I live in the UK and own a property in Spain.  I would like to raffle
my Spanish property and I want to know what is legally required of me
to do this. For example, could I set up a web site to allow this to
happen and could I charge people for each entry they make. I was
thinking of around £3 for each entry. If the price of the property
were not reached could I have terms and conditions that agree to
return the the money they have spent minus the credit card costs?
Please note I am in the UK and am interested in UK law regarding
lottery or raffles of property.

How are you going to demonstrate that the raffle is bonafide:  that
there is really a property to be won; that you will actually transfer
ownership to the winner; and how the winner will be chosen?

I am pretty sure that people are not allowed to hold raffles in the UK

You can have 'no proof of purchase' draws

Also you can have competitions involving 'skill and judgement'
- like: 'what is the name of my dog Fido ?'

Many years ago I used to work for a company that devised and ran such
competitions, and I am pretty sure that the rules have not changed.

Incidentally Church Bazaar raffles were (and now are) not strictly legal.

I don't know any way to prove to people that the raffle is 100%
bonafide.  Other than that is, actually transferring the property to
the winner or, some percentage of the takings if some reserve value is
not reached.  There is a property and I do own it so if anyone really
wanted proof I could provide paperwork or they could go to Spain and
view the apartment, write or telephone my Spanish lawyer or do all of
the above.

We have been looking on the internet and can see it is possible to
have a competition - ie where as you say frde-ga, you pose a question
that is so easy everyone knows the answer.  This gets around the fact
that lotteries/raffles are actually not legal unless run by the
council or the government, (according to my research so far).

That is the problem, Essexgirl, proving that the whole thing is not a
scam (sorry to have to use the word).  Even it were legal, or you set
up your website somewhere where that didn't matter (but that would
make it look even more suspicious), I see that as a great difficulty. 
And even if you could document everything to people's satisfaction,
how would you hold the drawing.  There is a good reason why lottery
drawing are shown on TV with a notary present, it is still the only
way to demonstrate the clean element of chance.
And even then  - what if the winner does some investigating and
decides that he doesn't want buy  - probably plus the expense of going
to Spain to close the transfer?
Sorry, I just see problems.
Regards, Myoarin

I have a few ideas to help me build credibility, but you are right.
People who distrust everything will find it difficult to believe, so
they won't enter and definitely won't win. I would not travel to Spain
to verify a £3 spend myself. But I do have to try something different
as despite the fact that the property is totally amazing - it really
is, and if I were to sell it, it is great value for money too - there
are *so* many apartments for sale in this area of Spain that finding a
buyer the usual way is going to take too long for me.   For many
people owning a thing like this is simply out of reach, so for a small
stake someone might get the chance to change their lives.  That said,
of course if I can't persuade enough people to do it, like you say it
won't work.  But I don't have much alternative.  I will give it a try
if it is legal.  You are pointing out how difficult it is - I just
need to find out what is legal.

Just a suggestion as I know nothing about UK law. But to give it some
sort of credibility could you join up with the local boy scouts or
some group.  Give them a % of the proceeds.  I know in the states this
is a way of getting around raffle laws. I have also heard of raffles
where you must provide an essay of why you want to own an apartment in
Spain?  Then it becomes a judged thing taking away the drawing aspect.

Thanks thumb-ga - the essay is a good idea but would probably put
people off as it means work!  However, I will give it some more
thought - I do like the idea bit would people want to pay and write an
essay?! I think giving some part of what is taken to a homelessness
charity wiss a good idea - perhaps Crisis.

I have to get creative to get my apartment sold one way or another.

Essex Girl. I would be quite interested on how you get on with your
raffle. I think you're idea is very creative and appealing. I know a
lot of people have given you reasons why it shouldn't work but I think
you should focus on it working. People go out every week and by lotto
tickets when the odds on winning are Millions to 1.. I personally
would prefer to pay £3 with the chance to win a property in Spain. The
odds would be much better than buying a lotto ticket. I heard the
Euromillions odds are 75million to one and people still by tickets.
I would encourage you to see this through despite the obstacles (which
I must add are not based on reality as no-one has done this
previously)that are in front of you.

Please let me know howyou get on I would be interested in a ticket.

Thanks for your comments - I will write the website for this but it
will take some time.  I will be in Spain in April and the idea is to
get enough photos of not just the apartment, but also the views from
its balconies and the lifestyle you experience as a property owner. Ie
leisure time, where you eat out, shopping, culture etc. I aim to have
it finished by June. I will post back here so you can see it for
yourself.

Would it be possible to ask for a £3 donation towards the running
costs of the site promoting house. You could then say that you will
donate the house to the person who makes, say, the 100,000th donation.
Don't know if this gets around any laws, just a suggestion.

It is illegal to set up a lottery or raffle in the UK. The reason for
this is to protect monies that go to charities etc. To get around
these regulations you will need to introduce an element of skill and
the selection of the winner cannot be based on chance.