5 Health & safety rules you need to know before renting on Airbnb
With over 40 million Airbnb users across Europe and the US1, and approximately 567,027 listings in the UK alone2, the short-term accommodation rental market has seen extraordinary growth over the last 5 years.
Currently, the average Airbnb host earns around £6,000 annually3, making it a profitable venture for investors or casual landlords who want to make extra cash as a host.
However, health & safety concerns are rising in the short-term rental market, highlighting where processes are yet to be put in place by hosts. A recent study of 127,183 Airbnb guests found that 16.5% of people complained online that they had to call the police due to serious safety issues at the property4.
We shed light on the key things you need to know as an Airbnb host to avoid financial and legal risks within the market.
CEO, Nick Higginson says; “Most health & safety legislation applies to the workplace, however, there is legislation called the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, under which the owner/host would come under the definition of being the ‘occupier’ and the guest under the definition of ‘lawful visitor’. These can therefore be considered legal safety requirements for Airbnb hosts. Failure on any of the key points we have outlined below may be classified as a breach of this legislation and could result in legal consequences and compensation claims.”
5 things you need to consider about your Airbnb
1. Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Although it is not a legal requirement to have carbon monoxide detectors (CMD) in an Airbnb-style property, many guests prefer them as it makes people feel safer. This can lead to better customer experiences, as they feel more comfortable during their stay, which in turn can lead to more positive reviews for your BnB.
“Carbon monoxide builds up in a property due to the burning of fuels. Properties that have traditional fireplaces or a wood burning stove are at a higher risk of causing carbon monoxide poisoning, and, without detectors, it could have serious consequences. It’s strongly advisable to have a CMD, not only for safety precautions but also not to deter potential guests.
Furthermore, if your property has a fireplace, always ask guests to keep fresh air flowing throughout the property, and to crack the windows where necessary to avoid the build-up of carbon monoxide levels.” advises Nick.
2. Smoke Alarms are required on every floor
“Fire safety requirements can be hard to identify depending on the scale of the building. Some may require a fire exit to be clearly signposted whilst others may require carbon monoxide detectors. To make sure you have the correct information for the building's specific needs it’s best to carry out a fire risk assessment,” says Nick.
Whether you are renting out a room or an entire property on Airbnb, it’s essential to provide a smoke alarm on each storey of the building. Appropriate fire extinguishers should also be present in sufficient numbers. Whilst you don’t need fire warden training as a host, it can be massively beneficial as you will need to know the legal requirements in relation to fire safety. Alternatively, there is fire risk assessment training, which will give you the skills to conduct risk assessments in relation to fire hazards and provide insights into legal requirements.
3. Furniture must be fire retardant
“Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 is legislation which protects guests, ensuring they are in an environment where furnishings are not likely to become inflamed from close contact to products such as candles or cigarettes. If you ignore this essential safety check and there are incidents related to this, you could face prosecution,” says Nick.
Your furniture might not be something you consider an issue when hosting a property, however, there are health & safety rules you need to check when assessing the safety of your BnB.
4. Annual gas safety checks are required
“Even if you are renting a room out in the property you occupy, you must be prepared to pay for Gas Safe certification,” says Nick.
If you supply gas on the premises an annual gas safety check must be carried out every 12 months by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. If you fail to prove certification of the last 2 years in the appropriate checks, you can face legal prosecution for being negligible to your guests and putting lives at risk.
5. Electrical safety
7.5% of Airbnb travellers in 2021 complained about unsafe amenities in their Airbnb, including things such as electricals/ fire hazards. Whilst hosts are not bound by law to commit regular electrical safety checks, if ignored and an electrical accident with a guest occurs it could open up a negligence case. Taking our risk assessment training course will teach you to identify hazards such as faulty electrical equipment, avoiding the possible negligence cases which could arise.
“Electrical systems should be safe to use, and it is the host’s responsibility to make sure the required checks are made regularly. Things such as wiring, cooking appliances, sockets and light fittings should be checked tri-annually to ensure they are working correctly. There should also be safety checks on appliances supplied such as cookers and kettles.”
The Future of Airbnb hosting
“Over the coming years, we predict more processes and legislation will come into place to protect guests staying in Airbnb style accommodation to ensure that a similar health & safety standard is upheld to that of which you would expect in a registered hotel or hospitality accommodation,” says Nick.
Nick continues;
“Whilst landlords/hosts are expected to create a safe environment with reliable reviews, it is a relatively untouched market for legislation. Hosts may consider health and safety training to ensure they are fully equipped."
Airbnb Safety Training
With future legislation being a distinct possibility, we advise that landlords/hosts look into taking Health & Safety training to ensure the safety of their clients. This would also aid in avoiding fines or other legal problems, while providing insight into why Health & Safety is so important. We offer a series of online courses such as the Fire Safety Awareness Training here at Phoenix, providing you with the knowledge you need to create a safe environment within your AirBnB.
If you have any questions, you can contact us here.
References
1 https://www.statista.com/topics/2273/airbnb/#dossierKeyfigures