Special treatments licence
If you own or manage premises providing massage or special treatments, like piercing, tattooing, laser, nail and massage treatments, you will need a licence under the London Local Authorities Act 1991.
You must renew your special treatments licence every year before the previous licence expires.
Treatments that need a licence
You may need a licence if you provide these services on your premises.
High-risk treatments
The fee for your licence is based on the risk of treatments being offered. High-risk treatments include:
- body piercing: body, facial, genital, ear piercing, beading, micro-dermal anchors
- skin piercing: acupuncture, dry needling, Korean hand therapy
- laser: intense pulsed light (IPL), laser, lipolaser
- tattooing: micro-blading and micro-pigmentation
Medium-risk treatments
The fee for your licence is based on the risk of treatments being offered. Medium-risk treatments include:
- light treatments: colour therapy, infra-red, ultraviolet sunbeds
- nail treatments: manicure, pedicure, nail extensions
- massage treatments: aromatherapy, body massage, reflexology
- bath or vapour treatments: floatation tank, hydrotherapy, sauna, spa, steam
- electric treatments: electrolysis, faradism, galvanism, high frequency
- other similar beauty treatments
Low-risk treatments
The fee for your licence is based on the risk of treatments being offered. Low-risk treatments includes ear piercing with a gun.
Exemptions
Only some businesses need to be licensed. Exemptions include:
- fully mobile services from a vehicle or in clients' own homes
- treatments carried out by or under the supervision of medical practitioners, dentists and medical professionals in a hospital or nursing home
- treatments carried out by a person who is a member of a body of health practitioners approved for exemption by the Royal Borough of Kingston.
Even if you do not need a licence, all businesses must still comply with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and other relevant regulations.
Therapists
Licence holders are required to ensure that everyone providing special treatments are suitably qualified and/or trained to carry out those treatments. You must keep records of the qualifications and training on site.
Any qualification must be regulated by Ofqual. You can check that qualifications are regulated by them on The Register of Regulated Qualifications.
Any qualifications from overseas will have to be submitted by the therapist/practitioner to UK ENIC. A compatibility certificate will indicate the qualification comparison of the international qualification and the UK qualification equivalent.
Alternatively you may be able to do a conversion course with a training provider to upgrade your training to an Ofqual regulated qualification.
The Council provides guidance which details acceptable qualifications and training which sets out minimum acceptable qualifications for many special treatments. However, the Ofqual regulated courses can change and you are advised to check their website for any new courses and to check that courses have not been removed.
If the treatment you wish to offer is not listed please contact the licensing team with details of what you wish to offer so we can advise you on acceptable qualifications.
Cost of a special treatments licence
Fees vary based on the services you offer. Check our special treatment licencing fees to see how much your licence will cost.
Your licence conditions
Each licence will be subject to our standard conditions for special treatment premises(PDF, 478KB). You may need to comply with more conditions depending on the treatments you provide. Contact the licensing team if you’re unsure what applies to your business.
You must make sure that you can comply with all relevant conditions before making an application. A licence will only be granted if you can prove that you can operate according to the licencing conditions.
You can find general information about health and safety at work and health and safety in nail bars on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website.
28-day consultation
Once we receive your application, there is a consultation period of 28 days. During this time, your application will be passed to our planning department, the police and the fire brigade, who can raise their concerns or objections to your application.
You cannot provide any licensable treatments during the consultation period.
Your premises inspection
Before a licence is issued, a licensing officer will visit your premises to ensure you can comply with the relevant conditions applied to the licence. You must provide documentation to prove that the premises' electrical installation and portable appliances are safe.
What happens next
If no objections to the application are received, the application will be granted at the end of the 28-day consultation period. Any problems identified during the inspection of the premises need to be addressed before we can grant you a licence. You must comply fully with our standard conditions for special treatment premises.
How to apply for a special treatments licence
Before you apply, read the guidance document (PDF,185KB). This explains what licence you need for a new special treatment licence or to change or transfer an existing one. The guidance document details the supporting documents you must provide for your application.
Apply for a special treatments licence
Our form is the quickest way to process and pay for your application.
Alternatively, you can download a massage and treatments application form.
Return your completed form to licensing@kingston.gov.uk, attaching copies of relevant documents. This process can take longer.
If you’re refused a licence
Where we propose to refuse an application, you will be asked to submit a representation of your proposal. Our licensing Sub Committee will consider this representation to decide whether to grant the licence.
Renew your licence
Special treatment licences last for 12 months. You must apply to renew your licence at least 6 weeks before it expires.
Make a renewal application
Our form is the quickest way to renew your licence.
Alternatively you download a massage and treatments renewal form.
Return your completed form to licensing@kingston.gov.uk, attaching copies of relevant documents.
Change or transfer your licence
If you want to add new treatments to your licence, you must apply to vary your existing special treatment licence. Complete the variation form (PDF,239KB), and pay the correct fee to make the change to your licence.
If you sell or leave your premises, the new owner can apply to transfer the special treatment licence. The new owner must complete the transfer form, pay the correct fee, and provide a consent form signed by the current licence holder.