Loan or borrow a firearm

Individual firearms owners can only loan a category A, B or H firearm to a borrower when there is a written or oral agreement.

This is required under the:

• Firearms Act 2015
• Firearms Regulations 2017

Written agreements

A written agreement is made between the owner and borrower to say that the borrower will:

• only use the firearm for a purpose or purposes specified in the agreement
• will return the firearm to the owner within 28 days.

Both parties must retain a copy of the agreement and produce it to a police officer if required.

Oral agreements

An oral agreement is made between the owner and borrower to say that that the borrower will:

• only use the firearm for a purpose or purposes specified in the agreement
• return the firearm to the owner within 10 days.

Conditions

Conditions apply to the loan of firearms.

Lending class A, B or H firearms outside of these conditions is an offence. The firearm owner and the borrower can be liable.

What the owner must do

Immediately before transferring possession the owner must inspect the borrower's firearms licence and be satisfied that the borrower:

• is authorised to possess the firearm
• will use it for the agreed purpose or purposes
• will not use the firearm for any other purpose.

What the borrower must do

The borrower must:

• carry a copy of any written agreement when they have possession of the firearm
• return the firearm to the owner within the time specified in the agreement
• not transfer possession of the firearm to any other person except the owner
• not accept possession of a firearm if the transfer does not comply with any conditions listed in this section.

Licensed dealers

Licensed dealers transferring possession to a borrower who is not a licensed dealer must:

• only transfer possession directly to the borrower
• not transfer ownership to another person on the borrower's behalf
• not consign the firearm to post or other delivery service.

Owners and borrowers

Owners and borrowers must be familiar with the conditions of category H firearms for holders of shooting club  licences. This includes:

• restricting loans of class H firearms to .38 calibre or below.

See Regulation 14 of the Firearms Regulations 2017 for an outline of the conditions.