willks84 Posted June 5, 2012 Report Share Posted June 5, 2012 hi iv been thinking of starting buying and selling firearms only on a small scale from home just wondering where to start? any help would be greatly appreciated thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted June 5, 2012 Report Share Posted June 5, 2012 (edited) You need to speak to you local firearms department. The key things they will be concerned about are security and whether or not you are genuinely trading (not just doing it to expand a hobby). Trading from home you're going to need enhanced security over what you would need for a simple FAC/SGC. What exactly that means will depend on whether you live in a high crime area, the structure of your house, and to a large degree the policy of the local force. It MIGHT include, monitored alarm, bars on some windows, steel security doors on a strong room etc, but all of these will depend on your situation and the whims of the police. The home office security guidance is a good port of call, though I don't think all forces abide by it rigidly as it is "guidance" and not law. They will also want to be convinced that you do intend to make some money out of it. It doesn't have to be your sole income but they need to know you are not just messing around with it. They might want to see a business plan for example. After all that, I believe the forms to fill in to become an RFD are fairly straightforward! Good luck, let us know how you get on. Edited June 5, 2012 by Blunderbuss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted June 5, 2012 Report Share Posted June 5, 2012 It also depends on whether you mortgage provider or landlord agrees to the house being used as a business. There may be planning permission implications with the council too. My advice is don't tell any of them. If you do they will find reasons why you can't. A lady I know who is a retired teacher used to do a bit of private tuition from home was stopped by the council when they found out. Yet others round here get away unbelievable things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted June 5, 2012 Report Share Posted June 5, 2012 Also, if you're just buying and selling the occasional shotgun and not kicking the **** out of it, you might be OK without registering as a dealer. If the police think your buying/selling is excessive, they'll have a word and probably suggest becoming an RFD, but I suspect there's a tolerance of small scale activity below that threshold. As well as the security and RFD costs, I suspect you'll need business insurance, hassle with the revenue/VAT, accountant charges etc. That's a lot of hassle and expense, you'd have to shift a lot of guns to make it worthwhile? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedwards1966 Posted June 5, 2012 Report Share Posted June 5, 2012 Blunderbuss has explained it all quite well, I'd just like to add to his last post as well. If you aren't doing it in a big way I too would seriously consider starting as a private thing, not as a RFD. If you then find it not to work out or only sell a handful each year then you could save a lot of hassle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willks84 Posted June 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2012 cheers for the help, think i might just start it as a private thing see how it goes. does anybody no of any firearms auctions around the yorkshire or notts area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted June 5, 2012 Report Share Posted June 5, 2012 cheers for the help, think i might just start it as a private thing see how it goes. does anybody no of any firearms auctions around the yorkshire or notts area? Don't forget adequate business insurance. You will not want to be liable for claims made against you for some dodgy gun bought in a sale that blows up in someones face. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted June 5, 2012 Report Share Posted June 5, 2012 Don't forget adequate business insurance. You will not want to be liable for claims made against you for some dodgy gun bought in a sale that blows up in someones face. 100% agree- even if its thier dumb fault you can find yourself liable for not explaing to them and getting disclaimers signed in triplicate these days. decide on your buisness plan, were your niche lies and who your clients will be. fail to plan and plan to fail. No job is a hobby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy H Posted June 5, 2012 Report Share Posted June 5, 2012 I had to ask the local council for permission and state that there will not be any signs or posters and that customers would not be parking on the road, And the reply letter from the council was one of the documents the firearms dept wanted to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanL Posted June 5, 2012 Report Share Posted June 5, 2012 hi iv been thinking of starting buying and selling firearms only on a small scale from home just wondering where to start? any help would be greatly appreciated thanks You won't get registered on that basis - the police are not allowed to licence someone under such circumstances. The Firearms Act requires that you either intend to trader as a firearms dealer to a 'substantial' extent (which, broadly speaking means you intend to make it your full time job), or; that you need to be registered as a firearms dealer as an essential part of another business, trade or profession. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanL Posted June 5, 2012 Report Share Posted June 5, 2012 It also depends on whether you mortgage provider or landlord agrees to the house being used as a business. There may be planning permission implications with the council too. My advice is don't tell any of them. If you do they will find reasons why you can't. A lady I know who is a retired teacher used to do a bit of private tuition from home was stopped by the council when they found out. Yet others round here get away unbelievable things. I would probably agree where the council is concerned but not in relation to your mortgage provider or landlord. You also need to make sure that your insurance comapany knows as it could invalidate your policy. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanL Posted June 5, 2012 Report Share Posted June 5, 2012 cheers for the help, think i might just start it as a private thing see how it goes. does anybody no of any firearms auctions around the yorkshire or notts area? You need to be very careful and think through all the implications before you start doing anythng. It is actually an offence to trade as a firearms dealer without being registered as one even if you are lawfully entitled to be in possession of the guns via a SGC/FAC. So, are you going to tell people that you are selling professionally? If you do then it will help sell your stuff because then there is a businees/consumer relationship which affords the buyer certain rights. If you tell people that though you may be liable to prosecution for trading while not being registered. The other problems will be that unless you are an RFD no one will provide you with an account or trade price lists. You won't have any business insurance so what will you do if a gun you sold blows up in someones face? These are just thoughts off the top of my head - there are a myriad of other problems. J. Don't forget adequate business insurance. You will not want to be liable for claims made against you for some dodgy gun bought in a sale that blows up in someones face. Beat me to it! J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guest1957 Posted June 5, 2012 Report Share Posted June 5, 2012 (edited) I would probably agree where the council is concerned but not in relation to your mortgage provider or landlord. You also need to make sure that your insurance comapany knows as it could invalidate your policy. J. If you set up as a business in breach of the terms of the mortgage the bank can make the mortgage payable on demand. As such I would get agreement to vary the terms. Similarly using a rented property as a business may well be in breach of tenancy agreement unless the landlord agrees the variation in usage. Edited June 5, 2012 by guest1957 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanL Posted June 5, 2012 Report Share Posted June 5, 2012 If you set up as a business in breach of the terms of the mortgage the bank can make the mortgage payable on demand. As such I would get agreement to vary the terms. Similarly using a rented property as a business may well be in breach of tenancy agreement unless the landlord agrees the variation in usage. That's what I said. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guest1957 Posted June 5, 2012 Report Share Posted June 5, 2012 That's what I said. J. Sorry, breezed through and mis-read what you were responding to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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