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unKeep Prohibited and Restricted Items Policy

Last updated: 25 June 2026

1. What this policy is for

unKeep is a collection-only, second-hand marketplace for the UK. Sellers list items, an AI assistant drafts the listing, the seller edits and confirms it, and a buyer collects the item in person and pays the seller directly in cash. unKeep is not a party to the sale. We never handle, hold, or route the money for the goods.

This policy sets out the items you must not list, sell, or hand over through unKeep ("prohibited items"), and the items you may only list if you meet extra conditions ("restricted items"). It applies to every listing, every message, every photo, and every handover that happens through the platform.

This policy works alongside our other rules. Read it together with:

  • the Acceptable Use Policy (how you must behave on the platform),
  • the Seller Terms (your warranties about the items you list),
  • the Illegal Content and Takedown Policy (how we act on illegal content under the Online Safety Act 2023),
  • the Community and Safety Guidelines (safe in-person meet-ups), and
  • the Complaints and Dispute Resolution Policy (how to raise a problem or appeal a decision).

If anything here conflicts with the Seller Terms, the Seller Terms govern the contract between you and unKeep; this policy gives the detail.

2. Who is responsible

You, the seller, are responsible for everything you list. When you confirm a listing you warrant (you formally promise) that the item is:

  • legal to own and to sell second-hand in the part of the UK where it is listed and collected,
  • yours to sell, and not stolen or otherwise unlawfully held,
  • genuine, and not counterfeit or IP-infringing,
  • safe, and compliant with the UK product-safety rules that apply to it, and
  • accurately described.

The AI assistant only drafts suggested copy from your photos and inputs; the listing is yours once you confirm it, and AI-generated copy is labelled as such. The AI drafting the listing does not transfer responsibility to unKeep. The seller, not unKeep, warrants the accuracy, legality, ownership, genuineness and safety of the item.

unKeep is not the seller, the buyer, or the owner of any item. We do not inspect or test items. Sales are "sold as seen": buyers must inspect on collection, and there are no returns through the app.

3. How to read the lists below

  • "Prohibited" means banned outright. Do not list it, do not offer it, do not arrange to hand it over. Listing a prohibited item is a serious breach and can lead to immediate removal and account suspension or termination.
  • "Restricted" means allowed only if every stated condition is met. If you cannot meet a condition, treat the item as prohibited.
  • The lists are not exhaustive. If an item is illegal to sell, needs a licence we cannot verify, or is unsafe, it is prohibited even if it is not named here. If in doubt, do not list it, and contact us at connect@unkeep.co.uk.

A key launch decision sits behind several entries: unKeep is collection-only and in-person, and we cannot reliably verify a buyer's age at a doorstep handover. Anything that is lawful to sell only to adults, or only under a licence, age check, or face-to-face verification we cannot perform, is therefore prohibited at launch.

4. Prohibited items (banned outright)

4.1 Weapons, knives, and offensive weapons

  • Firearms, air weapons, imitation and de-activated firearms, component parts, ammunition, and anything designed or adapted to look like a firearm.
  • Knives and bladed articles caught by the law on offensive weapons, including flick knives, gravity knives, butterfly knives, zombie-style knives and machetes, push daggers, disguised blades, and other items restricted under the Offensive Weapons Act 2019, the Criminal Justice Act 1988, and the Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959.
  • Other offensive weapons such as knuckledusters, batons, telescopic truncheons, throwing stars, swordsticks, and similar.
  • Stun guns, electric-shock devices, and disguised stun guns (for example torch or phone stun guns), which are prohibited weapons.
  • CS gas, pepper spray, and other self-defence sprays.
  • Crossbows offered to anyone we cannot confirm is over 18, and any crossbow sale that would breach the Crossbows Act 1987 or the Offensive Weapons Act 2019; treat crossbows as prohibited at launch because we cannot verify age at handover.

Ordinary domestic kitchen knives and tools sold as genuine household or trade items may be allowed as a restricted category (see section 5), subject to the age and listing conditions there. If you are unsure whether a blade is caught, do not list it.

4.2 Stolen goods and items you do not own

  • Anything stolen, or that you reasonably suspect is stolen.
  • Anything you do not own or are not authorised to sell.
  • Goods with removed, altered, or defaced serial numbers or security markings.
  • Property that is subject to a hire-purchase, finance, or lease agreement that has not been settled.

4.3 Drugs, drug paraphernalia, and psychoactive substances

  • Controlled drugs of any class under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
  • Psychoactive substances caught by the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 (often called "legal highs").
  • Drug paraphernalia intended for the production or use of controlled drugs.
  • Cannabis, CBD, and hemp products where the sale would be unlawful or would need licensing or age verification we cannot provide.

4.4 Counterfeits and IP-infringing goods

  • Counterfeit, fake, replica, or "inspired by" goods that infringe a trade mark.
  • Pirated or unlicensed copies of films, music, software, games, books, or other copyright works.
  • Goods carrying a brand, logo, or label they are not entitled to carry.
  • Decoders, mod chips, and devices whose main purpose is to circumvent copyright protection or access paid services without authorisation.

Genuine second-hand branded goods are welcome. Replicas and fakes are not.

4.5 Recalled and unsafe products, and items that fail UK product-safety rules

  • Any product subject to a UK safety recall, withdrawal, or "stop using" notice.
  • Goods that do not meet the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (GPSR) general safety requirement.
  • Electrical goods that are unsafe, lack required safety features, or do not meet the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016; this includes items with damaged cables, missing earth connections, non-UK plugs without a correct adaptor, and untested or unbranded chargers and power supplies.
  • Upholstered furniture and soft furnishings that do not comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, including items with no fire-safety label and items re-covered in non-compliant fabric.
  • Children's products that do not meet the safety rules for them, including older cots, car seats, prams, and nightwear that fail current standards, and toys that do not meet the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 or carry a fake CE or UKCA mark.
  • Cosmetics, candles, and similar products that are unlabelled, expired, or non-compliant with the relevant safety rules.

If a product would need a safety certificate, test, or label that you cannot provide, do not list it.

4.6 Medicines and medical items

  • Prescription-only medicines and pharmacy medicines.
  • Veterinary medicines requiring a prescription.
  • Medical devices that require professional fitting, supply, or regulatory approval.
  • Any medicine or supplement that is unlicensed, expired, or whose sale is restricted.

General first-aid items in date and in original sealed packaging may be allowed as a restricted category; opened, expired, or repackaged items are prohibited.

4.7 Hazardous materials

  • Toxic, corrosive, radioactive, oxidising, highly flammable, or explosive substances.
  • Asbestos and asbestos-containing materials.
  • Pesticides, herbicides, and biocides whose sale or supply is restricted.
  • Compressed-gas cylinders, fuels, and solvents whose sale or transport is restricted.
  • Items containing banned chemicals or refrigerants, or that need specialist disposal.

4.8 Fireworks and explosives

  • Fireworks, pyrotechnics, flares, and signal rockets.
  • Explosives, blasting equipment, detonators, and precursor chemicals.
  • Ammunition and gunpowder (see also weapons).

These need licensing, storage controls, and age checks we cannot perform at an in-person handover.

4.9 Live animals and animal products

  • Live animals of any kind.
  • Animal parts and products whose sale is restricted, including ivory caught by the Ivory Act 2018 and specimens protected under CITES.
  • Products from endangered or protected species.
  • Anything whose sale would breach animal-welfare law.

4.10 Adult and age-restricted goods (banned at launch)

unKeep cannot verify a buyer's age at an in-person handover, so we ban all age-restricted goods at launch. This includes:

  • pornography and sexually explicit material,
  • sex toys and adult products marketed as 18+,
  • 18-rated films and games where age verification would be required,
  • any other item that may lawfully be sold only to adults.

4.11 Alcohol, tobacco, vapes, and nicotine

  • Alcohol in any form (its sale needs a licence and an age check at the point of supply).
  • Tobacco products, cigarettes, and rolling tobacco.
  • Vapes, e-cigarettes, e-liquids, and refills.
  • Nicotine pouches and other nicotine products.

All of these are age-restricted at the point of supply, and unKeep cannot verify age at handover. Prohibited at launch.

4.12 Government, identity, and financial documents

  • Passports, driving licences, ID cards, and other government documents.
  • Uniforms, badges, or equipment that could be used to impersonate police, emergency services, or officials.
  • Bank cards, cheques, and financial instruments.
  • Benefit, travel, or entitlement documents.

4.13 Data, accounts, and privacy-infringing items

  • Personal data, contact lists, or databases of other people's information.
  • Online accounts, login credentials, and subscriptions for resale.
  • Hidden cameras or surveillance devices marketed for covert or unlawful use.

4.14 Anything else illegal to sell or that requires licensing we cannot verify

If selling an item second-hand in any part of the UK where it is listed or collected would be a criminal offence, would breach a regulation, or would need a licence, permit, registration, certificate, or age or identity check that unKeep cannot verify at an in-person handover, the item is prohibited. This catch-all applies even where the item is not named above.

5. Restricted items (allowed only on conditions)

You may list the following only if you meet every condition. If you cannot, treat the item as prohibited.

5.1 Ordinary household and trade knives and tools

  • Sold as genuine household, kitchen, garden, craft, or trade items.
  • Not a banned weapon under section 4.1.
  • The buyer is, and confirms they are, over 18. Because we cannot verify age at handover, you must cancel the handover if you have any doubt about the buyer's age, and you must not hand the item to anyone who appears to be under 18.

5.2 Electrical and electronic goods

  • Fully working, undamaged, and safe to use.
  • Complete with the correct UK plug or a correct, safe adaptor.
  • Not recalled (see section 4.5).
  • Honestly described, including any faults.

5.3 Upholstered furniture and soft furnishings

  • Carries the required fire-safety label, or you can clearly show it complies with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988.
  • Not re-covered in non-compliant fabric.
  • Honestly described, including the label status.

5.4 Children's items (non-safety-critical)

  • Toys, clothing, and equipment that meet current safety rules and are not recalled.
  • Car seats, cots, and similar safety-critical items only where they meet current standards, are undamaged, have not been in an accident, and are within any manufacturer's recommended use-by date; if you cannot confirm this, do not list it.

5.5 Branded second-hand goods

  • Genuine, not counterfeit (see section 4.4).
  • Described as second-hand, with condition stated honestly.

5.6 Sealed, in-date first-aid items

  • Original sealed packaging, in date, and not prescription or pharmacy-only.

We may move any restricted category to prohibited, or add conditions, at any time.

6. Listing honestly: no unfair or misleading practices

Listings must be accurate and must not mislead. In line with the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA 2024) and the Consumer Rights Act 2015:

  • describe faults, wear, and missing parts honestly,
  • do not present a fake as genuine or a replica as original,
  • do not hide age, recall, or safety-label information, and
  • show the item truthfully in photos.

AI-generated listing copy is labelled as such, but you remain responsible for it once you confirm the listing. Edit anything that is wrong before you confirm.

7. How unKeep detects and acts on prohibited items

7.1 AI screening at listing time

When you create a listing, our AI assistant reviews the photos and text and checks them against this policy. The AI:

  • strips EXIF and GPS data from photos on ingest (see the Privacy Policy),
  • flags wording, brands, or image features that suggest a prohibited or restricted item, and
  • can block or hold a listing before it goes live, or route it to human review.

AI screening is a first filter, not a guarantee. It does not make the item legal or safe, and it does not transfer responsibility from you to unKeep.

7.2 Human review queue

Flagged listings go into a human review queue. A reviewer can:

  • approve the listing,
  • ask you to change it (for example to add a fire-safety label photo or correct a description),
  • restrict it (limit or hold it pending information), or
  • reject and remove it.

We may hold a listing offline while it is in the queue. We aim to review promptly. Where a listing raises a clear safety or legality risk, we may remove it first and review afterwards.

7.3 Reports from users (notice-and-takedown)

Anyone can report a listing, a message, or a handover that may breach this policy, using the in-app report tools or connect@unkeep.co.uk. We operate notice-and-takedown:

  • we acknowledge reports,
  • we assess the content against this policy and the law,
  • we remove or restrict content that breaches the rules, and act expeditiously on illegal content, and
  • we tell the reporter and the seller the outcome where appropriate.

This sits within our Illegal Content and Takedown Policy, which reflects our duties as a user-to-user service under the Online Safety Act 2023. Priority illegal content and content that risks harm to children or others is treated most urgently. We keep records of reports and actions.

7.4 Reinstatement and appeals

If we remove or restrict your listing or account and you think we got it wrong, you can appeal through the Complaints and Dispute Resolution Policy. We will look again and respond.

8. What happens if you breach this policy

Depending on how serious the breach is, we may:

  • remove or hide the listing,
  • cancel any pending reservation (where a reservation is cancelled because of a prohibited or unsafe listing, the buyer's 1.00 reservation fee is refunded),
  • issue a warning,
  • restrict your account features,
  • suspend or terminate your account, and
  • where the law requires or allows, report the matter to the police, Trading Standards, or another authority and cooperate with them.

We may act immediately and without notice where there is a risk to safety, a serious illegality, or a legal duty to act. Nothing in this policy limits any legal duty we have to act on illegal content.

9. Reservations, collection, and prohibited items

unKeep listings are collection-only and the goods price is paid in cash, buyer to seller, in person. unKeep is not a party to the sale and never handles the goods money.

If a prohibited or unsafe item reaches the point of collection:

  • do not complete the handover,
  • the buyer should not show their QR collection code and the seller should not scan it to confirm collection, and
  • report it to us.

The buyer's reservation fee is a 1.00 charge taken immediately when the buyer reserves the item: a platform service fee for facilitating the reservation. It is captured when you reserve, not an authorisation hold, so the money leaves the buyer's account straight away. Where a collection does not go ahead for a reason that is not the buyer's fault, including a seller listing a prohibited or unsafe item, or where unKeep cancels the reservation because the item is prohibited or unsafe, the reservation fee is refunded. The reservation fee is not a deposit, not stored value, and not a penalty.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy to reflect changes in the law, new risks, or product changes. The current version is always the one published in the app and on our site, with the "Last updated" date above. Continued use of unKeep after a change means you accept the updated policy.

11. Contact

Questions about this policy, or whether an item is allowed: connect@unkeep.co.uk.

To report a listing or item: use the in-app report tools or connect@unkeep.co.uk.

Operated by AllMumsTalk Limited, company number 08233578, registered office 5 Golden Mede, Waddesdon, England, HP18 0NG. Data protection contact: connect@unkeep.co.uk.