If you operate an Airbnb or short-term let in Glasgow, there are several legal and licensing requirements you need to meet. These cover much more than simply fitting smoke alarms.
Every short-term let needs a licence. Hosts must also meet mandatory conditions covering fire safety, electrical safety, gas safety, insurance and other areas.
From a fire safety point of view, the requirements should reflect the actual property. The layout, number of guests and escape arrangements all matter.
Here are the main things Glasgow short-term let hosts need to have in place.
Glasgow short-term lets need a fire risk assessment
A suitable fire risk assessment is a legal requirement for short-term let premises used as sleeping accommodation. The person controlling the property must make sure the assessment is completed and kept under review.
The assessment should identify how a fire could start and who may be at risk. It should then decide whether the existing precautions are suitable.
This includes looking at escape routes, doors, fire detection and emergency arrangements. Cooking, heating and electrical equipment should also be considered.
As part of the licensing process, hosts must submit a fire safety checklist. They must also confirm that a fire risk assessment is in place. Some councils may ask to see the full assessment.
You can complete the assessment yourself if you are competent to do so. Otherwise, you should use a suitably qualified fire risk assessor.
For many smaller properties, Annex 2 of the Scottish Government sleeping accommodation guidance may apply. It is broadly aimed at secondary lets accommodating no more than 10 guests. However, the property must also meet the relevant layout conditions.
You need suitable fire and carbon monoxide detection.
Every short-term let must have suitable equipment for detecting and warning occupants of fire. Suitable carbon monoxide detection must also be provided where there is a potential risk.
For a typical small self-catering property, this will normally mean interlinked smoke and heat alarms. The exact coverage should be based on the property and the relevant fire safety guidance.
The escape route also needs to be suitable. Guests should be able to leave easily without having to search for keys or understand complicated locks.
Doors protecting the escape route are another important part of the assessment. Their standard will depend on the property layout and the guidance that applies.
Emergency lighting is not automatically required in exactly the same form for every short-term let. The need should be considered as part of the fire risk assessment. Scottish Government licensing guidance confirms that emergency lighting and exit signage may be necessary in some properties.
This is why copying the precautions from another Airbnb is not a reliable approach. Two properties with the same number of bedrooms can have very different escape arrangements.
Electrical and gas safety documents are required.
Electrical safety is a mandatory part of short-term let licensing.
Hosts must keep electrical fittings and equipment in safe working order. They must also arrange an electrical safety inspection by a competent person at least every five years, or sooner if advised.
The inspection must produce an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) for the fixed electrical installation.
A Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) Report is also required for movable electrical appliances that guests can access. Inspected appliances should be appropriately labelled.
If the property has gas, an annual gas safety inspection is required. This covers the relevant gas pipes, flues and appliances.
The Gas Safety Certificate must remain current while the property operates. If there is no gas supply or private gas storage, this particular requirement does not apply.
Furniture, insurance and guest information also matter.
Upholstered furniture and mattresses available to guests must meet the relevant fire safety regulations. Hosts must also keep evidence that these items comply.
This evidence could include photographs, receipts or retained labels.
Short-term let licensing also requires valid buildings insurance. Public liability insurance must be in place while the premises are being used as a short-term let.
A Legionella risk assessment also forms part of the licensing checklist. Hosts must consider water safety alongside the other property requirements.
Clear information should be available for guests inside the property. This should explain important safety arrangements and what guests should do during an emergency.
For fire safety, I recommend providing a simple fire action plan. Guests should understand how to leave, where the final exit is and how to raise the alarm.
Remember that guests may never have visited the property before. Instructions that seem obvious to the owner may not be obvious to someone staying for one night.
Having the paperwork is not enough.
One of the most important points for Glasgow short-term let hosts is that compliance does not stop when the licence is granted.
The fire risk assessment must remain under review. Alarms, doors and escape routes must also remain suitable throughout the licence period.
The same applies to certificates. An EICR, PAT report or Gas Safety Certificate cannot simply be obtained for the application and then forgotten.
Changes to the property can also affect fire safety. This could include adding bedrooms, changing doors, creating an open-plan layout or increasing guest numbers.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service can visit short-term let premises. Officers may examine the fire precautions, ask about the fire risk assessment and check whether legal requirements are being met.
For that reason, I always recommend treating the assessment as a working document rather than licence paperwork.
I provide clear and practical fire risk assessments for Airbnb and short-term let properties across Glasgow. Each assessment considers the property layout, guest numbers and escape arrangements before setting out any improvements required.
To arrange a fire risk assessment or fire safety consultation for your Glasgow short-term let, get in touch with AMC Fire Safety.