Self-catering holiday lets are properties that are rented out to paying guests which are not their permanent home.
They include, flats, lodges, cottages, and houses, but also include holiday caravans, Shepard’s huts, and other more unusual accommodation.
Self-catering holiday lets are subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (legislation.gov.uk) (Fire Safety Order, for the rest of this page)
In fact, any space that you rent out to a paying guest, which is not their permanent home is subject to the Fire Safety legislation.
Your responsibilities
Under the Fire Safety Order, you are responsible for the safety of the relevant people using your premises and to keep them safe from fire.
Failure to comply with the Fire Safety Order may lead to enforcement action, prosecution, fines, or imprisonment.
As a Responsible Person your duties include the following:-
- Conduct a Fire Risk Assessment, which will identify who and how, people are at risk, and the fire safety measures required to keep people safe in your premises.
- Ensure that all fire safety equipment is tested and maintained. This equipment includes – fire alarm systems, emergency lighting systems and firefighting equipment. It is recommended that a record of all testing and maintenance is kept.
- Provide fire safety information and an emergency plan to your guests. The emergency plan must detail what to do in the event of a fire and how to safely evacuate the premises. This must be suitable for all guests staying at your premises.
Holiday lets fire safety guidance
HM Government have produced fire safety guides to assist with keeping your guests and your property safe from fire.
Fire safety risk assessment
In very small premises, you may feel capable of undertaking a Fire Risk Assessment using the guidance - Fire safety risk assessment: 5-step checklist - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
In all other situations, it is recommended to employ the services of a competent Fire Risk Assessor.
Details of how to find a Fire Risk Assessor can be found here - Finding fire risk assessor (nationalfirechiefs.org.uk)
Points to consider in your Fire Risk Assessment
Your guests
- Does your booking process identify guests with specific needs, i.e., sensory or mobility impairments and would those needs be met at the premises.
- Is the fire safety information and emergency plan suitable for all guest staying in your premises. Does it inform them what to do in the event of a fire? Or if the fire alarm sounds?
Fire alarm systems
The fire alarm systems in Self-catering holiday lets require greater coverage than a typical domestic dwelling. Owing to that guests will be unfamiliar with the layout of the holiday let and require early warning in the event of a fire, to allow for safe evacuation.
- Fire alarm systems in smaller premises will need to be interlinked and provided in corridors, staircases, bedrooms, and other rooms that open onto the corridors, with a heat detector in the kitchen (this is known as a BS5839 Part 6 LD1 system).
- Larger, or open plan premises may require a more comprehensive fire alarm system, which includes manual call points and a control panel (complying with BS5389 part 1 Category L2).
- The fire alarm system will require regular testing and periodic serving to ensure reliable operation. It is recommended to record this testing.
Means of escape
You are required under law to ensure that all people using your premises can evacuate as quickly and safely as possible.
- The travel distance to outside should be no longer than 18m (if there is only one exit option)
- Corridors and exits routes from bedrooms should lead to a final exit and provide a 30 minute fire resistant protected route.
- Open plan layouts, and un-protected routes from bedrooms may require additional fire safety measures, and you may need to consult with a competent Fire Risk Assessor for those premises.
- Final exits (front and back doors) should not be secured by bolts, locks and keys, a simple thumb lock or night latch should be fitted.
Emergency lighting
If a fire occurs, it could affect the lighting circuit and prevent people from finding their way out.
A secondary lighting source, providing emergency lighting will be required. In a very small premises this could be in the form of torches that come on automatically in the event of a mains failure. To an automatic emergency lighting system that will come on when the lighting circuit fails, in larger premises.
Fire extinguishers and fire blankets
A small multi-purpose fire extinguisher and fire blanket should be provided in the kitchen.
Your fire risk assessment may identify that additional fire extinguishers are required; however, the safest option is for guests to evacuate the premises in the event of a fire, and they should not be expected to use fire extinguishers.
Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service fire safety inspections of holiday lets
We are legally obliged to ensure that you are complying with the fire safety law and operating your premises safely.
We will do this through enforcement of the fire safety law and undertake fire safety inspections of holiday let premises.
If you apply the fire safety guidance provided by HM Government, then the likelihood is that you would be complying with the fire safety law.
