Pet Home Boarding Insurance
Specialist cover for pet home boarding businesses from £5.41* a month.
- Protecting over 30,000 pet care professionals.**
- Flexible payment plans at 0% APR
- Public Liability up to £10 million
- Vet bills & equipment covered
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From £5.41* per month
What does pet home boarding insurance cover?
Insurance for pet home boarding offers the essential liability cover you need at a great price, allowing you to customise your policy to fit the unique requirements of your business.
With our insurance, you can choose from different levels of coverage, tailored to protect against the specific risks associated with boarding animals. Whether you run a small, family-operated facility or a large, commercial boarding establishment, our policy is designed to safeguard your business from potential claims related to property damage, injury, or illness.
Our policy includes 11 pet care activities, all our Pet Business Insurance policies include cover for dog walking, dog grooming, cat grooming, mobile dog grooming, mobile cat grooming, dog training, dog hydrotherapy, pet behaviourist, pet home boarding, pet microchipping and pet minding.
Make sure you have the correct insurance for your business and be sure to check if any exclusions are relevant to what you have planned in policy documentation.
Public Liability
Loss of Keys
Care, Custody & Control
Equipment
Close Family Extension
11 Pet Care Professions Covered
- Pet home boarding, Pet Sitting and Pet Minding
- Dog walking
- Dog and cat grooming
- Pet taxi and Pet Transportation
- Dog training and Pet behaviourist
- Pet microchipping
- Dog hydrotherapy
Public Liability
- Up to £10 million of cover.
- Protection from claims by a third-party who sustains injuries or has their property damaged, whereby you or your business is responsible.
Key Cover
- Key Cover up to £10,000.
- Cover includes new keys and locks, the cost of re-setting intruder alarms and associated call-out costs if you were to lose them.
Care, Custody & Control of Animals
- Cover up to £100,000 – £25,000 limit for any one Animal.
- If an animal in your care (or your staff) is: Accidentally lost; Suffers an injury; Becomes ill; Suffers a fatality.
Equipment
- £250 of equipment included.
- Add up to £30,000 of equipment cover.
- Grooming, training and other business tools covered.
- Protection against theft, loss and accidental damage, allowing you to replace items to the value you select.
Non-Negligent Cover
- Similar to the Care, Custody and Control protection If an animal suffers during the course of service delivery through no fault of your business:
- Accidental loss, Injury & Illness, Death of an animal in your care.
Close Family Extension
- Close family members are covered within the Public Liability, to assist you with your business. This includes your husband, wife, son, daughter or other close family.
- You don’t need to take out Employers’ Liability with this extension.
Loss of Money
- Cover for losses up to £1,000 or £5,000 of physical money (coins or notes) obtained through your insured activities. This money is covered while at your business premises, your home, or the home of any partner, director, or authorised employee, as well as when in transit for business trips.
- Up to £1,000 of cover for losses due to dishonest acts by any employee. Claims must be made within 14 days of discovering the loss, and you should take all reasonable steps to prevent such losses.
Travel Expense Reimbursement
- If a pet in your care is accidentally killed, stolen, or goes missing for more than 48 hours, we’ll cover the owner’s extra travel expenses. So, if the owner has to cut their holiday short because of their pet’s death, for example, we’ll reimburse up to £1,000 of their extra costs.
Employers’ Liability
- Up to £10 million of cover.
- Protection from claims against employee incidents if someone suffers a work-related injury and brings a claim against you.
Legal Expenses
- Up to £100,000 indemnity for legal defence and tax protection.
- Access to 24-hour helpline, for legal, tax, or counselling, to support you in running your business.
Professional Indemnity
- Up to £1 million.
- This protects you from damages caused by your mistakes, errors, or negligence in your professional work, including those made by your employees.
Personal Accident
- Up to £25,000, subject to those insured being under eighty (80) years of age.
- This policy covers specified individuals for any accidents that may occur while conducting the insured business activities. It is a benefit policy that provides fixed amounts based on the type of injury sustained, including coverage for accidental death, loss of sight or limbs, and temporary total disablement.
- Dog walkers are limited to walk a maximum of 6 dogs at one time.
- Dogs or crossbreeds of dogs classified under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. Refer to government websites for updates in the law.
- Pre-existing medical conditions in animals.
- Injuries to animals you own can occur during incidents that happen while caring for other animals or during your personal time.
- Caring for non-domestic animals.
- Your business operating without a licence when a licence is a mandatory requirement e.g. animal boarding.
For further information on exclusions in your cover please refer to policy documentation.
Why do you need pet home boarding insurance?
Your clients have faith that you will take the utmost care of their pets during their time with you. Part of this responsibility is to plan for the unexpected, including when things go wrong.
Specialist pet home boarding insurance is necessary protection for these unexpected incidents and is sensible preparation in case a claim is made against you, helping you avoid expensive financial losses.
Protects against claims should a member of the public get injured.
A dog in your care causes injury to a member of the public; a customer slips and injures themselves on your business premises; you cause accidental damage to your clients’ property whilst delivering your services.
Ensure that unexpected incidents don’t damage your finances with the right level of public liability cover.
An employee or temporary worker suffers an accident at work.
Your employees may be at risk of accidents or injuries during their work. If employees work for you, employers’ liability is a legal obligation with fines of £2500 per day for failing to comply.
Financial protection from vet expenses.
No one wants anything bad to happen to an animal, but it’s important to be prepared just in case. Imagine if a dog you’re walking suddenly gets into a scuffle and injures another dog. These things can happen unexpectedly, and it’s crucial to be prepared.
Care, Custody, and Control insurance provides coverage for these situations, ensuring that you’re protected if an animal in your care accidentally injures another, needs medical attention, or even in more serious circumstances.
Cover from costly pet care equipment losses.
Not only could equipment be expensive to replace but any losses could also impact on the service you offer if it’s not available. For example, you may store pet beds and other items which could become damaged in storage.
Equipment cover can protect against costly claims from theft, damage or loss of your items.
Our experts explain why...
“Operating a pet home boarding business involves complex risks that go beyond basic animal care. You’re responsible for multiple pets simultaneously, often from different households, staying for extended periods in your care. Our comprehensive policy protects you against the unique challenges this presents – from potential injuries during group playtime, to emergency vet visits, to property damage from extended stays.
Whether you’re facing a claim from a pet owner whose dog became ill while boarding, dealing with property damage from an anxious pet, or managing an incident between two animals in your care, our expertise in the pet care sector ensures you’re protected. We understand that boarding services face different risks than standard pet businesses, which is why our coverage specifically addresses extended care scenarios, overnight supervision, and the complexities of managing multiple pets under one roof.”
Chris Trotman, Protectivity Underwriting Manager
How much does pet boarding insurance cost?
The cost of pet home boarding insurance can vary depending on the type of business you operate, the size and additional factors. For instance, if you employ staff, it is a legal requirement to include employers’ liability insurance. Adding this will increase the cost of your premium.
Investing in pet home boarding insurance is not just about protecting you and your organisation; it’s also about having the support to focus on your clients and developing your service knowing you have everything covered.
At Protectivity our cover starts at £5.41* per month, providing comprehensive cover for a small price.
Prices from
£5.41* a month
Explainer quote
Policy cost
£5.41* a month
Policy type
Pet Home Boarding Insurance
Policy duration
Annual
Public Liability
£1,000,000
Care, Custody and Control
£100,000
Equipment cover
£250
Close family cover
Included
This example is based on a real quote from our website on 1/10/2024. If your circumstances and cover needs differ, your quote may be more or less expensive than the above example. The quote you receive will reflect the information you share about your event. The quoted price may vary from those displayed here.
Have a question?
For further information on your policy, renewals, making a claim and contacting us, you’ll find an extensive list of FAQs on our Help & Support page.
Why choose Protectivity for your pet home boarding insurance policy?
Let the reviews of over 3,500 customers explain why you should choose us.¹
Trusted by over 150,000 customers.
Experienced insurance providers for over 30 years.
Over 3,500 highly rated reviews.
Proof of our excellent customer service.
Experienced Claims Handling
A smooth and efficient claims process.
UK Based Customer Support
Our UK sales team are here to help.
Frequently
Asked Questions
How does my policy handle long-term boarding arrangements?
You may board an animal for as long as the arrangement with the owner is in place and you are adhering to the requirements of your local authority.
Am I covered for providing additional services like grooming during boarding?
Yes as standard, you are covered for the following business activities with our Pet Business Insurance policy:
- Dog and Cat Grooming
- Dog Hydrotherapy
- Dog Training
- Dog Walking (For walking up to six dogs)
- Pet Behaviourist
- Pet Boarding
- Pet Microchipping
- Pet Minding
- Pet Sitting
- Pet Taxi
- Pet Transportation
What records do I need to keep for each boarded pet?
In your records, you must maintain a register containing:
- a description of all the animals the Insured kept
- the arrival and departure dates of the animals
- the name and address of the animal(s) owners
What happens if a client’s pet damages another client’s pet’s belongings?
This would be covered up to the limits shown in the policy document under Public Liability.
How does seasonal business affect my coverage?
We are unable to provide you with seasonal coverage, our policies are available on an annual basis only.
However, you may cancel at any time for a pro-rated refund for the unused portion of your policy, minus any applicable cancellation fees and providing no claims are in process. Please call or email us to discuss your specific situation and to process the cancellation should this be required.
Am I covered for pet meet-and-greet sessions before boarding?
Yes, providing the meet and greet sessions are for the purpose of the business activities we are covering you for.
What happens if a boarded pet escapes from my premises?
This would be covered under by our Care Custody and Control cover or non-negligent cover depending on what the situation of the injury is and provided you have complied with any endorsements.
What coverage do I need for outdoor exercise areas and play equipment?
No, we cannot provide cover for food and supplies as these would be considered stock and our Pet Boarding insurance does not provide cover for stock.
How does my policy cover dog walking as part of boarding services?
As standard, you are covered for the following business activities with our Pet Business Insurance policy:
- Dog and Cat Grooming
- Dog Hydrotherapy
- Dog Training
- Dog Walking (For walking up to six dogs)
- Pet Behaviourist
- Pet Boarding
- Pet Microchipping
- Pet Minding
- Pet Sitting
- Pet Taxi
- Pet Transportation
What happens if pets under my care fight with each other?
If an animal causes injury to another animal during your care, these incidents would be covered under our Care, Custody and Control of animals benefit.
Does my policy cover loss of income if I have to close due to disease outbreak?
Unfortunately, our Pet Boarding policy does not provide cover for forced business closure.
What insurance do I need for overnight pet boarding versus day care?
Our Pet Business insurance provides cover for both Pet Minding and Pet Home Boarding, however if it is a requirement of your local authority that you hold a valid Animal Boarding Establishment Licence then you would need to have this in place for the policy to be valid for boarding animals.
Am I covered for administering medication to pets in my care?
You would need to ensure that you have attended a training course demonstrating how to administer medication to pets. Perhaps through a local veterinary centre.
You will also need to make sure you have a signed document between you and the owner in place stating the following:
- The owner gives you permission to administer the medication
- You have been shown how to administer the medication by the owner (with a description of how to administer/time of day/with or without food)
- You know what medication to administer and how much (with a description/name/type of medication and the correct dosage level)
After the above has been obtained, we would be happy to cover you.
Please note, we cannot cover any pre-existing conditions. Whilst we would be happy to cover claims falling under the administering of medications, we cannot cover claims to do with the condition itself. For example, if a dog under your care had epilepsy, and it were to suffer from a seizure, we would not be able to cover any claim.
Does my insurance cover transportation of pets to and from my boarding facility?
Yes, our pet business insurance provides cover for pet transportation as standard providing this is for the purpose of the business activities.
What happens if a pet needs emergency veterinary attention during my care?
Care, Custody, and Control coverage protects you if an animal is lost, injured, becomes ill, or suffers a fatality while in your care resulting in veterinary bills.
What’s not covered under Animal boarding activities?
No cover if you don’t hold a valid Animal Boarding Establishment Licence when required by local authority.
You must comply with specific boarding conditions including:
- Suitable accommodation requirements
- Adequate food, drink and bedding provision
- Regular exercise requirements
- Emergency safeguarding procedures
- Infectious disease protection measures
Discover more from Protectivity
This page content has been created for general information and should not be taken as advice.
*Prices quoted refer to a quote raised from our website 01/10/2024. Prices will differ depending on requirements. Make sure you have the correct level of cover for what you need. For the most accurate pricing, please get a quote and for full details on what is covered refer to our policy documentation with your quote.
** Based on Protectivity sales data from 1st Jan ’24 to 31st Dec ’24
ˆ10% discount for policies bought online and applies only to the first-year of your policy premium. This discount does not apply to the optional “Legal Expenses” benefit. Protectivity reserves the right to amend or withdraw this offer at any time. Available to UK residents only.
¹Based on live Feefo data