Short-term lets in Scotland – Licensing Scheme

A fire safety checklist prepared by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service forms part of the application. This check list must be fully completed in order to submit your application.

You will be asked to answer either yes/no to the following:

Section A - Premises Profile

1. Is the maximum occupancy of the premises for 10 persons or less (including children); or Is the premises being used for home letting/home sharing/secondary letting for 8 guests or less (including children)?

2. Does the premises have an escape route from each short term let bedroom via a hall and/or stair to at least one final exit door (which has direct access to the outside)?

3. Does the premises have letting accommodation on one or two floors only?

4. Is the premises storey areas less than 200 m2 internal floor space?

Section B -

5. Have you carried out and recorded a Fire Safety Risk Assessment which is available for inspection?

6. Has the Fire Safety Risk Assessment fully considered the diverse range of needs that guests may have in relation to fire safety?

7. Has the Fire Safety Risk Assessment been reviewed in the previous 12 months?

Where answer is 'No' see guidance below for further advice

a) Have escape routes (fire resisting construction and self-closing fire doors where appropriate) been assessed as adequate for the property type through the premises Fire Safety Risk Assessment?

b) Can you confirm that no inner rooms are used as sleeping accommodation?

c) Are escape routes (including communal areas, where present) clearly signed as such and kept free from obstruction at all times?

d) Have you recorded the evacuation procedures and ensured that guests are aware of them? For example, have they been provided with the information in the form of a fire action or via a welcome folder?

Where answer is'No' see guidance below for further advice

8. Doors and Exits - Do all final exit doors, including the main entrance used by guests, open from the inside without use of a key?

Where answer is'No' see guidance below for further advice and engage with your Local Authority Licensing section.

9. Firefighting Equipment (Extinguishers)

a) Is the firefighting equipment adequate for the risk in the premises (number, type, location)? ** as assessed through the premises Fire Safety Risk Assessment?

Where answer is 'No' see guidance below for further advice

b) Is firefighting equipment maintained annually and recorded on the test labels and/or log book?

Where answer is'No' see guidance below for further advice

10. Automatic Fire Detection

a) Is the level of automatic fire detection adequate within the premises as assessed through the premises Fire Safety Risk Assessment?

b) Is the system tested weekly/monthly/annually and the results recorded in a Log Book?

Where answer is'No' see guidance below for further advice

11. Emergency lighting 

a) Is there adequate provision for the lighting of emergency routes in the event of a mains failure as assessed through the premises Fire Safety Risk Assessment?

b) Is any equipment provided tested and maintained with the results of tests recorded in a Log Book?

Where answer is “No” see guidance below for further advice

12. General 

a) Is there an up-to-date Fire Log Book including test certificates available for audit?

Where answer is 'No' see guidance below for further advice

Dutyholder Responsibilities

The Dutyholder has legal responsibilities under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 for ensuring fire safety in their premises. Accurate completion of this Fire Safety Checklist is the responsibility of the Dutyholder. As Dutyholder, you must ensure that you read, understand and accurately answer each question. If you do not understand a question, or do not have the information available to answer any of the questions, you should not complete or submit the Fire Safety Checklist until you do.

Further guidance and advice for Dutyholders:

• www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-safety/business-advice/ 
• Practical fire safety guidance for existing premises with sleeping accommodation (Where answers are yes in all of section A  Annex 2 may be used.) 
• Non-domestic fire safety