Fire Safety Guidance For Holiday Lets & Guest Accommodation
If you provide holiday accommodation or other paying guest accommodation, it is important to ensure that your fire safety arrangements and documentation are up to date. Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service have published guidance for businesses providing paying guest accommodation, including:
- Guest houses, B&Bs and rentals
- Airbnbs
- Holiday cottages
- Lodges and glamping pods
- Caravan parks
- Holiday boats
Why does this matter to my business?
Businesses providing paying guest accommodation have a legal responsibility for fire safety. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is the main legislation controlling fire safety in premises in England providing accommodation for paying guests. It applies where someone is being charged to stay as a guest and the property is not being occupied as a private dwelling. Since 1 October 2023, changes to fire safety legislation have also increased the requirements relating to recording and sharing fire safety information.
All premises covered by the Fire Safety Order are required to have a fully recorded Fire Risk Assessment
Where required fire safety arrangements or documentation are not in place, enforcement action can result in significant disruption and cost to a business, including restrictions on the use of premises while issues are addressed.
We strongly encourage accommodation businesses not to wait for a visit before checking that their fire safety arrangements and documentation are in order.
What are businesses responsible for?
The person responsible for fire safety at the premises must ensure that a suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment is carried out and recorded. Government guidance sets out a number of responsibilities, including:
- Carrying out and recording a suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment
- Ensuring appropriate fire safety measures are in place, including measures to help prevent fire and enable people to escape safely
- Maintaining fire safety measures in effective working order
- Having appropriate fire procedures for employees, guests and visitors
- Providing relevant fire safety information and instruction to staff
- Keeping the Fire Risk Assessment and fire safety measures under regular review
The requirements will differ according to the individual property. Your Fire Risk Assessment should be specific to your premises and the people who may use it.
Who is the Responsible Person?
The Fire Safety Order uses the term Responsible Person for the person or people responsible for complying with fire safety legislation. For paying guest accommodation, this is likely to be the owner, a letting agent or another person who has control of the premises. Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service cannot undertake a Fire Risk Assessment on behalf of a business. Responsibility for ensuring an appropriate assessment is completed remains with the Responsible Person. For some small and straightforward premises, Government guidance is available to help the Responsible Person carry out an assessment themselves. If you do not feel confident that you can interpret and apply the guidance appropriately to your property, Government guidance recommends using a competent fire risk assessor. Even where someone else carries out the assessment on your behalf, legal responsibility remains with the Responsible Person.
Is the same guidance suitable for every property?
No.
The fire safety measures required will depend upon the individual premises, its layout, the risks identified and the people who use it. The Home Office has produced specific guidance for small paying guest accommodation, including many B&Bs, guest houses and self-catering properties. Different or more detailed Government guidance applies to larger or more complex sleeping accommodation, including hotels and other premises that fall outside the scope of the small accommodation guide. If you are unsure which guidance applies to your premises, use the Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service information below as your starting point.
Check Your Fire Safety Arrangements
Government guidance states that Fire Risk Assessments should be kept under regular review. An annual review is usually appropriate, but a review is also required following significant changes to the premises or an incident such as a fire. If you operate paying guest accommodation, now is a good time to check:
- Is your Fire Risk Assessment complete and fully recorded?
- Is it specific to your individual premises?
- Have you acted on the findings of the assessment?
- Are your fire safety measures being properly maintained?
- Are your procedures and records up to date?
- Has anything changed at the property that means your assessment should be reviewed?
Further Guidance & Support – Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service
Read the latest information for holiday lets, Airbnbs and other paying guest accommodation, including links to the appropriate Government guidance.
Government Guidance for Small Paying Guest Accommodation
The Home Office guide provides practical information to help those responsible for small paying guest accommodation understand and comply with fire safety legislation. It includes information about Fire Risk Assessments, fire hazards, fire protection measures and a Fire Risk Assessment checklist.
Government Fire Safety Guidance
The Government also provides a wider collection of guidance for different types of premises, including sleeping accommodation, offices and shops, places of assembly and other non-domestic premises.
Free Health & Safety Training for Levy Payers
Herefordshire County BID Levy Payers also have access to a range of free Health & Safety training through SEEDL.
The training is available to businesses across all sectors and provides a useful way to refresh knowledge and support staff development.
Important
The information on this page is intended to signpost businesses to official fire safety guidance and does not replace the requirements of fire safety legislation or a Fire Risk Assessment specific to your premises. Businesses should refer to the official guidance from Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and the Government to determine the requirements applicable to their individual premises.
