Licensing

House to house collection licence

A permit is required to undertake a 'house to house' collection, under the House to House Collections Act 1939.

Whereas street collection permits are normally issued to cover a period of 1 or 2 days, a house to house collection permit can be granted for any period up to 1 year. With regard to vetting and checking whether an organisation applying is genuine or not, the same procedures apply for street collections.

As with street collection permits there is a requirement for the promoter of the collection to make a return following the collection.

Collections generally take place from door to door or from one public house to another.

Some of the larger well-known charities, such as Christian Aid and Help the Aged, have a Charity Commission exemption from having to apply for a permit, but by and large most of the smaller, and particularly local groups and organisations need a permit before they can collect money (or articles which they intend to sell later), from door to door.

Unlike street collections, there is a statutory right of appeal against the refusal to grant a house to house collection permit. In this case, the right of appeal is to the Secretary of State, and the grounds for refusal are set out in the Act itself.

House to House collection is dealt with by the Police.