DEFRA has confirmed that the decision to extend home boarder licences is a local decision of licensing authorities.

Responding to a request from the Association of Dog Boarders on the impact of Covid19 on the industry, DEFRA responded by confirming DEFRA’s position on this remains that it should be at the LA's discretion as to whether to vary any licence under s9 of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018 by extending the licence period.

“This is a decision for licensing authorities to make in relation to their own local circumstances and in relation to the licence holders concerned. Licensing authorities must get the licence holder’s consent to do so (either because the extension was asked for by the licence holder, or by asking for written consent from the licence holder once the LA has decided that they’d be happy to extend it on their own initiative) and the licence cannot be extended beyond the maximum 3 years permitted.”