Do you own or are you thinking about owning a holiday let?
Please read on for our guide and how we can help you.
(This is quite a long read, but we highly recommend you do so)
The key rules and regulations that apply to holiday/short term lets:
For a property to count as a holiday let, it must be furnished and available for letting for at least 210 days a year. This leaves up to 22 weeks that the property can be used by yourselves. Any single let must not be for longer than 31 continuous days. If it is, you must have a formal tenancy.
If you provide a television, you’ll need a specific Hotel and Mobile Televisions Licence
Health & Safety
General health & safety – You have a duty of care to your guests and will need to carry out a thorough risk assessment for the whole property and the grounds. In addition, take any reasonable steps to minimise any risks or hazards. Pride Property Management can assist you with this.
It is good risk management to have an information folder for guests, with information on how to safely use appliances and facilities.
Accessibility
The Equality Act of 2010, requires that holiday lets have a written accessibility statement outlining the facilities and services in and around the property. This document should be available in the property and the guests should be sent a copy prior to their arrival. Your letting agent can help you with this.
You must also make reasonable adjustments to the property so that it can be used by people with disabilities. However, for some older properties and those that may be listed, it may not be possible to make ‘reasonable adjustments’. You can find more information at Visit Britain.
Insurance
A holiday let property will require both buildings and public liability insurance. You should also add employers liability insurance if you directly employ anyone such as a gardener, window cleaner, housekeeper etc. If you seek the services of a property management company like Pride Property Management then employers liability insurance would not apply.
How can Pride Property Management help you?
Pride Property Management can arrange, oversee and facilitate all compliance required as stated in the Housing Act 1998.
We can assist with:
- Fire Risk Assessment (FRA)
- If you provide holiday accommodation in England or Wales for paying guests, it’s a legal requirement to carry out a fire risk assessment.
- Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, you are responsible for taking measures to protect those staying in your property from the risk of fire.
- Smoke Alarms.
- The type of automatic detection and fire warning system, which you will need to install, depends on the size of your property. If your property is two or three storeys, you’re likely to need an automatic fire detection system that runs from the mains electricity with a battery back-up, known as a Grade D LD2 system. You will need to put detectors in corridors, staircases and bedrooms.
- In only the very smallest properties, a connected system of detectors with a 10-year battery, or radio interlinked detectors (Grade F LD2 system), may be enough.
- Your FRA will identify which system is right for your property
- Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)
- As a holiday homeowner, you need to comply with the relevant gas regulations to ensure the safety of your guests. If gas appliances, such as ovens, cookers and boilers, are not properly installed and maintained, there is a danger of fire, explosion, and gas leaks.
- Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, you’ll have to make sure all gas appliances, fittings, chimneys and flues are maintained; ensuring all items are in a safe condition.
- Oil Safety Certificate (OSC)
- As many holiday cottages are in a secluded location, they have an oil supply instead of gas. Similar to gas, faults in oil appliances can lead to Carbon Monoxide poisoning.
- There is no legal requirement for holiday let owners to obtain an Oil Safety Certificate. However, it is recommended that you have your appliances and equipment inspected by an OFTEC Registered Technician, who can supply an OFTEC CD/12 Landlord Oil Installation Check form.
- By law (BS 5410), you are required to have your oil-fired appliances and equipment serviced periodically, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions – this is usually every 12 months.
- Carbon Monoxide Alarms
- As well as having appliances, (such as your boiler), frequently inspected and serviced, carbon monoxide detectors must be installed to identify the presence of this harmful gas.
- As a minimum, you must install a carbon monoxide detector in every room where gas or oil is burnt and in rooms where there is a wood burner or open fire. We would strongly encourage one alarm on each floor of the property.
- By law (BS 5410), you are required to have your oil-fired appliances and equipment serviced periodically, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions – this is usually every 12 months.
- Portable Appliance Testing (PATesting)
- PAT Testing is not a legal requirement for Holiday Lets in England and Wales. However, statistics prove it supports fire safety within all properties as electrical fires are a common cause of fires in domestic properties. Holiday let owners have a duty of care to their guests and by law are required to make sure all electrical items are safe. A holiday let agency will often request a record of the annual PAT document. The yearly record will also have to be sent to the agency to keep the information up-to-date.
- Some insurance companies insist on PATesting. It is best practice to have PATesting in place for the minimal cost but massive peace of mind!
- Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
- As an owner, you are required by law to adhere to the necessary electrical safety regulations as set out in current standards as governed by the Electricity at Work Regulations (1989). The legislation laid out in the guidance states that all electrical systems in a property must be maintained to avoid danger to all who use the premises.
- New regulations for all private rental landlords on electrical safety for property letting came into force on 1st June 2020. All privately rented properties must now have a valid EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) in place by 1st April 2021.
- Whilst the EICR report itself is not yet a legal requirement for holiday homes, you are legally obliged to ensure the safety and upkeep of the equipment provided. Appointing a qualified electrician to carry out an EICR is the best way to ensure that you are protected from liability and that your guests are safe. Some insurance companies and letting agents insist on a current EICR.
- It is recommended that an EICR is conducted at least every five years. However, frequency of inspection and testing depends upon the type of equipment and the environment it is used in. When an electrician carries our your EICR, they may advise that your property needs to be inspected more frequently, depending on its installations, age and use.
- Chimney Sweeping
- Chimneys need to allow the free passage of dangerous combustable gasses. Regular sweeping will remove soot, bird nests, cobwebs and any other blockages. It also removes creosote, which will help to prevent dangerous chimney fires. Chimney sweeping will also increase the efficiency of some appliances.
- Frequency of sweeping will depend on a number of factors, which include the type of fuel used, appliance, duration of use, moisture content of wood fuel and the type of chimney you have. The sweeping frequencies below are for guidance purposes only:-
- Smokeless fuel: At least once a year
- Wood: Quarterly when in use
- Bituminous coal: Quarterly when in use
- Oil: Once a year
- Gas: Once a year
We can assist with all the above and much more; even if you don’t take out our caretaking package.
All our engineers are registered with the relevant trade bodies and authorities.
All information above is correct up until February 2025 and will be reviewed periodically