Special Treatments

Anyone planning to offer the following services to customers must have a current special treatments licence

• Acupuncture
• Beauty treatments
• Body piercing (including ears, nose etc)
• Chiropody
• Electrolysis
• Heat therapy, solarium, radiant or infra red treatment
• Manicure
• Massage
• Plunge bath, impulse shower or other hydrotherapy
• Sauna
• Sun beds
• Tattooing
• Ultra violet or other light treatment
• Waxing or any other general treatment

Exemptions

A few professionals and organisations, eg, medical professionals, NHS hospitals and registered charities, do not need a licence. For more information please contact the Licensing Unit.

Applying for a special treatments licence

The application must be made by the legal occupier of the premises. It can be signed by either the applicant, the applicant's solicitor or, in the case of a company, any other duly authorised officer.

Applications made by a limited liability company must give the address of the registered office and also complete the separate form, Particulars of a Limited Liability Company (28kb) and attach it to the application form.

Download the special treatments application form (52 kb).  

To view Trading Standards information download Cosmetic products (67kb), Selling skin lighteners and soaps (55kb) and Nickel in jewellery (49kb). 

To view the documents above you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download Adobe Acrobat free.

The form must be completed and returned with all the appropriate documents and fees.

Fees for 2007 to 2008

Licences are issued for a one year period. All licences become due for renewal on July 31. Your licence may be issued for a shorter or longer period so that it coincides with the renewal date. The maximum duration of a licence in this case is 18 months.

A restricted licence is offered where a premises deals with one type of treatment only and treats only one person at a time.

If you already have a current licence but want to provide a treatment not covered in the terms of your licence, you'll be required to seek a variation and pay a variation fee. You'll also have to pay a fee if you request a variation in the terms of the licence after it's been issued to you.

Please make cheques or postal orders payable to the London Borough of Southwark and enclose the payment with your completed application form.

Go to our licensing fees page

Supplying photographs and copies of qualifications

You must supply two identical full-face passport-size photographs of every person that will be giving treatments on your premises. The photo should be taken within the last 12 months. Each photo must have the following details written on the back

• Date it was taken
• The name of the person whose likeness it is (in block capitals)
• The signature of the applicant

You will normally have to provide full details of every person who will be carrying out treatments on the premises, together with copies of their relevant qualification certificates.

Advertising your application

You are responsible for advertising your application so the public can raise any objections or issues in connection with it.

You are required to

1. Display a notice advertising your application on the premises

The applicant must display an A3 size notice at the premises. It must be displayed in a prominent position at the premises so it can be easily seen by passers by. It must be put up on the day the application is made and displayed for 28 days. Please contact us using the details below and we will post you an A3 size poster for you to complete and display at your premises.

2. Advertise your application in a local newspaper

Download a newspaper advert.(28kb) To view this document, you need Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer. Download Adobe Acrobat for free. 

The advert must appear in a local newspaper eg South London Press or Southwark News, within seven days of submitting your application. A copy of the newspaper containing the advert must be forwarded to the Licensing Unit.

Appeals procedure

If your application is unsuccessful, you may appeal. Read about applications and the objections procedure. (24kb) To view this document, you need Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free. 

Find out what happens at a public hearing.(20kb) To view this document, you need Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free. 

Contact us

Please contact us if you have any questions or would prefer to have any applications or documents posted or emailed to you. 

Licensing unit
Tel: 020 7525 2000
Fax: 020 7525 3077
licensing@southwark.gov.uk
Chaplin Centre
Thurlow Street
London
SE17 2DG