Fire safety is an important consideration for all homestay hosts. This page explains what you need to do to minimise the risks from fire and how we will work with you.

What We Need Hosts to Do.

In accordance with the legal requirements for landlords, we stipulate that all homestay providers do the following three things before they are approved for hosting:

  1. Install a working smoke alarm on every floor of their property, including in a loft conversion if applicable. Ideally smoke alarms should be wired into the mains. However, even mains powered alarms must have a working backup battery.
  2. Obtain a Landlords Gas Safety certificate each year. More information about this is available here. We ask that hosts provide us with a cope of their Gas Safety Certificate annually.

Planning Ahead

We ask that all hosts think about fire safety before any problems arise and that they talk to their students about how to minimise the risks. In particular, we ask that hosts make students aware of the following:

  • Discuss how to leave the property safety. For example, identify the different ways to get out.
  • Discuss where keys are kept and how to open doors and windows in an emergency.
  • Discuss ways to prevent fires. For example:
    • Do not leave electrical devices plugged in overnight or when they are out during the day. For example, charing mobile phones.
    • Do not use electric blankets.
    • Do not use toasters, kettles and other portable kitchen appliances in their bedrooms.
    • Take great care with devices such as hair straighteners, irons and hairdryers etc.
  • We will always support the host’s right to insist that students abide by these measures should problems arise.

What to do if Your Smoke Alarm Sounds

  • Evacuate the property as quickly and safely as possible.
  • Call the Emergency Services on 999 and ask for the Fire Services.
  • Stay out of the property until you are told it is safe to Return.

What NOT to do

  • Do not be tempted to retrieve personal items during evacuation.
  • Do not return to the property for any reason after evacuation.
  • Do not attempt to put out a fire yourself.
  • Do not open a door which you think has a fire behind it. The sudden influx of air can cause the fire to explode