Dog boarding without license?

[CockerBockerGlory]

I'm just wondering if anyone can clarify a few things for me about home dog boarding.

My parents need to board their dog for the first time for a few days. They have found someone available and arranged a park meet up which has happened, and they are going to look at his home boarding set up soon. I prompted them to ask if he was insured and licensed. Public liability insurance apparently, but not licensed with the council. He has a nice website, he was a personal recommendation from a friend who is a dog groomer and uses him for their own dog, but I'm sceptical...

Is what he is doing legal? Likely to be dodgy? Insured in any way? Or am I being overly critical when it's not even my dog!? I know that most would likely say they should look for properly licensed boarding, but is this kind of set up common and ultimately ok? It wouldn't be my choice, but I have the usual limited influence on my parents so don't want to push it if it's not actually a big deal.

Thanks 😊

I’m sure you need a license to have dogs in your home but not if you stay in the clients home?
I think the licenses are a couple of hundred quid for the year so I don’t see why you wouldn’t get one. I also imagine that insurance would be invalid without a licence too

You need a licence if you earn over 1k a year through the boarding, otherwise it's fine. Our local council licences are over £500 so it's not a small amount. The insurance issue is up to your mum and dad as to whether they accept it.
I do dog boarding through an app, and because the app takes a percentage, I'm insured through it.

Thanks 😊
It would be at the boarder's home not theirs. He does advertise he has no more than two at a time, so maybe it doesn't earn enough to bother with a licence which makes sense when he otherwise seems ok I suppose.

It's illegal to board dogs in your home without a license - it doesn't matter how much you earn.

No it’s not. I have spoken to the council about it at length. It’s absolutely not.

And I spoke to our council who said it absolutely was.

You need a license to board animals in your home for money under the government regulations. The £1000 limit is for HMRC and has nothing to do with the law around animal boarding.

I've worked in the industry for years.

Then different councils must have different rules because mine was happy to say I didn't need a licence if I confirmed I earned less than 1k a year from boarding.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/animal-activities-licensing-guidance-for-local-authorities/home-boarding-for-dogs-licensing-statutory-guidance-for-local-authorities

You are correct, says here doesn't count as a business/ need a license below HMRC threshold

Thanks @AltitudeCheck 😊 I had literally just found that, here's a screenshot of the relevant bit if anyone is interested.

I'll pass on the info to my parents, and then I suppose it's their judgement call. Personally I would have just found a licensed boarder I could be sure was properly insured in the first place to avoid the uncertainty, but I understand the appeal of a personal recommendation too.

Trading allowance has nothing to do with a license.

If your parents choose to use someone operating illegally then be aware they won't be insured if something goes wrong.

Thanks @namechanged0 . I stupidly cropped off, but my first image is taken from a page on gov.uk specifically titled home dog boarding. So it looks like there is an exception. Whether and how individual councils apply that probably varies, which would account for the differing info here?

I'm not arguing with anyone I'm just trying understand, I'm invested now I've started thinking about it! Again, it's not what I would do, but whether it is technically "ok" or legal or not is the difference between trying to intervene with my parents or just giving my opinion (which I have) and leaving it. Ugh, parents man 😆

The thing is, even if it's technically legal, they won't be insured because insurance companies require you to be licensed if you're carrying out licensable activities.

Dogs have died under the care of unlicensed boarders and the owners have no comeback.

Many councils insist on home boarders being licensed as it ensures that boarders are legitimate, have adequate insurance (£1m public liability) and know how to care for your furry friend if things go wrong.

Licensing also ensures the boarder knows how to control disease, has adequate space, lighting and access to water and disposes of poop in kine with regs. Also the council checks premises regularly to ensure compliance with home boarding best practice.

Many councils say you don't need a license if you earn under £1,000 as they would assume you are not boarding a lot of dogs. But, most insurance is invalid if you don't have a license. A lot of people don't realize this. We are dog boarders and have a 5* council licence and insurance. We are also DBS checked and dog first aiders. The paperwork you need for a license is extensive as you need to show you know what to do in every emergency situation along with more prudent cleaning policies etc. I would never ever recommend using someone without a licence. Sorry- rant over!