Skype

Fire Risk Assessment and Gas Safety for Homestay providers

  • Home
  • Pages
  • Fire Risk Assessment and Gas Safety for Homestay providers

Homestay Hosts – If you have paying guests in your home, it’s your responsibility to ensure their safety. This includes updating gas safety certificates or annual gas service records certified by Registered Gas Safe engineers and conducting a fire risk assessment of your home every 12 months.

 

Fitting carbon monoxide detectors is also recommended. These should be British Standard approved and have a battery life of up to five years. Install them in every room with a gas appliance.

 

Every homestay host is bound by common law to ensure their property is safe. Please follow this fire safety advice:

 

New properties must have mains-operated smoke alarms on every floor, while older properties should have standard battery-operated alarms. Test battery-operated alarms regularly. Provide guests with a fire escape plan so they know what to do in case of a fire. Make sure the electrical system in your home is in good working condition.

 

Fire Safety Risk Assessment Guidelines:

Step 1 – Identify fire hazards in your home:

– Sources of ignition like plug-in heaters or candles.

– Combustible materials like paper stacks or refuse.

– Accelerants like ceiling fans or air conditioners.

 

Step 2 – Identify those at risk:

– Children, parents with babies, people with hearing impairments, or those with disabilities who may face difficulty escaping.

 

Step 3 – Evaluate, remove, reduce, and protect from risks:

– Replace highly combustible materials with safer ones.

– Keep combustibles and ignition sources adequately separated.

 

Step 4 – Record and plan:

– Maintain a fire safety record book.

– Document hazards and those at risk.

    Homestay Fire Risk assessment Form

    Responsible person

     

    Property address

     

    • Are there any areas of concern in the homestay?
      E.g. live and exposed wires, trip hazards, loose stairs or banisters/railings, blocked exits and loose carpets.

    • Written fire escape plan

    YesNo

    • Smoke alarms on each floor

    YesNo

    Smoke alarms last tested date

    Smoke alarms testing frequency

    • Carbon monoxide monitor

    YesNo

    • A valid Gas Safety Certificate is obtained every year and a copy is available on request

    YesNo

    • What Firefighting equipment is present in the property. Please list any details of items such as fire blanket(s), extinguisher(s) including their locations.

    • Emergency exit routes are always kept clear

    YesNo

    • Guests are informed if the house has any specific features that might be hazardous
      (e.g. balconies, steep stairs etc).

    YesNo

    • Guests are briefed about evacuation procedures and where to assemble.

    YesNo

    • Guests are briefed about how and when to use firefighting equipment, if applicable

    YesNo

    • Guests are given the Emergency Contact Number 999 and your personal mobile number to keep in touch?

    YesNo

    • Please remember to discourage guests from using candles and electric blankets.

    • Please note that homestay providers, because they are paid to have people sleeping in their home, are legally required to have a fire risk assessment to comply with fire safety law. This is evidence that the homestay provider has not been negligent.

    • Remember that risk assessments are for the benefit and safety of guests as well as your family.

    I confirm all statements above are accurate to the best of my knowledge.

    I understand and agree that The risk assessment form is provided to help eliminate any risks at homestay providers properties and Devon Educational Holidays. will not be liable for any accidents, fire or explosions within the home.