HOW TO HIRE · PETS

How to hire a pet boarder in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

Cat and dog boarding is licensed; small-pet boarding is not. Here is what to check for each.

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THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a pet boarder in five steps

  1. Check the licence for cats and dogsCouncil licence and star rating in England; council licence in Wales and Scotland.
  2. For small pets, visitSee the hutch, cage or room, and how animals are kept apart.
  3. Share the care notesDiet, medication, habits, vaccinations and your vet's details.
  4. Agree the termsNightly rate, peak dates, deposit, cancellation and vet costs.
  5. Ask for updatesHow and how often you will hear.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

Animal activity licence

In England a business boarding cats, or dogs in kennels or a home, needs a council licence with a 1 to 5 star rating (Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018).

For a cat or dog, ask for the licence, the activity it names and the star rating. gov.uk →

Small pets are not covered

England's boarding licence covers cats and dogs only, and the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 in Wales and Scotland defines an animal as a dog or cat. A rabbit, guinea pig or bird boarder needs no licence, so check the set-up yourself.

Visit and see where your small pet would be kept. legislation.gov.uk →

Animal welfare law

While your pet is in their care, the pet boarder is legally responsible for it: the Animal Welfare Act 2006 counts a temporary carer as responsible (section 3) and makes it an offence not to meet an animal's needs (section 9) in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have matching duties in their own Acts.

Ask what they do if your pet stops eating or seems unwell. legislation.gov.uk →

Insurance

No law requires insurance for a pet boarder. The usual cover is public liability plus care, custody and control of the animals; ask whether vet bills for your pet are covered while it is with them.

Ask for the insurer's name and the policy dates.

VAT

Boarding a pet is standard-rated, so VAT at 20% applies to each night per animal and to extras such as medication. Once taxable turnover is above £90,000 a year, registration is compulsory, and the VAT must then appear as its own line on the bill.

Ask for the VAT number of the licensed boarder, and for the nightly rate and the 20% printed separately. gov.uk →

“Which licence covers boarding my type of pet?”

A good answer: For cats and dogs, the council licence; for small pets, an honest "none needed".

“Where will my pet be kept, and apart from which animals?”

A good answer: A specific pen, kennel or room, away from predators — rabbits away from dogs.

“What vaccinations do you need to see for pet boarding?”

A good answer: For dogs and cats, an up-to-date record; for rabbits, a good boarder asks too.

“What happens if my pet is ill while boarding?”

A good answer: Your vet or theirs, a call to you first, and how costs are covered.

“Can you give medication?”

A good answer: Yes, recorded each time.

“Can I bring my pet's food and bedding?”

A good answer: Usually yes.

“What are the pet boarding cancellation terms?”

A good answer: In writing.

Getting the quote right

  • Who actually attends the animals overnight — the licence holder or staff, employed or subcontracted
  • Nightly rate per animal
  • Peak dates and minimum stays
  • Food, medication and extras
  • Deposit, cancellation and vet cost terms
  • The VAT number, with VAT on the boarding as a separate line

Walk away if

  • A cat or dog boarder with no licence
  • No visit allowed
  • Rabbits or small pets kept near dogs or cats
  • No vaccination check for dogs or cats
LOW
£15
TYPICAL
£29
HIGH
£62

What a pet boarder costs: £15–£62 per night

Pet boarding is priced per night, by the type of animal, with peak dates, sharing and extras such as medication set out. Pet Boarding price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

Pet boarders near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you.

  1. VisitHousing seen, licence checked where it applies.
  2. PaperworkCare notes, vaccinations and vet details.
  3. Drop-offFood, bedding and medication handed over.
  4. The stayFeeding, cleaning and checks at set times.
  5. CollectionA report on the stay and belongings returned.

Animal activity licence
The English council licence for boarding cats and dogs.
Home boarding
Dogs boarded in the boarder's home — a separate licence in England.
Star rating
The 1 to 5 score on an English licence.
Small animal boarding
Boarding rabbits, guinea pigs and similar; not licensed.
Peak dates
Holiday periods with higher prices.
Care sheet
The written notes on your pet's routine and needs.

AFTER

When the job is done

Check your petEating, weight, coat and mood in the first days home.
Ask how the stay wentFood, medication, anything unusual.
Keep the bookingFor the next stay or a dispute.
Your reviewSay what was done and how it turned out; under four stars, the boarder first gets the chance to make it right.

STEP 1Tell the boarder, in writingDescribe what happened and what you want. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 the boarder must provide the service with reasonable care and skill.
STEP 2Let Locufy follow it upRate the pet boarder under four stars and Locufy asks if you want the boarder to have the chance to fix it before the review is published; we follow it through.
STEP 3The licensing councilFor a licensed pet boarder in England, tell the council that issued the licence: councils inspect licence holders, can visit unannounced and can lower a star rating after a complaint. For a money dispute, the consumer helpline can refer it to Trading Standards — Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 in England and Wales, Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 800 9060, and Consumerline on 0300 123 6262 in Northern Ireland.
STEP 4Money still in disputeA claim over a pet boarder can go to the small claims track in the county court up to £10,000 in England and Wales, to simple procedure in the sheriff court up to £5,000 in Scotland, or to the small claims court up to £5,000 in Northern Ireland — no solicitor needed.

Hiring a pet boarder: questions people ask

For cats and dogs boarded as a business, yes: the council licenses it in England (2018 Regulations), Wales and Scotland (1963 Act); DAERA licenses boarding kennels in Northern Ireland. Boarding small pets is not licensed.

In England, the council gives 1 to 5 stars from its inspection and the business's compliance record.

It can be — but visit, check the hutch and run, and make sure rabbits are kept away from predators.

Most people pay between £15 and £62 per night; £29 is the typical figure. The pet boarding price guide shows what changes it, and a search above lists pet boarders nearby.

The boarder. Welfare law makes anyone in charge of an animal, even temporarily, responsible for its needs.

See your vet and tell the boarder in writing. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 still sets the standard: reasonable care and skill.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in pets

How to hire: Dog BoardingHow to hire: Cat BoardingHow to hire: Small Animal CareHow to hire: Pet SittingHow to hire: House Sitting with PetsHow to hire: Doggy Day CareHow to hire: Pet TaxiHow to hire: Mobile VetAll 701 hiring guides →

Pet boarders near you

Pet boarders in LondonPet boarders in ManchesterPet boarders in BirminghamPet boarders in GlasgowPet boarders in BelfastAll pet boarders on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, schedule 1
  2. gov.uk (Defra) — animal activity licensing process
  3. Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963, section 5
  4. DAERA — animal welfare enforcement responsibilities
  5. Animal Welfare Act 2006, section 3 — responsibility for animals
  6. Animal Welfare Act 2006, section 9 — duty to ensure welfare
  7. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
  8. gov.uk — make a court claim for money: court fees
  9. mygov.scot — make a court claim for money
  10. nidirect — small claims process
  11. VAT rates — VAT rates for goods and services: standard rate 20% on most goods and services
  12. GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register