Fire safety in HIMO’s and Holiday Lets

Houses in Multiple Occupancy and Holiday lets have particular issues that must be addressed to keep them compliant with current fire safety legislation.

Issues generally noted:

• No acceptable fire detection system.
• Three smoke alarms were fitted, two did not work, they were all battery operated and not interlinked.
• Several of the first floor windows did not meet the criteria for escape windows and as a result of that the property should have had fire doors to protect the escape from the first floor.
• There was in fact no door to the kitchen so any fire in the kitchen would have directly compromised the means of escape from the first floor.
• No first aid firefighting equipment and no fire instructions.
• No Portable Appliance Testing
• Most fatalities occur in house fires, HIMOs are a very high risk.
• Holiday Let’s do not have suitable means of escape.
• Inappropriate fire alarm systems
• No emergency lighting.
• No suitable emergency plan.

If you are responsible for fire safety in such properties, think carefully, its no good having a nice carpet and flowers if the occupants are trapped upstairs and suffering from smoke inhalation or worse!

Contact us for advice on your responsibilities, do not rely on a letting agency that does not understand the principles of fire safety. You are the Responsible Person, its on your head.