General Information
1. The London Borough of Havering has adopted the London Local Authorities Act 1991 which means that a street trader can only trade from a pitch licensed by the Council. Licence fees vary depending on the times the trader wishes to operate. On this page you will find out how to register for a street licence and how to complain about unlicensed street traders.
2. In the LBH there are certain streets which have been designated as areas where street trading may take place. In order to trade legally on one of these designated streets you will need to apply for a license to trade at an agreed pitch.
3. Street trading within the London Borough of Havering is controlled by Part III of the London Local Authorities Act 1990 and the amendments to that Act.
4.Only persons licensed by Havering Council's Licensing Section may trade from the street.
5. A street includes any road, footway or other area that is within 7 metres of a road or footway and is not enclosed and to which the public have access without payment.
6. Street trading means the selling, exposing for sale or offering for sale of any article or the supplying or offering to supply any service in a street for gain or reward.
Licensing of Street Traders
7. Street trading licences can only be issued for sites that have been designated as licence sites.
8. Havering has about 20 street trading sites for which licenses are issued. They are mostly established sites and the majority of licence holders have held licenses for many years and therefore it is not often that a site becomes available.
9. Persons wanting one of these sites may be put on the Council's waiting list but because sites rarely become available it may be several years before a site is offered and then that site may not necessarily be suitable for the goods being proposed to be sold.
10. Where a person wishes to trade from a place that is not a designated site Licensing Officers will consider designating that place as a licence site.
11. In special circumstances a temporary licence may be issued for places that are not licence sites.
12. Licences are renewed on 1st. April each year, and application for renewal must be made in the January of the year that the licence is to be renewed.
Fees and Charging
13. Application for a licence must be made to the Council's Licensing Team and there is an application fee. Two passport size photographs, with the applicants signature on the back must also be provided.
Licence Conditions
14. Each street trading licence issued by the Council is subject to standard licence conditions. Amongst other matters these conditions relate to matters such as:-
a) the name of the person who may trade
b) the goods that may be sold
c) the exact site where trading may take place
d) the days and times when trading can take place
e) displaying the licence holders name and licence number
f) employment of school children
g) heating and lighting arrangements
h) disposal of rubbish
15. A copy of the standard conditions relating to street trading is available on request.
16. In addition to the standard conditions special conditions may also apply to an individual licence.
17. The Act requires licence holders to personally avail themselves fully of their licence and therefore traders will be expected to be present at their stall for two thirds of each working day unless they have written permission from the Council for other arrangements.
Offences and Penalties
18. Any person guilty of contravening a licence condition shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding £1,000.
19. Any person guilty of making a false statement when applying for a licence shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding £1,000.
20. Any person who obstructs an authorised Licensing Officer shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding £1,000.
21. Any trader who fails to produce his licence on demand shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding £1,000.
22. Any person guilty of street trading without a licence shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding £1,000.
23. Where an authorised Licensing Inspector or Police Constable has reasonable grounds for suspecting that a person is street trading without a licence, the articles or things being offered or exposed for sale may be seized (providing they are not of a perishable nature) and produced as evidence in any proceedings.
Further Information
24. Copies of the London Local Authorities Act 1990 can be purchased from the Office of Public Sector Information.
25. A copy of the London Local Authorities Act can be inspected at the Environmental Health Service where you may also obtain a copy of the Council's standard licence conditions, an application form and further help or advice.