Student houses, purpose-built accommodation and short-term holiday lets all share one thing: people who may not know the building well and who change regularly. That makes clear information, working alarms and simple routines especially important.
Why these properties need extra attention
- Frequent changes of occupant, so safety information is easily lost.
- Shared kitchens where cooking is a common cause of fires.
- Shared houses with multiple bedrooms, sometimes converted from family homes.
- Holiday lets used by visitors who do not know where exits or alarms are.
- Electrical equipment, chargers and heaters used in bedrooms.
- Candles, smoking and unattended cooking.
- Unattended periods when nobody is on site to notice a problem.
What a fire risk assessment typically looks at
- Escape routes from every bedroom and living space, including upper floors and attic conversions.
- Smoke and heat detection in the right places, and how they are tested.
- Fire doors, particularly to kitchens and between flats and communal areas.
- Kitchen safety: cooker, extraction, fire blanket and clear advice for occupants.
- Electrical safety and how equipment is checked.
- Information for occupants: simple, clear notices on what to do, where to meet and who to call.
- Handover routines between occupants or guests.
- Records of checks, servicing and complaints.
Practical steps
- Put a short fire notice in every property and every bedroom, and update it when things change.
- Test alarms between lets, and note the date.
- Remove clutter and old furniture from corridors, stairs and landings.
- Check that cooking facilities are in good working order and cleaned regularly.
- Think about water too: empty periods can create legionella risk. See our guide to legionella in rental properties.
Your duties
Where you let property, check the rules that apply to your type of letting. If you are an employer or manage premises that others use, the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 expect you to take reasonable measures to protect people from fire.
Talk to us
We offer fire risk assessments in Galway for landlords, managing agents and accommodation providers. Call 086 275 9728 or email info@safersolutions.ie for a friendly chat.