Fire Safety Risks Increase For Holidaymakers Renting From Airbnb and Other Platforms
A report from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Tourism, Leisure and the Hospitality Industry found that the lack of checks on such properties means they may pose fire safety risks.
The Guardian reported that the ‘boom’ in the short term rentals through services such as Airbnb is seeing ‘growing numbers of professional holiday letting firms […] hiding from regulation’, and in turn ‘putting holidaymakers at risk’. The ‘unscrupulous businesses posing as private owners’ are taking advantage of the fact that both hotels and bed and breakfasts are ‘subject to fire regulations and other checks’, but homeowners ‘do not have to prove’ property safety before letting them online.
Group chairman Gordon Marsden stated that ‘there is an image that this is a lot of happy, jolly people with a spare room trying to make some pin money. That’s true, but it’s also true that there seems to be systematic attempts to do block-booking in blocks of flats. That’s problematic’. He also noted that the group had received evidence that a ‘large number’ of owners had multiple listings across different platforms. He commented: ‘They have their hands on a number of different properties and many of those are often in large tower blocks. That suggests that sharing-economy platforms are increasingly being used to develop tourism accommodation businesses rather than simply renting a room on an ad hoc basis. Sadly, issues like the Grenfell inquiry have shone a strong light on what the potential perils in large blocks might be, in terms of safety and security, and particularly not knowing who’s in there.
He reflected on the government’s response, in that it has ‘not looked seriously at the issue, leaving local authorities to negotiate with holiday rental sites’, and added: ‘There has not been a substantive, independent or government-commissioned response to this, just a series of ad hoc comments. We’re right to look at the economic possibilities but that’s not a substitute in terms of legislation or government’s responsibility to take a dispassionate look at the pros and cons.’
Coincidentally just a few days ago a member of London Fire Risk Assessments Fire Safety team outlined a conversation he had with a London Hotel Chain. The Managing Director outlined that the biggest threat to Hotels, Hostels and B&B’s was the rapid growth of Internet platforms such as Airbnb. His frustration was that these holiday rental platforms did not have to abide by the stringent Fire, Health & Safety regulations as the Hotel industry do – as a result it could put holidaymakers at risk. He felt strongly that this needed to be looked into and acted upon before a disaster occurred.
Airbnb have however have just issued to their customers a ‘Safety Tips For Your Home’ which was compiled with the help of the National Fire Chiefs Council – a proactive move on their part.
The ‘Tips’ include:
- Install and regularly test alarms
- Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer
- Prevention is key
- Pay attention to electrical appliances
- Close doors (especially at night)
- Have an Escape Plan
London Fire Risk Assessments advice to holiday rentals – carry out a Fire Safety Risk Assessment of your premise! This advice is supported by the Home Offices “Do you have paying Guests” guidelines. We have a client who has just done that! – They use Airbnb as their holiday rental platform but wanted to ensure that they met their Fire Safety responsibilities and ensure that their premise was safe for their users – such a refreshing, proactive and responsible approach!
London Fire Risk Assessments carried out a Fire Safety inspection and issued a Fire Safety Risk Assessment, which includes a Fire Safety Management Plan – Significant Findings, which identified some Fire Safety Actions they needed to complete. Part of the Fire Safety Risk Assessment is an Emergency Plan and London Fire Risk Assessments recommended that this was not only displayed but also outlined to the Holidaymakers on arrival.
All the Fire Safety Actions were completed within days and they now have peace of mind knowing that they have done as much as they can to keep their Holidaymakers safe from Fire. Now all that they need to do is just enjoy their beautiful Holiday rental in the middle of the Thames!
If you have a Holiday Rental, or even if it is ‘just a room’ in your house, which you rent out occasionally, you will have a ‘paying guest’ and that means you must have a Fire Safety Risk Assessment London Fire Risk Assessments is an independent Fire Safety Consultancy based in London. They are members of the Institution of Fire Engineers and are on the IFE Register of approved Fire Risk Assessors. If you would like to use their services then contact their friendly team who will be happy to help! Call 01689 890879.