Special treatment licence

If you want to provide massage, tattooing and beauty treatments at a premises you must have a Special Treatment licence. Special treatments include:

• Massage
• Laser/Intense Pulsed Light
• facials
• manicure
• body, ear and nose piercing
• light treatments, such as sunbeds
• electric treatments, such as electrolysis
• other treatments involving heat, light or vapour, such as sauna or other bath treatments

You can find a full list of special treatments below. This list is not exhaustive and subject to change.

There are also risk levels associated with each treatment, this will factor into your costs.

Contact us if you are unsure as to whether the treatment you intend to offer requires a licence.

Fines

You could be fined if you don’t have a licence, or break any conditions of your licence.

It is an offence under the London Local Authorities Act 1991 to provide or advertise the availability of special treatments without a licence, unless there is an exemption in place. Any person found guilty may have to pay a fine of up to £2,500.

Please note - payments can only be accepted by cheque Please contact us if you wish to make card payment. There is a fee is for the processing of an application and no refund will be made.

An application for a renewal, variation or new licence must be submitted at least 35 days before treatments are first offered/advertised (or an existing licence is due to expire) together with:

• the correct fees
• qualification and training certificates
• a copy of the plan of the premises
• a copy of photo identification for each proposed practitioner and a recent full face photograph

Licences remain in force for one year.

During the assessment process the fire service and police are consulted, every qualification certificate received is checked for authenticity and an inspection of the premises is carried out for all new and high risk premises.

Before you apply

Please beware we may refuse an application for a licence on any of the following grounds:

• the premises is not structurally suitable for the purpose
• there is a likelihood of a nuisance being caused in the area due to the premises
• the premises is not managed by a fit and proper person
• the persons giving the treatments are not suitably qualified
• the premises was or is being improperly conducted
• the premises does not have satisfactory means of lighting, sanitation and ventilation
• the means of heating the premises is not safe
• precautions against fire on the premises is not satisfactory
• the safety of the equipment being used is not satisfactory
• the safety of the treatment being given is not satisfactory
• suitable means of escape in case of fire is not provided
• suitable means for fire fighting are not provided
• you have been convicted of an offence
• you have failed to comply with the law.

Useful information

• Laser and intense pulse light guidance (.pdf, 29.7kB)
• Clinical waste guidance (.pdf, 130.2kB)
• Body piercing guidelines (.pdf, 49.4kB)
• Infection control guidance (.pdf, 584.4kB)

Apply

Special treatment licence

• Apply for special treatment licence application form

Exemption from special treatments licence

This exemption application form is for members of accepted Professional Bodies that want to administer special treatments in this borough. Exemptions will only be granted for authorised treatments to bona fide members of the bodies listed with the application form.

• To apply for exemption from special treatments licence, please contact us to request an application form.

Renewals

Applications for renewal are the same; except that you only need to send your application form and line drawings to the Fire Department if there have been changes to the layout, structure, or use of the premises.

Before determining an application, our Regulatory team will visit the premises to carry out an inspection. 

If contraventions are found during the inspection, work may be needed to improve health and safety arrangements. These works will then need to be checked before a decision can be made. If you are unable to meet the requirements, your application may be refused or conditions attached to your licence or parts of the premises may be restricted from use.

Appeal

You can appeal a decision on your licence application or any term, condition or restriction within 21 days of being notified. You must send your appeal to the local magistrates court.

You can find out more information on appeals and complaints