Licence - house to house collection
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 one or two days, a house to house collection permit can
be granted for any period up to one year. With regard to vetting
and checking to ascertain whether the organisation applying is
genuine or not, the same procedures apply as 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,
Help the Aged etc, 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.
One of the key grounds for refusal would be where the total
amount likely to be applied for charitable purpose as a result of
the collection, is inadequate in proportion to the value of the
proceeds likely to be received. So, for instance, where an
applicant intends to claim a fair proportion of the proceeds of the
collection for expenses, a permit could be refused.There is no
statutory guidance to local authorities on what would be a
reasonable amount for expenses.
A copy of the House to House Collections Act 1939 can be viewed
at the address above where you can also obtain an application form
and a copy of regulations.