Welcome to Business
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.
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.
Attachments
Application for house to house collection licence (PDF 35KB)Who to Contact
Licensing Section
Telephone: 0151 443 3038
Write to or Visit:
Computer Centre,
Westmorland Road,
Huyton,
Merseyside
L36 9YU
Email: licensing@knowsley.gov.uk
Telephone: 0151 443 3038
Write to or Visit:
Computer Centre,
Westmorland Road,
Huyton,
Merseyside
L36 9YU
Email: licensing@knowsley.gov.uk
A copy of Adobe Acrobat reader is needed to enable access to the PDF document(s) above. If you do not already have this click to Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (Link opens in a new window) now.
To read the PDF document with a screen reader please visit Access Adobe website (Link opens in a new window), which provides useful tools and resources. Adobe also has a free online conversion tool for PDFs.
To read the PDF document with a screen reader please visit Access Adobe website (Link opens in a new window), which provides useful tools and resources. Adobe also has a free online conversion tool for PDFs.
