If you operate a short-term let in Glasgow, fire safety is not simply part of the licensing paperwork. You have a legal responsibility to assess the risk from fire and provide suitable measures to protect your guests.
The requirements will depend on the size, layout and occupancy of your property. A small tenement flat may need different measures from a large detached house, but every Glasgow short-term let must be properly assessed and managed.
Glasgow short-term lets need a fire risk assessment
Short-term let properties used as sleeping accommodation are covered by fire safety duties under Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005. The person who controls the property, usually the owner or operator, is responsible for making sure guests are protected from harm caused by fire.
This means you must have a suitable fire risk assessment in place. The assessment should identify how a fire could start, who may be at risk and what precautions are required.
It must be specific to the individual property. A generic online checklist may help you organise information, but it cannot account for the layout, doors, escape route, guest numbers or condition of your own premises.
The assessment should also be kept under review. It may need to be updated when you change the layout, increase occupancy, install new heating or cooking equipment, carry out building work or make other significant changes.
As part of the short-term let licensing process, hosts must normally provide a fire safety checklist and confirm that a fire risk assessment is in place. Some licensing authorities may also request a copy of the completed assessment.
Smoke and heat alarms must provide suitable warning
Guests may be asleep when a fire starts and will often be unfamiliar with the property. The fire detection system must therefore provide early warning throughout the accommodation.
For small self-catering properties within the scope of Annex 2 of the Scottish Government guidance, smoke alarms should normally be installed in the hall and landing, living rooms and separate dining rooms. A heat alarm should be installed in the kitchen.
Where the property has more than three bedrooms, smoke detection should also normally be installed within each bedroom. The alarms should be interlinked so that when one activates, they all sound throughout the property.
The alarm coverage should reflect the actual layout. An open-plan property, long corridor or converted tenement may require additional consideration to ensure a fire is detected before it affects the escape route.
Hosts should also have a clear system for testing and maintaining alarms. Simply confirming that alarms were present when the licence application was submitted is not enough. They must remain operational whenever guests are staying.
Escape routes and doors in Glasgow properties
Guests must be able to leave the property quickly and safely without relying on specialist knowledge. Escape routes should remain clear, properly lit and free from stored furniture, luggage or other obstructions.
The final exit door should be capable of being opened easily from the inside without using a key. This is particularly important in Glasgow tenement flats where guests may otherwise be expected to locate a key before they can leave.
Doors opening onto the hall, corridor or staircase can help hold back smoke and fire while guests escape. These doors should be solid, close fitting and in good condition, without large gaps, warping or damage.
For some two-storey properties with more than three bedrooms on the upper floor, ground-floor doors protecting the escape route should be fitted with self-closing devices. This helps reduce the chance of a fire spreading into the staircase while guests are asleep upstairs.
You should also advise guests to keep doors closed at night. A closed door can slow the movement of smoke and provide valuable additional time to escape.
Where the escape route may become dark during a power failure, suitable emergency illumination may be required. In some small properties, automatic plug-in lights that remain illuminated when the mains supply fails may be suitable, but this should be determined by the fire risk assessment.
Other safety certificates and licensing conditions
All short-term lets must comply with mandatory licensing conditions before a licence can be granted. These conditions cover fire safety, gas safety, electrical safety, water safety, repair standards, maximum occupancy, insurance and the information displayed within the property.
Glasgow hosts should be prepared to provide the relevant electrical inspection and testing documentation. Portable electrical appliances supplied for guests should also be maintained in a safe condition.
Where gas is present, the property should have a current Gas Safe record and suitable carbon monoxide detection. Furnished properties should use furniture and furnishings that meet the relevant fire resistance requirements.
Hosts should also provide clear information explaining what guests should do if they discover a fire. This should include how to raise the alarm, how to leave the building and the address of the property so guests can provide accurate information when calling 999.
The maximum number of guests stated on the licence must not be exceeded. Occupancy should reflect the size of the property, sleeping arrangements and the ability of everyone present to escape safely.
Does your property fall within Annex 2?
Annex 2 provides simplified guidance for certain small, well-managed self-catering and bed and breakfast properties. For self-catering accommodation, it generally applies where no more than 10 people are accommodated.
The property must also meet specific layout conditions. Guest accommodation should not be below ground floor or above first-floor level, bedrooms should escape through a traditional hall or corridor leading to an outside exit, and no storey should exceed 200 square metres.
A property does not automatically fall within Annex 2 simply because it accommodates fewer than 10 guests. Open-plan layouts, inner rooms, basement bedrooms, upper-floor accommodation or unusual escape arrangements may place it outside the simplified guidance.
Properties outside the scope of Annex 2 may require a higher standard of fire precautions. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service advises hosts to seek further guidance where their premises do not fit within its scope.
Keeping your Glasgow short-term let compliant
Fire safety should be checked throughout the life of the licence, not only when the initial application is made. Alarms, escape routes, doors, lighting and guest information should all remain suitable and in good condition.
I provide clear and practical fire risk assessments for short-term let properties across Glasgow. Each assessment considers the actual layout, guest occupancy and escape arrangements, with a straightforward action plan explaining what works well and what needs attention.
To arrange a fire risk assessment or consultation for your Glasgow short-term let, get in touch with AMC Fire Safety.