Holiday Let Fire Risk Assessment: Ensuring Guest Safety in Your London Property

If you’re renting out a property for short-term stays in London, whether through platforms like Airbnb or other booking sites, ensuring the safety of your guests from fire is a paramount legal and ethical responsibility. As the ‘responsible person’ under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, you have specific duties to protect your guests. A holiday let fire risk assessment is a systematic evaluation of your property to identify potential fire hazards, assess the risks to guests, and implement appropriate fire safety measures tailored to the unique nature of short-term lets in London.

A holiday let fire risk assessment in London requires careful consideration of the fact that your guests will likely be unfamiliar with the property’s layout, fire safety equipment, and evacuation procedures. They may also be less vigilant about fire safety than long-term tenants or homeowners. Therefore, your assessment must address these specific vulnerabilities. Key areas to consider include the adequacy of fire detection and alarm systems, often requiring interconnected mains-powered smoke alarms, the provision of clear and accessible escape routes with appropriate signage and emergency lighting, the safety of electrical appliances, and the presence of any potential ignition sources.

Under UK law, including in London, you must conduct a fire risk assessment that is suitable and sufficient for your holiday let. This assessment should identify fire hazards, the people at risk, and the measures you have in place to control those risks. You must also provide clear information to your guests about what to do in case of a fire, including the location of escape routes and fire safety equipment. It’s also crucial to ensure that any furniture and furnishings provided meet the relevant fire safety standards (Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988).

A comprehensive holiday let fire risk assessment in London should cover ensuring sufficient smoke alarms are installed on each floor and are regularly tested, with consideration for heat alarms in kitchens. It’s vital to verify that all escape routes are clear, unobstructed, and easily accessible, and to ensure any escape windows are readily openable. Providing adequate emergency lighting is necessary if the property has complex escape routes or is occupied overnight. Supplying basic firefighting equipment such as a fire blanket in the kitchen is also important, and a small fire extinguisher may be appropriate for certain property types. Electrical installations and appliances must be safe and regularly checked, with PAT testing being a recommended practice. If gas appliances are present, ensure annual gas safety checks are carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Clear written instructions on what to do in case of a fire, including emergency contact numbers and evacuation procedures, should be readily available for guests, along with a clearly stated policy on smoking within the property.