House to house collection licences

Before collection

To make your application, please go to our how to apply for a charity collection licence page. For a house to house collection licence you'll need the following items:

• a letter from your charity authorising you to collect, and manage collections on their behalf
• details of the people who will be collecting
• the charity’s membership details for the Institute of Fundraising or the Fundraising Regulator
• if the charity is collecting for the first time: a synopsis of the charity’s background and objectives, and plans for the funds raised

These details can take some time to gather together, so we recommend starting your preparations as early as possible.

Also, bear in mind we must receive applications by the first day of the month before the month of your chosen collection date. For example, if you’re planning to collect on 20 September we need to receive your application no later than 1 August.

Please only apply using our online charity collection licence service. We won't accept any applications or documents sent by post. If you have any queries not covered in the online service, please email us.

Please note: you will be subject to a check on the Police National Database. If you have been convicted of burglary, robbery or blackmail, you may be refused a licence. Each person is judged on their own merits.

Reasons we may refuse or remove a licence

Under the House-to-House Collections Act 1939, the licensing authority can refuse or take away a collection licence for the following reasons:

• not enough of the money collected will go to charity
• we think collectors will keep too much of the money
• the collection could lead to breaking the law, or has already done so
• the applicant has certain criminal convictions and isn't considered suitable
• the applicant hasn’t made sure their collectors are suitable or hasn’t followed regulations
• the applicant doesn’t provide the required information

Appeals process

If your licence application is refused or your licence is taken away, you can appeal. Appeals must be made within 14 days of the decision.

How to appeal

Email the Secretary of State at Charity-neo. Include a copy of the refusal notice and an explanation of why you think the decision should change.

After collection

Once you’ve raised some money as part of your house-to-house collection licence you need to submit the details below within three months.

Submit your accounts using our Schedule 5 form for cash collections or Schedule 6 form for goods collections (see downloads below for both forms), showing:

• the total amount collected
• the names of all collectors and amounts collected by each
• any expenses or payments incurred
• certification by two of the people responsible for the collection
• certification by a qualified accountant

Please scan your completed Schedule 5 or Schedule 6 and email it to us. 

Downloads