What Is the Right of Rescission and How Do You Exercise It?

What Is the Right of Rescission?

The right of rescission is a legal right outlined in the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA) that allows a borrower to cancel (or rescind) certain types of home loans within three days of closing on the loan. This right is provided on a no-questions-asked basis, and the lender must give up its claim to the property and refund all fees within 20 days of the borrower exercising their right of rescission.

Understanding the Right of Rescission

The TILA, enacted in 1968 and amended over the years, is intended to curtail unfair and deceptive credit billing and credit card practices. Among other things, it requires lenders to provide borrowers with relevant information about home loans and the right to cancel them in some instances. The right of rescission was created to protect consumers from unscrupulous lenders, giving borrowers at least a brief cooling-off period and time to change their minds.

Not all loan transactions come with the right of rescission. It applies only to loans that use the person's existing home as collateral, including certain home equity loans, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), reverse mortgages, and refinances of mortgages. It does not apply to mortgages used to buy or build a home or to purchase a second home or an investment property.

In addition, the right does not apply if you are refinancing your mortgage with the same lender and aren't borrowing additional money as part of the refinance. Nor does it apply if your lender is a state agency. However, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says, "You may have other cancellation rights under state or local law."

An eligible home can include a house, condominium, mobile home, or houseboat.

How the Three-Day Cancellation Rule Works

The provision in the law allowing borrowers three days to change their mind and back out of a loan contract is known as the three-day cancellation rule.

Specifically, the rule allows borrowers three business days, including Saturdays but not Sundays, to cancel the contract without penalty and for any reason. 

The clock starts ticking only after you have signed the loan contract at closing, received a Truth in Lending disclosure form from the lender, and also received two copies of a Truth in Lending notice explaining your right to cancel. According to the FTC, "If you didn't get the disclosure form or the two copies of the notice—or if the disclosure or notice was incorrect—you may have up to three years to cancel."

Otherwise, once all three of those things have happened, you have until midnight of the third business day to cancel.

How to Exercise the Right of Rescission

As mentioned, the lender is required to provide you with a notice explaining your right to cancel and how to go about it.

Basically, you must mail or deliver a written notice to the lender that you are exercising your right to rescission and cancelling the loan. The law, written decades ago, also allows for delivery by telegram. You cannot cancel by other means, such as a phone call or in-person conversation with the lender.

As the law explains, "Notice is considered given when mailed, when filed for telegraphic transmission or, if sent by other means, when delivered to the creditor's designated place of business."

The Bottom Line

The right of rescission allows consumers a brief period of time to cancel certain types of home loans if they change their mind. If you are planning to sign a loan contract and have any doubts about whether you will want to proceed with the arrangement, it's a good idea to find out beforehand whether the right of rescission applies.