SEPTEMBER 2017 SAW AIRBNB AS THE MOST DOWNLOADED APP

This popular service allows private property owners to rent their spare rooms, or even entire homes, for short stays.  With most people using the app as a cheaper alternative to hotels when travelling abroad or to another city, everything is handled very easily and most of the responsibility falls on the property owner.

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With these privately rented properties, do you think appropriate fire safety regulations are put in place?

Even for private properties, if you have paying guests you are required by law to meet fire safety standards.  In England and Wales, fire safety laws apply to you if anyone pays to stay in your property, for example if you provide small guest accommodation such as a B&B, farmhouses, inns, restaurants with rooms and self catering houses, cottages, flats or holiday caravans.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 makes you responsible for taking steps to protect the people using your premises.  You MUST carry out a fire risk assessment, improve fire safety measures if necessary and keep your risk assessment and safety reviews up to date.

Think about what may cause a fire in your property, for example, naked flames, heaters, electrical equipment or signs of smoking.  You also need to think about who might be at risk, this could be yourself, family, guests or even staff.

Keeping a written record of risk assessment findings is important.  This should include any fire hazards you have found and what you have done to reduce or remove them and any other action planned to improve fire safety including when this will be carried out.

For more information on the fire safety requirements for guest properties, call to speak to one of our surveyors .