If you post an Ad with prohibited items and services on Gumtree or something we do not allow, our Trust and Safety team will ask you to take it down or we’ll remove the Ad ourselves. We will also remove duplicate content from the platform. Learn more about our how to successfully Post an Ad in our Policies section.
Prohibited items and services on Gumtree
Adult-only
- Adult entertainment (like blue movies)
- Adult toys or other erotic products
Alcohol
Animal parts
- Including parts of protected species
- Ivory
- Note: taxidermy is fine, unless it’s a protected animal
Animal traps
Botox and Dermal Fillers
- Including related equipment and services
Capital bonds
Cigarettes, cigars and related products
- Loose tobacco
- Electronic cigarette filters and e-liquids (with or without nicotine)
- Note: Electronic cigarettes themselves and rolling papers are allowed
Cream chargers
Dangerous chemicals
Dogs
- American Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- American Pitbull/Pitbull Terrier
- American XL Bully / XL Bully
- Bandog
- Dogo Argentino
- Brazilian Mastiff
- Japanese Tosa
- Note: The full list of banned animals is here.
Drugs and prescription goods
- Illegal drugs
- Legal highs
- Prescription drugs/medicines
- Steroids
- Over the counter drugs
- Items designed only to help someone take drugs
- Contact lenses (because they’re prescription)
- Note: Bongs and water pipes are allowed as long as they are for use with legal smoking activities and do not come with any tobacco or illegal substances.
Digital goods
- Domain names
- E-books
- E-tickets
- FIFA coins
- Online accounts
- Virtual merchandise, including in-game currencies or items
- Virtual currencies (e.g., Bitcoin, Litecoin, etc.). Note: Asking to be paid for an item or service in a virtual currency is allowed, but the currency itself cannot be sold directly.
- Any other digital products
- Vouchers and Gift Cards
Fake, replica, or unauthorised trademark items
Firearms, ammunition and equipment (even if they’re legal to buy)
- Guns, including air guns, BB guns, replica guns, and paintball guns
- Silencers
- Ammunition, including ammo for paintball
- Hunting equipment
- Note: Scopes, straps, and gun cabinets are allowed, as are Paintballing accessories, such as gloves, goggles, etc.
Fireworks (of any kind)
Flipper Zero multi-tool devices
Gambling machines
- Fruit/slot machines
Gas meter seals
Hate organisations of any kind
Human parts, remains, or services
- Blood, bone, and waste
- Donor, surrogacy, and fertility services
- Organs
- Sperm and eggs
- Used pregnancy tests
Items promoting hate, discrimination, or stereotypes of a particular group of people
- Including gollywogs
Licence Plate creation services or machines
Lottery tickets
Massage services where:
- We believe the user is advertising a sexual service
- Ad includes reference to age, gender, race, physical attributes etc.
Medical Grade PPE
Nazi memorabilia
Parking permits
- Tip: If you’d like to give your pass to someone else, get in touch with your council
Personal information or mailing lists
- Bulk emails, Internet Protocol (IP), instant messenger (IM), or mailing lists that contain names, addresses, phone numbers, or other personal info
- Tools or software designed to send spam
Property ads that:
- Prohibit applicants from tenants in receipt of housing related benefits (including but not limited to “no DSS” or “no housing benefit”)
- Offer accommodation at a discounted rate or free in exchange for sexual relations or services
Red diesel
Security tag removal items
Stolen goods
- This includes blocked phones or no-signal phones
Supplements
- Including supplements that contain DMAA
Tickets not intended for resale. Including, but not limited to:
- Cricket World Cup Tickets
- Football tickets. Including:
- FIFA and UEFA International fixtures
- Tickets to England, Scotland, and Wales national team matches
- Tickets to all professional matches in England, Scotland, and Wales
- Glastonbury tickets
- The Open Golf Championship tickets
- Wimbledon tickets
- Train and bus tickets. Note: Coach tickets are allowed.
- E-tickets. Note: Gumtree only allows the sale of physical “in-hand” tickets
- Rugby World Cup Tickets
- Olympics tickets
Unlocked hardware and software
- Copied games, DVDs, and computer software
- Fully loaded Kodi, Android, and Amazon boxes
- Games consoles
- R4 cards (with or without the console)
Unlocking software (software that unlocks any electronic item, like a phone)
Used underwear
- Briefs, knickers, thongs, boxer shorts, nappies, and so on
Vehicle Tools & Services
- Key programming devices and services
- Mileage correction tools and services
- All GPS & Signal jammers
- All “clock blocking” devices
Votes
- It’s illegal to buy or sell votes in the UK
Weapons and knives
- Knives of all kinds including chef and kitchen knives. Note: Cutlery/butter knives are allowed
- Crossbows and archery sets
- Historical and ornamental weapons (like Samurai swords and bayonets)
- Spear guns
- Catapults & slingshots
While this list of prohibited items and services on Gumtree is intended to be thorough, we reserve the right to remove any and all content that we feel is inappropriate for Gumtree or that interferes with the wellbeing of the community.
Duplicate content on Gumtree
Multiple Ads posted for the same item/service are considered duplicates on Gumtree. Duplicates clutter the listings and make searching harder for other users. Therefore when posting an Ad, consider the following:
- Do not post the same ad in multiple categories. If you’re unsure of which category to use, try searching Gumtree to find out where others have put similar ads.
- Post your ad within your own area for maximum exposure. Remember, people who are willing to travel will search wider areas or use the distance search feature to find your Ad.
Posting duplicate Ads on Gumtree may cause your Ad to be removed as we reserve the right to remove listing that hinder the user experience. For increased Ad exposure, try one of our promotion options.

