Boarding kennels for cats and dogs must be licensed. The keeping of an animal boarding establishment is defined as the carrying on at any premises (including a private dwelling) of a business of providing accommodation for other people’s cats and dogs.
Note that “pet-sitting” where dogs or cats are accommodated in other peoples’ homes as part of a business arrangement is included within the scope of the legislation. Anyone doing this will require a licence. We offer a reduced rate licence for this activity but will only allow up to two dogs or cats to be accommodated plus any dependant young of those animals.
Exceptions
If the accommodation is provided in connection with a business of which the provision of such accommodation is not the main activity.
If cats or dogs are kept on premises pursuant to a requirement under the diseases of animals legislation.
Application for a licence
When we receive your application and fee we will arrange for an inspection of the premises resulting in a report upon the suitability of the application. We may impose conditions on the licence to ensure that appropriate welfare standards are met. In general these will be standard conditions but specific conditions may be attached if it they are considered to be appropriate to the circumstances.
Our application form and a copy of our standard licence conditions for boarding establishments can be found on this page.
Note that in addition to a full inspection prior to the granting of a new licence or a renewal, licensed premises will also be subject to unannounced inspections to ensure that the licence conditions are being met and that the welfare of the animals being kept for sale under the licence is secured.
Licences must be renewed annually while the keeping of a boarding establishment continues and we would recommend that applications for renewal are made in good time to ensure that the council can satisfy itself that new licences can and should be granted and issued prior to the expiry of the existing one.
Licence fees
You will need to pay a fee to cover our costs in administering the licence.
Licence fees are charged annually upon application for renewal. Please note that a licence will expire on 31 December each year. Therefore a licence granted initially during a year will only remain valid for the remainder of it.
Other issues
You must ensure that any other necessary general regulatory approval, such as planning permission, is also in place.
Contact us
Email: animalwarden@hounslow.gov.uk
Animal Warden Team
Environment
London Borough of Hounslow
Bridge Road Depot
Pears Road
Hounslow
TW3 1SQ
Tel:020 8583 5555
Fax:020 8583 5088
Minicom: 020 8583 6622