Massage and Special Treatments

You will need to apply for a licence under the London Local Authorities Act 1991 if you own or manage premises offering any of the following treatments, unless you can claim an exemption:

• body piercing, for example body/facial/genital, ear piercing, beading, micro-dermal anchors
• skin piercing, for example acupuncture, dry needling, Korean hand therapy
• laser, for example intense pulsed light (IPL), laser, lipolaser
• tattooing including micro-blading and micropigmentation
• light treatments, for example colour therapy, infra-red, ultra violet sunbeds
• nail treatments, for example manicure, pedicure, nail extensions
• massage treatments, for example aromatherapy, body massage, reflexology
• bath/vapour, for example floatation tank, hydrotherapy, sauna, spa, steam
• electric treatments, for example electrolysis, faradism, galvanism, high frequency
• other beauty treatments of a like kind not detailed above.

Exemptions

There are a number of exemptions from the need to be licensed:

• no premises used - fully mobile service from a vehicle or in clients' own homes
• treatments carried out by or under the supervision of medical practitioners, dentists (acupuncture), and professions supplementary to medicine 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 this Council.

 Even if you do not need a licence, all businesses must still comply with the Health & Safety at Work Act etc. 1974 and other relevant regulations.

Therapists

Licence holders are required to ensure that all persons providing special treatments are suitably qualified and/or trained to carry out those treatments. Adequate records of the qualifications and training must be kept on site. The Council provides guidance which details acceptable qualifications and training.

How to apply 

To apply for a new special treatment licence or to vary or transfer an existing special treatment licence you should first read the guidance document which explains what kind of licence you should apply for. The guidance document will also assist you with completing the application form and details what supporting documents you will need to provide as part of your application.

You will need to:

• complete the application form, keeping a copy of the completed form for your own records
• send the completed form and supporting documents with a cheque for the correct fee (made payable to Kingston Council) to the Licensing Team. You can also pay over the phone by calling 0208 547 5080.

Conditions

Each licence will be subject to our standard conditions for special treatment premises. There are additional conditions depending on the treatments that you wish to provide. You must make sure that you can comply with all relevant conditions prior to making an application. A licence will generally not be granted unless you can prove that you are able to operate in line with the 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.

Consultation

Once we receive your application and accompanying documents, there is a consultation period of 28 days in which we pass your application to the Council's planning department, the Police and the Fire Brigade. These bodies have the opportunity to raise concerns with or object to your application. No licensable treatments may be provided during the consultation period. 

Inspection

Before a licence is issued, a Licensing Officer will visit your premises and ensure that you are able to comply with the relevant conditions that would be applied to the licence. You will also have to provide documentation to prove that the electrical installation and portable appliance at the premises are safe for use. 

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. If any problems are identified during the premises inspection, the licence will only be granted once these problems have been addressed and you are able to comply fully with the Councils standard conditions for special treatment premises.

Refusal of licence

Where we propose to refuse an application, you will be asked to submit a representation about your proposal. This representation will be considered by the Council's Licensing Sub Committee who will make the final decision on whether or not to grant the licence.

Duration of licence

Special Treatment licences last for 12 months. You must apply to renew your licence at least 6 weeks before it is due to expire. An application for renewal can be made in one of two ways:

• Apply online by completing the online form
• Apply by post/email by printing and completing the renewal form

Details of how to make the required payment is detailed on the form. 

Vary or transfer your licence

If you wish to add new treatments to your licence you will need to apply to vary your existing special treatment licence. You will need to complete the variation form and pay the correct fee. You can add treatments in the same or a lower risk category by varying the licence, however, if you wish to add treatments in a higher risk class, you will need to make a new application.

If you sell or leave your premises the new owner can apply to transfer the special treatment licence if they wish to continue to offer licensable treatments. The new owner must complete the transfer form and pay the correct fee and must also provide a consent form signed by the current licence holder.

Complaints

If you have a concern or complaint about a special treatment premises or you believe that a premises is unlicensed, please contact the Licensing Team in the first instance.