Buying a boarding kennels or cattery?

An established boarding kennel or cattery with strong occupancy, a loyal returning client base, and a clean animal boarding licence history is a genuinely fundable acquisition. Pet ownership in the UK has grown significantly over the past decade — and with it the demand for quality, trusted boarding facilities that pet owners return to year after year. A well-run boarding business with consistent seasonal occupancy, good online reviews, and purpose-built facilities is a more fundable proposition than many buyers expect.

What lenders look at

Occupancy and seasonal revenue are the foundation. Lenders will examine the annual occupancy rate across all kennel runs and cattery pens, the average daily boarding fee, and the total annual revenue. Boarding businesses have pronounced seasonal peaks — school holidays, bank holidays, and the summer period generate the majority of annual bookings. Lenders familiar with the sector assess annual income on a full-year basis rather than extrapolating from peak periods. A business with strong peak season occupancy supplemented by consistent off-peak trade — regular boarders, long-term stays, and any daycare or grooming services — is a more fundable profile than one entirely dependent on a short summer peak.

The animal boarding licence and compliance history are central to the underwriting. Boarding kennels and catteries in England are licensed under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018 — the licence is issued by the local authority and specifies the number of animals that can be boarded, the facilities needed, and the welfare standards that must be maintained. Lenders will check that the licence is current, that the business is operating within its licensed capacity, and that the most recent local authority inspection resulted in a satisfactory or higher star rating. Any outstanding licence conditions, welfare concerns, or enforcement notices need to be disclosed and addressed before a funding offer is issued.

The property and facilities are assessed as significant components of the overall deal. Most boarding kennel and cattery acquisitions involve a freehold property — the land, the kennel blocks, the cattery units, the exercise areas, and any residential accommodation for the owner or staff. The freehold provides the primary security and lenders will commission an independent RICS valuation on both a trading and a vacant possession basis. The condition of the kennel and cattery units, the exercise provision, the heating and ventilation systems, and the overall welfare standard of the facilities are all assessed as part of the overall property picture. Purpose-built, well-maintained facilities that meet or exceed current licensing standards are a materially stronger proposition than ageing infrastructure approaching the end of its serviceable life.

Client loyalty and online reputation are reviewed as indicators of future occupancy. Boarding kennel and cattery clients are among the most loyal in any personal services business — pet owners who trust a facility with their animals return year after year and recommend it to friends and family. A business with consistently strong Google and Facebook reviews — four stars or above across a substantial number of reviews — demonstrates the animal care quality and customer service that drives repeat bookings. Lenders assess the online reputation alongside the occupancy data as a forward-looking indicator of booking sustainability after the ownership change.

How we help

We are acquisition finance and loans brokers, not lenders. We package your application, present it to the funders with genuine rural property and animal welfare appetite, and manage the process from first conversation through to completion.

We also arrange government-backed facilities for boarding kennel and cattery acquisitions — helping buyers access up to £2 million toward their purchase where the criteria are met.

Every boarding kennel and cattery acquisition is different. Tell us about the business. We will take it from there.