FHDDS32320 - Approval, revoking the approval and variations: approval – pre-approval visit: contents

Pre-approval visit

It is recommended that the default action will be to plan and undertake a pre-approval visit for all applications.

However, there may be appropriate circumstances when the pre-approval compliance activity may be conducted as a desk based intervention.

Examples of circumstances when a visit may not be undertaken include the applicant is:

  • under control of a large business or WMBC SPOC who may have made regular visits, discussed FHDDS and recommends that an additional visit is not necessary.
  • an AEO with a good compliance record or has received a recent compliance intervention that confirms they have understood and prepared appropriately for FHDDS
  • from a sector for which we have no or low evidence of risk. If a decision is taken not to carry out a visit but to progress the application as a desk review then the decision and reasons should be documented in RCM.

In the event that a decision is taken not to visit, it is recommended that contact is made with the applicant by the compliance officer reviewing the application to confirm that the application is being progressed, to discuss and educate the applicant about the preparations they should start to make to ensure they can meet their obligations when they are approved and to provide an opportunity to build a positive relationship with the applicant.

See FHDDS31520 for guidance on requiring further information.