The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

I am currently moving into yet another rental property, and as with every tenancy agreement there is a term stating

"not to keep.....dangerous or offensive goods, substances or other materials at the property."

Now i have permission to install safes in the property, but the landlord/agent do not know its for firearms (even the local FEO says not to tell your landlord that you own guns for security and whatnot)

My main question is, does anyone know of a case where someone has been seen to be breaking such a term in their tenancy because the have legally held firearms.

trying to find a clear definition for "offensive goods" has proved difficult, as it seems to be down to individual companies or organizations.

the best i can find has been

"The term 'offensive weapon' is defined as: "any article made or adapted for use to causing injury to the person, or intended by the person having it with him for such use"

which technically all my milsurps were designed to kill people.

however i have found other definitions which state that a firearm is only an offensive weapon when it has no lawful or sporting use, in which case my guns would be fine.

If anyone knows of any case law or similar it would be greatly appreciated, as i would rather not be breaking the terms of my contract.

in advance

The police have permitted you to possess them. So, not dangerous. Police dont permit that.

This would be my reasoning and defence.

If you've got permission to install a safe, it's nobody's business apart from your own what's in it...

I wouldn't worry about it personally. The letting agent / homeowner won't want the pain of evicting an otherwise decent tenant over it :)

Anyway, 'offensive goods' could just mean Sheffield Wednesday shirts...

My tenancy agreement states that flammable or explosive substances cannot be stored in the apartment, so that would include propellant powder! I figure that aftershave is flammable so who doesn't have that or perfume in their home? My opinion is that landlords are only interested in tenants that pay on time and don't trash the place! If you are a good tenant, I'm not sure they would really care?

Being a landlord (ducks and puts tin hat on ) the lease i use has a few clauses in to enable the removal of problem tenants .
One clause is no pets and i actually got a call and was asked if i would make an exception for goldfish .

on a more serious note in the case of flats ,the owner may only have a leasehold so will have certain rules to follow (ie their lease )

In the literal sense a firearm is not Dangerous Goods. Look up the Dangerous Goods Regulations. Ammunition is Dangerous Goods, and is controlled in transit by DGR. Also, although a firearm is by definition an offensive weapon, the Offensive Weapons Act, IIRC, explicitly exempts items controlled under the Firearms Acts from its provisions.

IainWR wrote:In the literal sense a firearm is not Dangerous Goods. Look up the Dangerous Goods Regulations. Ammunition is Dangerous Goods, and is controlled in transit by DGR. Also, although a firearm is by definition an offensive weapon, the Offensive Weapons Act, IIRC, explicitly exempts items controlled under the Firearms Acts from its provisions.

I dont think all firearms can be described as an offensive weapon.

An offensive weapon is one made, adapted or intended to cause injury.

Whilst a No4 might qualify - a rifle specifically made for target shooting would not qualify

Also - we are reminded by police that we do not possess weapons. We possess firearms.

breacher wrote:
Also - we are reminded by police that we do not possess weapons. We possess firearms.

I had to remind my FEO that I possess firearms, not weapons. aaarggh

RDC wrote:

breacher wrote:
Also - we are reminded by police that we do not possess weapons. We possess firearms.

I had to remind my FEO that I possess firearms, not weapons. aaarggh

West Mercia have an online Acquisition/Disposal of a Weapon Notification form

Dangerous

adjective
able or likely to cause harm or injury.
"a dangerous animal

On its own a firearm is no more dangerous than a pillow.

It is the intent to cause harm that makes the user dangerous with either item..