Insurance, qualifications and licensing - The Massage London Forum

Insurance, licences and client records: is your paperwork up to date?

Caroline Davies — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 16:36:45 +0000

Something that doesn't get discussed enough is the paperwork therapists need to keep on top of, particularly when working independently.

Insurance is one thing, but there are also consultation forms, treatment records, qualifications and, depending on the treatments and borough, local licensing requirements.

It's worth reviewing these things regularly rather than waiting until there's a problem.

For example, does your insurance cover every treatment you're currently offering? Have you checked whether additional qualifications are required for specialist techniques?

And if you're renting a room, do you know which responsibilities belong to you and which belong to the premises operator?

We've put together two guides that may help:

There's also a free client consultation form available for members to download and adapt.

Licensing requirements can differ between London boroughs, so it's always worth checking directly with the relevant council.

How do you manage your client records? Do you still use paper forms, or have you moved everything online?

And has anyone found a particularly straightforward system for keeping their paperwork organised?

Which insurer do you use, and have you ever had to claim?

Jessica — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 12:45:30 +0000

Insurance is one of those things we all buy and hope never to use. But it's worth knowing how insurers actually behave.

If you're comfortable sharing:
- which insurer or professional body scheme you use
- roughly what you pay, and what's covered
- whether you've ever made a claim, and how it went (no client details, please)

Here's our guide to the cover massage therapists need: https://themassagelondon.co.uk/massage-therapist-insurance/

Special treatment licence: has your borough asked for one?

Jessica — Sun, 01 Nov 2026 14:45:52 +0000

Most London boroughs require a special treatment licence to give massage from premises, but the rules, costs and waiting times vary a lot between councils, and it’s not always clear whether home studios or mobile therapists need one.

If you’ve been through it:

which borough?
how long did it take, and what did it cost?
did they inspect, and what did they look for?

If you’re not sure whether you need one, ask here. Someone has probably dealt with your council already.