Charitable collections - house to house collections

Any door to door collection for cash and/or goods, including envelope collections, need to be licensed. The Home Office licences national collections and the relevant local authority regulates smaller collections, in accordance with the House to House Collections Act 1939.

The purpose of the Regulations made under the Act, is to ensure that collections are controlled to prevent nuisance to members of the public and to provide an audit trail with regard to the allocation of funds.  Ideally, applications should be submitted at least one month prior to the first collection date, as enough time must be allowed to order (and receive) the required badges and certificate of

authority from her Majesty’s Stationary Office.  Within three months of the collection a financial return must be completed and returned to the Council giving details of monies collected.

Organising your collection

You need to ensure that:

• Every collector wears a prescribed badge and carries a certificate of  authority, which can be produced on demand to the occupant of any house or any police officer
• If collection boxes are used, that they are sealed and consecutively numbered
• If money or goods are collected by any other means, a receipt is issued and the donation entered in a receipt book
• No collector is under the age of 16 years

After the collection

• Collecting tins should be opened in the presence of the promoter and witness or alternatively given to a bank to be opened and counted by an official
• Once opened the contents of each tin should be entered on a list and certified by those present
• A financial return must be made to the Council on the form provided
• At least 85 per cent of the monies collected must be donated to the Charity, with a maximum of only 15 per cent allowed towards expenses
• Ensure that all certificates of authority and badges are destroyed at the end of the collection period
• No promoter, or associate, can receive payment from the collection without specific approval from the Council

If your organisation has not previously applied to the Council for a charity collection, please send documentation detailing the objectives and aims of your cause, your registered charity number where applicable and relevant financial statements.  If you or your organisation is collecting on behalf of another Charity, please provide written authorisation from that Charity with the application.

Application Form for House to House Collection

Application refusal

The Council can refuse or revoke licences for various reasons which include:

• To limit the number of collections
• If expenses are likely to exceed the permitted level
• If incorrect information is given on the application form
• If the promoter (or any other person involved in the collection) has been convicted of a relevant criminal offences e.g. burglary, blackmail or fraud

Contact Details:

Telephone: 01992 785555 extension 5625

Support Services, Borough Offices, Bishops’ College, Churchgate, Cheshunt, Herts EN8 9XQ.