Homestay Hosts – If you have a paying guest in your home, you have a responsibility to keep them safe. This includes updating gas safety certificates/annual gas service records, which must be certified by Registered Gas Safe engineers, and carrying out a fire risk assessment of the home every 12 months.

It is also recommended that you fit carbon monoxide detectors. These should be British Standard approved, with a battery life of up to five years. Fit them in each room with a gas appliance.

Every homestay host is subject to common law, and has a duty to make sure their property is safe.
We therefore ask that all hosts follow this fire safety advice:

• All new properties must have mains-operate smoke alarms fitted on every floor of the property. Older properties should have standard battery-operated smoke alarms.
• If you fit battery-operated smoke alarms in your property, you should test them regularly.
• Provide all guests with a fire escape plan so they know what to do in the event of a fire.
• The electrical system in your home should be in good working order.
  
  

Fire Safety Risk Assessment Guidelines

Here are five easy steps to help you complete your fire risk assessment:

Step 1 – Identify the fire hazards in your home

• Things that might ignite such as plug-in convector heaters or candles
• Things that can burn such as refuse and stacks of paper, magazines, combustibles
• Things that can accelerate a fire such as ceiling/desk fans and air conditioning units

Step 2 – Identify those at risk

• Children
• Parents with babies
• Those who have hearing impairment may not be alerted to a standard smoke alarm and disabled people may find it difficult to get out of the home quickly.

Step 3 – Evaluate, remove, reduce and protect from risk

• Replace highly combustible materials with less combustible ones
• Ensure adequate separation between combustibles and ignition sources

Step 4 – Record and plan

• Have a fire safety record book
• Record the hazards and people identified as especially at risk in Steps 1 and Step 2
• Record what you did for Step 3
• Ensure guests are made aware of fire exit routes in your home
• Keep a record of having informed guests about the emergency evacuation plan
• Keep a record of weekly checks made to battery-operated fire alarms and fire extinguishing equipment, e.g. fire extinguishers and fire blankets

Step 5 – Review

• Risk assessments should be kept up to date and reviewed every 12 months
• Ensure your Gas Safety Certificate/Gas appliance service record is renewed every 12 months
• The online Fire Risk Assessment form below must be completed and submitted for our records. We can assist you in completing this form during the Homestay Manager’s home visit and provide advice on how to stay fire safe.