All items · Furniture
Damaged, broken or incomplete furniture
Also covers: broken chair, missing parts, stained sofa
Can you donate damaged, broken or incomplete furniture to a UK charity shop? Usually not.
Why shops may refuse it
Shops can only sell furniture that's safe and complete; repairs aren't something they can usually take on.
What to do instead
Local repair cafés or furniture reuse projects sometimes restore pieces; otherwise it's council bulky waste.
Useful links: Offer a repairable item on Freecycle ↗
Charity by charity
67 mentions-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Broken or damaged furniture”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Items in poor condition”
-
Can't accept
General rule: anything dirty, damaged, incomplete or with missing parts.
Their wording
“Furniture with missing parts”
-
Can't accept
Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) category-wide rule
Furniture (the whole category) not accepted due to limited selling and storage space.
Their wording
“Furniture, large pictures and mirrors”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Furniture with missing parts that make them unsafe”
-
Can't accept
Also excludes 'Upholstered furniture that is damaged or has torn fabric'.
Their wording
“Furniture with missing parts or damage that makes them unsafe”
-
Can't accept
Pre-collection checklist requirement; furniture must be good, clean and (where relevant) working before it will be collected.
Their wording
“Furniture is in good, clean condition and where appropriate, is working correctly”
-
Can't accept
The free furniture collection guide separately lists unsaleable conditions: large scratches/chipped paint, stains, missing legs/screws/shelves/handles/hinges, colour fade, loose joints, water damage, strong odour.
Their wording
“Damaged, broken, incomplete or unsafe items”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Soiled or Damaged Sofas/Chairs/Bed”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“we are unable to accept furniture donations if they are not in a saleable condition. This is because there are laws which mean we cannot dispose of certain items (like sofas and electrical items) and because it costs the charity to dispose of unsaleable furniture.”
-
Can't accept
Requirement stated for arranging a furniture collection.
Their wording
“All your items are in good condition, complete and work correctly”
-
Can't accept
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity category-wide rule
General furniture is not accepted; used duvets and mattresses are separately refused.
Their wording
“Furniture”
-
Can't accept
Stated for the free furniture collection service; echoed on the furniture-collection page: "UNIQUE MOVES drivers have discretion to turn down a collection if they feel items don't comply with the guidelines" (confirmed on that page, cited separately below).
Their wording
“Please note that items that are incomplete, damaged or upholstered items without a fire label, will not be accepted.”
-
Can't accept
Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland category-wide rule
Also stated on the shops page: 'Unfortunately, we are unable to accept furniture donations.'
Their wording
“Furniture”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“We cannot accept damaged goods/items that need repair as this will incur additional costs for the Hospice.”
-
Can't accept
Katharine House Hospice, Banbury category-wide rule
Also stated as 'Electrical items or any furniture' on the donations page.
Their wording
“We’re no longer in a position to collect or accept any furniture donations.”
-
Can't accept
Requirement stated for furniture donated via the free collection service.
Their wording
“Must have all parts in place (e.g. no missing doors on wardrobes, no missing drawers on a chest of drawers).”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Damaged items or with missing parts which would make the item unsafe to use”
-
Can't accept
Marie Curie category-wide rule
No specific furniture items singled out; the page lists furniture as currently unaccepted.
Their wording
“Furniture.”
-
Can't accept
From the free furniture collection service's 'We are unable to accept the following' list (under 'What we can't collect'); the same list also excludes furniture showing evidence of woodworm.
Their wording
“Items that are ripped, torn or stained”
-
Can't accept
Naomi House & Jack's Place category-wide rule
Stated on the main donate-goods page under 'Furniture'. Note the CRA listing shows dedicated 'Furniture & Electrical' stores (Portsmouth, Basingstoke), but the guidance page does not describe an alternative donation route for furniture.
Their wording
“We aren't able to accept furniture in our charity shops.”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Broken, Incomplete or faulty items”
-
Can't accept
Listed among items that cannot be accepted for the furniture collection service.
Their wording
“Broken items”
-
Can't accept
PDSA category-wide rule
Temporary suspension of furniture donations (framed as current, not permanent)
Their wording
“For the time being, we won't be able to accept furniture and have no collections available.”
-
Can't accept
No physical damage larger than a 10p piece, rips, prominent stains, or missing parts
Their wording
“Physical damage larger than a 10p piece. Visible rips to fabric or material”
-
Can't accept
The free furniture collection service also will not take items that are heavily worn, stained or soiled, or not in a condition suitable for resale.
Their wording
“Damaged or broken”
-
Can't accept
Part of the saleable-condition checklist for furniture collection donations.
Their wording
“All items should not have stains, rips or marks”
-
Can't accept
Also excludes furniture with missing parts or damage that may make the item unsafe.
Their wording
“furniture with noticeable rips, stains, chips, cracks and scratches”
-
Can't accept
Royal Trinity Hospice (London) category-wide rule
Independently confirmed on the collections page (https://www.royaltrinityhospice.london/collections): "We are unfortunately unable to accept: furniture". No dedicated furniture-specific guidance page exists (checked /furniture and /large-items, both 404).
Their wording
“Unfortunately, in most of our shops, we are unable to accept the following donated items, either for health and safety reasons or because we no longer sell them. ... furniture”
-
Can't accept
Severn Hospice category-wide rule
Their dedicated Furniture Store closed for the final time on 15 April 2026; no shop accepts furniture donations now.
Their wording
“Please note we’re no longer able to accept furniture donations – but our other 31 shops are more than happy to accept quality clothes and accessories, books, collectables, bric-a-brac, toys and smaller electrical items.”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Damaged items”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“damaged or broken furniture”
-
Can't accept
From the 'Large Furniture' donation-hub entry (identical wording under 'Small Furniture').
Their wording
“Please ensure that any furniture you donate is in a condition suitable for resale: ✅ Functional – all doors, drawers, and moving parts must work properly ✅ Undamaged – free from major scratches, chips, or water damage ✅ Resaleable – in a condition someone would want to buy Please do not donate: ❌ Broken items ❌ Items with significant damage”
-
Can't accept
Listed in the furniture section of items that cannot be sold.
Their wording
“Damaged items”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“We are unable to collect broken, stained, or heavily damaged items.”
-
Can't accept
Beds without their mattress are treated as incomplete.
Their wording
“Divan Beds without mattresses”
-
Can't accept
Torn or stained upholstered items are also separately listed under 'We cannot accept'.
Their wording
“Any items in poor condition or damaged cannot be accepted as these will have to be disposed of at a cost to St Catherine’s.”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“scratched, marked, sun-bleached, broken or overly worn”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Items that are heavily stained, worn or damaged e.g. rips, burns or tears – they need to be in a condition that we can re-sell them”
-
Can't accept
For large furniture collections, item must be in good or fair, saleable condition
Their wording
“The item is in good or fair, saleable condition.”
-
Can't accept
Required checkbox on the collection-request form; items failing this description are declined.
Their wording
“Items are in a saleable condition – no rips, tears, marks or stains, for wooden items no dents or visible marks, no excessive wear, pet damage, extreme fading or exposed foam.”
-
Can't accept
From the 'All furniture must be saleable and in a good condition' requirements for the free furniture collection service; van crews assess on the day.
Their wording
“No rips, tears, stains or rust. No signs or history of woodworm. No obvious odours / smoke free household. Are in a clean condition. No fading or major discoloration. No damaged or missing parts. Must be in a working order.”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Damaged furniture or items with missing parts”
-
Can't accept
Furniture must be clean and free of holes or animal damage to be accepted.
Their wording
“Mattresses must be stain free and all other items must be clean and without any holes or animal damage.”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Damaged items or with missing parts which would make the item unsafe to use”
-
Can't accept
Condition requirement for furniture donated via the collection service; items may still be turned down on inspection.
Their wording
“All items must be in good condition, complete and in good working order.”
-
Can't accept
Furniture must be suitable for resale to be collected.
Their wording
“Regrettably, we can only up lift items of furniture that are suitable for re-sale as there would be a significant cost to us if we had to take these items to a refuse dump.”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“donated furniture with unsafe missing parts or damage”
-
Can't accept
Also excludes veneered wood furniture with damage to the veneer exposing the inner wood.
Their wording
“Broken, flat pack furniture”
-
Can't accept
Includes large tears/damage, missing or unsafe parts, and damaged veneer.
Their wording
“Furniture with missing parts or damage that may make the item unsafe.”
-
Can't accept
Furniture and other collected items must be in a saleable condition.
Their wording
“As a general rule, items which are damaged cannot be sold.”
-
Can't accept
Stated on the home/furniture collection form covering both furniture and general item collections.
Their wording
“We cannot accept items that are damaged, broken or incomplete in any way, all items need to be in good condition for us to be able to sell them otherwise we have to pay to dispose of them.”
-
Can't accept
Free furniture collection is offered only if the furniture is in good, clean condition and complete.
Their wording
“Your furniture is in good clean condition and is complete.”
-
Can't accept
Triggered on the furniture collection form when the donor confirms items have large stains, rips or broken elements.
Their wording
“As you have notified us that your item(s) is damaged, we will unfortunately not be able to accept your item(s).”
-
Can't accept
Traid category-wide rule
No furniture or other bulky items — Traid shops handle clothing and textiles only.
Their wording
“duvets, pillows, furniture or other bulky items”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Damaged or broken items”
-
Can't accept
Free furniture collection service only accepts furniture that is relatively clean, without major sun damage and with no broken pieces.
Their wording
“Furniture should be relatively clean, without major sun damage and no broken pieces.”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“furniture with unsafe missing parts or damage”
-
Can't accept
Willow Burn Hospice category-wide rule
Furniture is instead routed through a referral partnership with CDFHS (County Durham Furniture Help Scheme), which handles storage, sales and distribution and shares 20% of the sale with Willow Burn.
Their wording
“Space limitations mean furniture cannot be accepted or sold directly in Willow Burn shops.”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Any large items that are damaged, broken or unsafe”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Stained or damaged furniture”
-
Can't accept
Woodgreen Pets Charity category-wide rule
Furniture and other household items are not currently accepted because their collection service is not running.
Their wording
“our collection service is not currently running”
-
Check first
Barnsley Hospice category-wide rule
All furniture requires a phone call and photo before donating and may be declined due to limited warehouse space or saleable condition.
Their wording
“For all furniture items – small or large – we ask that you please give us a call on 01226 240 908 and send us a photo before donating to the hub via our Facebook page or via our WhatsApp on 07349 270625. This helps us establish what we have room for and whether it is in saleable condition, which means we don’t have to turn anyone away when they arrive with their items! Please note, all soft furnishings must come with the fire retardant label intact. Due to limited space in our warehouse, we may have to decline furniture items – we hope you understand.”
-
Check first
General condition requirement for furniture donations, stated under 'Guidelines on the condition of items'.
Their wording
“Furniture must be in a safe, usable state”
-
Check first
St Richard's Hospice category-wide rule
Furniture is not accepted as a walk-in shop or warehouse donation; it must be booked for collection via the online furniture-collection form.
Their wording
“If you’d like to give an item of furniture, click the link below. Please do not take furniture to a shop or to the warehouse in Leigh Sinton.”
-
Check first
St Wilfrid's Hospice category-wide rule
All furniture (small and large) is only accepted undamaged and only at the two dedicated furniture outlets (Terminus, Chichester and Chalcroft, Bognor Regis), not the general charity shops; non-fire-retardant or unlabelled upholstered furniture is refused outright everywhere.
Their wording
“Undamaged small furniture (Selected stores only)”
-
Check first
Furniture is only accepted if in good, saleable condition and meeting UK safety standards.
Their wording
“The furniture you donate must be in good, saleable condition and meet UK safety standards.”
Not mentioned in 86 charities' guidance
Absence from a charity's list doesn't mean they accept it — it just isn't singled out. Ask your local shop.
- Accord Hospice
- Acorns Children's Hospice
- Age UK
- Ardgowan Hospice
- Ayrshire Hospice
- Barnardo's
- Blythe House Hospice
- Bolton Hospice
- British Red Cross
- Butterfly Hospice Trust
- Butterwick Hospice
- Children's Hospice South West
- Claire House Children's Hospice
- Cransley Hospice Trust
- Crisis
- DEBRA
- Derian House Children's Hospice
- Dogs Trust
- Dorothy House
- East Lancashire Hospice
- Ellenor
- Emmaus
- FARA Charity Shops
- Garden House Hospice Care
- Great Oaks Hospice
- Heart of Kent Hospice
- Helen & Douglas House
- Highland Hospice
- Hope House & Ty Gobaith Children's Hospices
- Hospice in the Weald
- Hospice Isle of Man
- Hospice of the Valleys
- Jersey Hospice Care
- Julia's House
- Katharine House Hospice (Stafford)
- Keech Hospice Care
- KEMP Hospice
- Lindsey Lodge Hospice
- LOROS Hospice
- Martin House Children's Hospice
- Mountbatten Isle of Wight
- North Devon Hospice
- Nottinghamshire Hospice
- Octavia Foundation
- Overgate Hospice
- Oxfam
- Pendleside Hospice
- Phyllis Tuckwell
- Pilgrims Hospices
- Primrose Hospice
- Queenscourt Hospice
- Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People
- Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care
- Saint Francis Hospice
- Salvation Army (SATCoL)
- Samaritans
- Save the Children
- Scope
- Sense Scotland
- Shooting Star Children's Hospices
- St Andrew's Hospice (Lanarkshire)
- St Barnabas Hospice (Lincolnshire)
- St Clare Hospice
- St Cuthbert's Hospice
- St Giles Hospice
- St Helena Hospice
- St John's Hospice (Lancaster, Morecambe, Kendal & Garstang)
- St John's Hospice (London)
- St Luke's Cheshire Hospice
- St Luke's Hospice Basildon & Thurrock
- St Luke's Hospice, Sheffield
- St Margaret's Hospice Care (Somerset)
- St Michael's Hospice (North Hampshire)
- St Nicholas Hospice Care
- St Oswald's Hospice
- St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
- St Vincent's Hospice
- The Prince of Wales Hospice
- Treetops Hospice Trust
- Tynedale Hospice at Home
- Weldmar Hospicecare
- Willen Hospice
- Wirral Hospice St John's
- Wisdom Hospice
- Woking & Sam Beare Hospices
- YMCA (England & Wales)