House to House Collections

A licence is required by anyone collecting money or selling articles from door to door, shop to shop, pub to pub, etc. for charitable purposes and it is an offence to hold a collection without one.

In the Metropolitan Police District licences are issued by Charities, TP HQ Room 443, Victoria Embankment, Westminster, London SW1A 2JL. Telephone: 0207-321-7129.

The rules governing the issue of house to house collection licences are contained within the House to House Collection Act 1939 and the House to House Regulations 1947, copies of which may be available from your local library. The Act and the regulations should be read carefully.

They MUST be fully complied with by anyone promoting or taking part in a house to house collection as failure to do so is an offence which may result in prosecution.

There are two types of House to House Licence:

1) A license issued under section 2 of the 1939 Act.

This license allows collectors to collect in one or more London Boroughs not only from house to house but from pub to pub and shop to shop. However, in the case of pubs and shops permission must be obtained from the owners prior to the collection commencing.
The duration of the licence is at the discretion of the Charities Office.

2 ) Local Certificate of Exemption

Under Section 1(4) of the 1939 Act, local Police Chief Superintendents are able to authorise collections for charitable purposes which are of a local nature, for example a local church, scout group, play group, which are likely to be completed within a period of no more than fourteen (14 ) days. Applications for this type of collection should be made through your local police station to the Licensing Officer on behalf of the OCU Commander of the Borough in which the collection is to take place.

How to Apply

The application form should be fully and correctly completed. The papers should be sent to Charities, TP HQ Room 438, Victoria Embankment, Westminster, London SW1A 2JL. Telephone: 0207-321-7129.

If you are a first time collector you will be required to submit detailed information and literature about the aims and objectives of the fund along with copies of accounts for the previous three years (if applicable).

If you are collecting on behalf of a charity you are required to submit a letter from the organisation saying that they are happy for you to collect on their behalf.

Organisers are required to submit accounts one month after completing the collection. In addition, if a licence is granted for a number of months, interim accounts may be required.

In order to assist with processing, application forms should be returned well in advance of the collection. At least by the first day of the month preceding the month in which the collection is due to start , e.g. if the collection is due to start in May then the form and any enclosures should be received by 1 April.