Auction premises
Any premises or stall from which certain types of goods are sold by way of competitive bidding (i.e. by auction) must be registered with us under the Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1984.
This requirement applies to auctions featuring any plate, plated articles, linen, china, glass, books, prints, furniture, personal or household articles, ornaments, jewellery, musical instruments or scientific apparatus.
Application process
To apply to register a premises or stall for auctions, please either download and complete the application form, or follow the link below to use our online application system.
A fee of £610.00 is payable with any application for registration.
When considering an application, we will look at:
- whether the premises or stall is suitable for the sale of goods by way of competitive bidding;
- whether the intended use of the premises or stall is likely to cause nuisance;
- whether the premises or stall has been used for the sale of goods by way of competitive bidding otherwise than in good faith;
- whether the applicant, occupier or proprietor of the premises or stall is a fit and proper person to conduct or manage any sale of goods by way of competitive bidding.
If we are not satisfied that all of the above requirements are met, we may refuse the application. However, we will give the applicant an opportunity to make representations before we reach a final decision.
If a registration is granted, it will be subject to a number of standard conditions. We may also impose further conditions if there are any specific concerns about a registration.
Will Tacit Consent Apply?
Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted after the end of the target completion period if you have not heard from the local authority.
Duration of registrations
Registrations do not have an expiry date and are valid for as long as the registered person is occupying and carrying on auctions at the premises. However, registrations are not transferrable - if a new person takes over the premises, a new application must be made. We may revoke a registration on certain grounds, but we will give the registered person an opportunity to make representations before doing so.
Right of appeal
Anyone who has been refused registration, had a registration revoked, or had conditions imposed or varied on their registration may appeal to the magistrates' court within 21 days of being notified of the decision. Further details will be sent with the decision notice in these cases.
Charity auctions
Auctions raising funds for charitable purposes do not need to be licensed, providing the entire proceeds of the auction are donated to the charity. Please contact us before holding a charity auction, so that we can help you to ensure that your planned auction complies with the law and the exemption from registration.
Mock auctions
Promoting, conducting or assisting in a 'mock auction' is illegal, under the Mock Auctions Act 1961. Mock auctions are those where the right to bid on goods is restricted to persons who have had to purchase another item, or where goods are sold for less than the highest bid, or where goods are given away as gifts.
Internet auctions
The registration requirement only applies to premises and stalls at which auctions are physically carried on. There is no requirement for internet auction sites to be registered with us, and we are unable to investigate any issues arising from the use of these sites. In certain circumstances, Consumer Direct may be able to offer further advice.
Comments and complaints
If you have any comments or complaints about auction premises in Lambeth, we would advise that you firstly contact the premises directly - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, Consumer Direct may be able to offer you further advice (or the UK European Consumer Centre, if you are outside the UK).
If you believe that a premises is selling goods by competitive bidding without being registered, or in breach of its registration, please contact us and we will investigate further.
If you have recently applied to register an auction premises in Lambeth, and you wish to make a comment or complaint about the way in which your application was processed, please see our Comments and Complaints pages.