All premises offering massage and other special treatments must apply for a licence before they commence trading. It is an offence to operate without a licence.
What you need to know
The following treatments would require a licence:
acupuncture
body piercing
chiropody
cosmetic piercing
electrolysis
facial treatments
massage treatments, aromatherapy and reflexology
nail treatments
non-surgical lasers and intense light source systems
saunas and steam rooms
spa pools
tattooing
ultra violet light treatments
other treatments of a like kind to those listed above.
There are a
number of organisations do not require a licence (PDF)[60KB]. In certain circumstances, we may grant an exemption to a business or individual therapist from the requirement to have a licence when the therapists or practitioners are members of specific professional bodies.
premises not used for gain or reward
certain exemptions for medical practitioners, dentists and professions supplementary to medicine (nurses) hospitals and nursing homes
applicant membership of an approved body of health practitioners
registered osteopaths under the Osteopaths Act 1993
registered chiropractors under the Chiropractors Act 1994
state registered chiropodists/podiatrists
state registered physiotherapists
If you feel you may be exempt from licensing, you will need to supply us with a copy of the membership certificate for your particular professional body and proof of identity. This will enable the us to establish your exemption status. If you are exempt, we will issue a registration of exemption from licensing.
Your application may be refused for one of the following reasons:
the premises are not suitable
there is a likelihood of nuisance being caused in the area
the person who will manage the premises is not fit and proper (**what does this mean?)
the people giving the treatments are not suitably qualified
the safety of equipment is not satisfactory
there is question as to the safety of the treatment being given
you have been convicted of particular offences
you fail to comply with any legal requirements
Before you make an application, you may check with us that your qualifications meets the licensing requirements by emailing them to licensing@hillingdon.gov.uk.
We thoroughly check the adequacy and authenticity of any practitioner's qualifications submitted in support of a licence application. Any practitioner without appropriate qualifications or experience may not be licensed to administer special treatments.
We may require you to take further qualifications in line with industry guidance.
A photocopy of qualification certificates must be submitted with applications.
Please note: We cannot take responsibility for loss or damage to any certificates posted to us.
Fees
Licence category
Licence type
Fee
Category A
Laser and IPL treatments, tattooing, body piercing, microblading, micropigmentation
Fees automatically cover one practitioner/therapist. There is a £68.30 additional fee for each additional practitioner/therapist.
Applying for a licence
You must submit the application at least 35 days either before you start operating or the licence is due for renewal.
Please enclose copies of certificates for all staff for any new applications and any new members of staff for renewal applications.
This renewable licence will generally last for 12 months.
It may sometimes be necessary to grant licences for longer or shorter periods (up to the statutory maximum of 18 months) to bring premises into the right renewal period.
