07503 873 611
Practical fire risk assessments for holiday let owners, short-term let operators and Airbnb hosts across the South of England.
If you rent out a property as a holiday let, even occasionally, you almost certainly have a legal duty to carry out a fire risk assessment. This applies whether the property is a cottage, an annexe, a flat let through Airbnb, or a static caravan on a holiday park.
The reality is that many holiday let owners either have no fire risk assessment in place at all, or one that has been filled in by the owner themselves and would not stand up to scrutiny if anything went wrong. That is a significant exposure - to fines, to insurance issues, and to the safety of the people staying in the property.
Purbeck Safety Ltd carries out fire risk assessments for holiday let owners across the South of England. The focus is on producing clear, proportionate reports that owners can actually use, without the over-engineered recommendations that some assessments produce.
When a property is rented out for short periods, it falls under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. That regulation places a duty on the "responsible person" - usually the owner or the person operating the let - to make sure suitable fire precautions are in place to protect anyone using the property.
A fire risk assessment is the formal process used to demonstrate that those precautions have been considered. Without one, there is no documented evidence that fire safety has been managed, which is a problem if it is ever questioned by a fire authority, an insurer, or the family of someone harmed in a fire.
The duty applies even if the let is occasional. If guests are paying to stay, the obligation is in place.
Why holiday & short term lets need a fire risk assessment
Who needs a holiday let fire risk assessment?
Holiday let fire risk assessments are typically required for:
-
Self-catering holiday cottages
-
Properties let through Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo and similar platforms
-
Annexes or outbuildings let separately from the main home
-
Static caravans rented out to holidaymakers
-
Lodges and chalets on holiday parks
-
Short-term corporate or relocation lets
-
Bed and breakfast premises and guest houses
If the property is rented to paying guests for short stays, the legal duty applies regardless of whether the let is full-time, seasonal, or occasional.
Every property is different, but a fire risk assessment for a holiday let will normally consider:
-
The layout of the property and how guests would escape in a fire
-
Smoke alarms and heat detectors - type, location, and condition
-
Carbon monoxide detection where there are fuel-burning appliances
-
Fire-fighting equipment such as extinguishers and fire blankets
-
Fire safety signage and the information provided to guests
-
Means of escape, particularly from upper floors
-
Internal doors, especially those fire doors and those protecting escape routes
-
Cooking and heating arrangements
-
Electrical safety and PAT testing of provided appliances
-
External hazards such as fuel storage, BBQs and fire pits
The output is a written report that records what was found, what is working well, and what needs to be addressed. Recommendations are listed in priority order so the owner knows what to deal with first.
How Our Fire Risk Assessment Process Works
Some assessments treat a two-bedroom holiday cottage as if it were a hotel. That produces lengthy reports full of recommendations that are disproportionate to the risk and expensive to act on.
Purbeck Safety takes a different approach. The assessment considers how the property is actually used, who typically stays in it, and what level of precaution is genuinely appropriate. The result is a report that is realistic, useful, and written in plain English - not a tick-box exercise designed to cover the assessor.
That matters because a holiday let is a business.
Recommendations need to balance safety with practicality and budget. A good fire risk assessment supports the business rather than burdening it.
01
Initial Enquiry
Get in touch with a few details about your property - type, location, number of bedrooms and how it is used.
02
Quote and Scheduling
Once we review the details, we provide a clear quote. If accepted, we arrange a suitable time for the site visit.
03
Site Visit and Assessment
A qualified assessor visits the property to carry out the inspection. This is usually completed in a single visit.
04
Fire Risk Assessment Report
A clear, written fire risk assessment report is delivered, normally within a week. The report is yours to keep, share with insurers, and refer back to.
Holiday lets owers rely on competent assessors who understand both fire safety and the realities of short term lets. Purbeck Safety Ltd is a family-run business that works closely with managing agents, landlords, and property owners across the South of England.
Clients choose Purbeck Safety because we provide:
• Thorough and professional assessments
• Clear and practical recommendations
• Straightforward communication
• Reliable scheduling and prompt reporting
• Support for property managers responsible for multiple buildings
Our assessors are Associate of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM) and also hold IOSH Technical Membership, reflecting professional commitment to fire, Health & safety and risk management.
We understand that property managers need dependable advice and documentation they can rely on if questions arise from residents, insurers or regulators.