machinery - is generally classified as business lending and is therefore exempt from the consumer credit provisions of the Financial Conduct Authority's Consumer Credit sourcebook (CONC). This means the full suite of consumer protections does not automatically apply.

However, this does not mean regulation is absent or irrelevant. FCA-authorised brokers and lenders still operate under conduct requirements, and working with authorised firms provides important professional accountability that unregulated operators cannot offer.

Key Checks Before Using an Agricultural Finance Broker

FCA Register Verification

Visit register.fca.org.uk and search for the broker's name or FCA number. Confirm they are authorised and that their permissions include credit broking or arranging finance.

Companies House Registration

Verify the legal entity is registered at Companies House and that the firm's registered address matches what they have told you. Doulton Money Limited is registered as Company No. 14303203.

Whole-of-Market Status

Confirm whether the broker is truly whole-of-market or tied to a panel. Tied brokers may not access the most competitive lenders for your requirements.

Fee Transparency

A reputable broker will disclose how they are remunerated - typically a commission from the lender, disclosed to you before you proceed. Be cautious of brokers who charge large upfront fees before placing finance.

Our Regulatory Status

Doulton Money Limited, trading as Doulton Bridging Finance, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA No. 814533). We act as a credit broker, not a lender. Our FCA registration can be verified at register.fca.org.uk. We are registered in England and Wales (Company No. 14303203), registered office 20 Wenlock Road, London N1 7GU.

Get a quote 0204 6211776

Same working day

Get terms for your own case

The figures on this page are indicative. Send us your scenario and we will come back the same working day with options from our panel of 130+ lenders.

0204 6211776

Whole of market · 130+ lenders · FCA 814533 · Same working day response

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Is agricultural finance regulated by the FCA?

Agricultural finance for business purposes - such as finance for farm equipment - is generally exempt from FCA consumer credit regulation, as it is business lending. However, brokers operating in this space should still be FCA-authorised as a matter of good practice and professional standards.

What does it mean that Doulton Bridging Finance is FCA authorised?

FCA authorisation means the firm is subject to conduct rules, capital requirements, and regulatory oversight. While agricultural equipment finance is typically exempt from consumer credit rules, working with an FCA-authorised broker provides an additional layer of professional accountability.

Should I check if an agricultural finance broker is FCA registered?

Yes. You should always verify that any finance broker or lender you work with is listed on the FCA Financial Services Register at register.fca.org.uk. This confirms they are legitimately authorised to arrange finance.

What protections exist if something goes wrong with an agricultural finance agreement?

For business borrowers, the primary protection is contract law. The Consumer Credit Act protections do not generally apply to business lending. FCA-authorised brokers must still adhere to conduct standards, and complaints may be escalable to the Financial Ombudsman Service depending on the circumstances.

Are agricultural finance lenders regulated?

Yes. Agricultural finance lenders providing credit are required to be FCA-authorised under the Consumer Credit Act (for consumer finance) or to hold appropriate permissions. Specialist agricultural lenders are typically FCA-authorised credit providers.

Agricultural Finance Glossary Refinancing Agricultural Equipment Agricultural Finance Rates Agricultural Finance for Limited Companies Young Farmer Finance Agricultural Finance for New Farmers & Start-Ups

Asset finance for business purposes is not regulated by the FCA. Rates shown are indicative as at October 2026 and depend on credit profile, term, asset and deposit. We act as a credit broker, not a lender. Your asset may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments.