Moving house, what to do with rifles etc.

When I last moved, it was about a year before the new FEO made contact.

It was all done over the phone.

I invited him to the house to see the security for himself.

He is actual based "off-shore" and is yet to take me up on the offer.
 
My new FEO refused to re-issue my FAC when I moved until she had done a visit to inspect my security but in her words I ‘do have rather a lot of guns’.

She’s been good as good ever since though.
Why did they need to re-issue? Your existing certificate is still valid all you are required to do is inform the CC of the force that issued the FAC of your change of address. Often they will say "thank you for informing us of your change of address. We will pop a copy of your FAC showing new address in the post, please post back the existing certificate on receipt of the new document". They then remind you of your legal obligations to maintain adequate security arrangements.
 
Last time I moved, all my guns went in bags and they along with the safe and box of tools came with me to the new house at the same time as the removal guys. I'd already done a pre visit arranged with the seller so I could figure out where everything would go. First load in the removal truck was for rooms out of my way, and by the time they'd unloaded the boxes, everything was as it needed to be for me to go back with them for the second load.

I'd secure one row of the rear holes to a stud and plasterboard fix the other. Get some good solid fixings into the floor too. That meets spec and is all you can sensibly achieve. I wouldn't lie it down unless you have to - it'll end up with stuff on top of it for sure and that's just a pain.

If you're not confident of the fitting, RFD them briefly. Moving is stressful enough and short term RFD charges aren't a lot. Shooting friends can borrow shotguns on their certificates so it's only rifles you have to worry about.
 
Why did they need to re-issue? Your existing certificate is still valid all you are required to do is inform the CC of the force that issued the FAC of your change of address. Often they will say "thank you for informing us of your change of address. We will pop a copy of your FAC showing new address in the post, please post back the existing certificate on receipt of the new document". They then remind you of your legal obligations to maintain adequate security arrangements.
Certificate happened to be in for a variation at the time.
 
dont want to teach you to suck eggs, but check the floor doesnt have rad pipes or underfloor heating, could be a damp start to the new home
 
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I suppose it takes a firearms owner to really complicate things,
  1. Remove guns from cabinet and put in cases
  2. Remove cabinet
  3. Put guns and cabinet in car and drive to new house
  4. Take guns and cabinet from car into new house
  5. Fix cabinet in new location and place guns in cabinet
  6. Inform firearms dept of new address, you have installed cabinet, are happy with security and don’t feel a home visit is necessary
Exactly what I did when I moved house a few years back. No sense in over complicating things!
 
Jeez, half of you must have nowt to do, just unbolt them, move them to new place and bolt them back in, job done, by the time I’ve driven to the rfd I could have fixed the cabinets in place.
Agreed. The hardest part of getting the cabinets in was butchering the skirting board so the cabinet could go back to the wall. Even having to do that it probably only took half an hour to get the cabinets in
 
Only thing to add, guns all in slips in my car before removal men arrived. Cabinet unbolted old holes in wall made good as well.

Ammo, bolts etc in separate box

New house fit cabinet, before house is left unoccupied, inform police.

No need to lodge at RFD in law or practice.
 
Agreed. The hardest part of getting the cabinets in was butchering the skirting board so the cabinet could go back to the wall. Even having to do that it probably only took half an hour to get the cabinets in
I used to do that, now I cut a board the same depth as the skirting and the same height and width of the remainder of the cabinet and bolt straight through with concrete fixings, the board also reduces condensation in the cabinets
 
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I used to do that, now I cut a board the same depth as the skirting and the same height and width of the remainder of the cabinet and bolt straight through with concrete fixings, the board also reduces condensation in the cabinets
I've done that and also build a plinth. Just buy a sheet of mdf and get b&q to cut it to the right size. Screw together and its done, lifts the cabinet above the skirting. Once all in place just put some wood screws through cabinet base to secure the plinth.
 
Don’t over complicate things. Your FLO if he’s like ours will always want overkill. I moved house into a caravan while I built this Newhouse. I studied the home office guidance and we had a steel storage container directly outside the caravan welded the cabinet to a concrete lined safe and put a phone alarm in. I moved then informed them and that was that. My previous FLO said firearms left in my truck with alarm on was a safe option while I was away for a week so why shouldn’t it be for a night while you fix your cabinet.
 
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Only thing to add, guns all in slips in my car before removal men arrived. Cabinet unbolted old holes in wall made good as well.

Ammo, bolts etc in separate box

New house fit cabinet, before house is left unoccupied, inform police.

No need to lodge at RFD in law or practice.
Had to wrap mine in 2 duvets and tie up with rope when I moved. Not enough slips by quite some way!

Some of you guys can’t have many guns…
 
We moved in February and I didn’t want the worry of moving my 3 shotguns, 3 rifles, 3 kids, ammunition my whole house, garage ,fishing gear and ferrets etc. A week in storage was pittance. I could then pick them up at my leisure when cabinets were reinstalled. We moved our self granted , so if you had a removal firm it may be easier.
 
Putting therm all in temporarily storage with a RFD is of course the most secure and gives you the opportunity to deal with all the things that happen on moving day without worrying about firearms safety.

However, if you move your gunsafe location within your property, or to a new property, I believe you have to inform the Police within 7 days. Providing you install your gunsafe in the new property before moving the firearms (you'll need a new safe for that) or move your firearms and safe and re-install on the same day, I think that would be acceptable.
Don't confuse 'Best practise/best Advice' with 'The Law'.
 
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