You need a permit to collect money or items door to door for charity.
Some charities, such as Christian Aid and British Heart Foundation, have a Home Office Exemption Order and do not need a permit. However, you must still let us know about the dates you will be collecting in Carlisle.
If you do not have an exemption, you must apply for a permit before collecting.
Apply for a house to house collection licence
To apply, you must send us:
- a completed house to house permit application form
- a valid agreement between the charity and the collecting organisation, showing the start and end dates
- a letter from the charity authorising the collection
- a completed house to house collection returns form after your collection
Apply for a house to house collection permit on GOV.UK
After you've applied
Allow one month for your permit to be issued.
Permits can last up to one year.
What you must do
You must send a statement of returns within one month of your collection. It must show the amount collected and any expenses.
If you do not send this, you may not be allowed to apply again.
Regulation
The rules for house to house collections are set out in the House to House Collections Act 1939 and the House to House Collections Regulations 1947.