Airbnb Fire Safety Checklist
Fire is the most serious risk in any short-term rental. Guests don't know your home, may be tired or unfamiliar with the layout, and won't know where the extinguisher is unless you show them. This checklist covers the core fire safety equipment inspectors, insurers and guests expect to see — and makes your cleaner photograph each item so you have dated proof.
Use it on paper, or in our Airbnb safety checklist software to assign it to your cleaner, require a photo for every item and generate a compliance report.
The fire safety checklist (5 items)
- 1
Fire extinguisher present & charged
Pressure gauge needle is in the green zone, pin and tamper seal intact, no visible damage. Photograph the gauge.
Every booking Photo proof - 2
Fire extinguisher within 10ft of kitchen
Mounted or placed on an exit route in or near the kitchen (within ~10 ft / 3 m), visible and unobstructed, not directly beside the stove.
Monthly Photo proof - 3
Smoke detectors tested & working
Press the test button on every smoke alarm (each bedroom, hallway and every level). Photograph each alarm or the one you tested last.
Every booking Photo proof - 4
Fire blanket in kitchen
Fire blanket is mounted in the kitchen, packaging intact and pull tabs accessible.
Monthly Photo proof - 5
Emergency fire escape route posted
A floor plan showing exits, extinguisher location and the meeting point is posted where guests will see it (e.g. back of the front door).
Monthly Photo proof
Why it matters
- Many US cities and counties require a working smoke alarm in every bedroom and at least one fire extinguisher as a condition of a short-term rental permit.
- In England and Wales, paying-guest accommodation falls under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which requires the host to carry out and record a fire risk assessment.
- After a fire, the first thing an insurer or investigator will ask is when the alarms were last tested. A dated photo answers that question.
This checklist reflects common US and UK safety guidance and is not legal advice. Requirements vary by city, state and UK nation — check with your local authority, fire service and insurer.
The complete fire safety checklist
Print it, save it to your phone, or track it digitally so every item carries a photo and a timestamp.
1. Fire extinguisher inspection checklist
| Item | What to check | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Fire extinguisher present | Within about 10 ft of the kitchen; visible and accessible | Every check-in |
| Pressure gauge in the green | Needle in the charged zone, no visible damage, pin intact | Monthly |
| Service tag current | Serviced within the interval on the tag; UK extinguishers get an annual basic service | Quarterly |
| Correct extinguisher type | Multipurpose ABC for general use; a wet chemical or K-rated unit if there's a deep fryer | Annually |
| Mounted or in a bracket | Fixed in place, not sitting loose on a shelf or under a sink | Every check-in |
| Instructions readable | Label facing out, not obscured by tea towels or decor | Every check-in |
2. Smoke detector requirements
| Item | What to check | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Alarm on every level | Including basement and any habitable attic | Every check-in |
| Alarm in every bedroom | Or immediately outside each sleeping area, depending on local rules | Every check-in |
| Test button works | Press and hold — the alarm should sound loudly, not chirp | Every check-in |
| Battery fresh | Replace every 6 months, or confirm the sealed 10-year unit still tests | Monthly |
| Alarm not expired | Check the manufacture date on the back; replace at 10 years | Quarterly |
| Nothing blocking it | No furniture, curtains, paint or decor obstructing the sensor | Every check-in |
| Interconnection works | Where fitted, one alarm sounding should trigger the rest | Quarterly |
3. Fire risk assessment items (UK duty, good practice everywhere)
| Item | What to check | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Fire risk assessment on file | Completed for this property and reviewed after any change | Annually |
| Two ways out identified | A route out from every sleeping area that doesn't pass the kitchen | Annually |
| Fire doors functional | Where fitted: self-closer works, seals intact, door not wedged open | Quarterly |
| Fire blanket in the kitchen | Mounted near the exit side of the cooker, tabs hanging free | Monthly |
| Nothing flammable near heat | Curtains, tea towels, paper and packaging clear of hobs and heaters | Every check-in |
| Open fire or wood burner safe | Chimney swept, guard in place, ash disposed of in a metal container | Annually |
| Furniture fire labels | UK: upholstered furniture carries its permanent fire-safety label | Annually |
4. Emergency exit and lighting checks
| Item | What to check | How often |
|---|---|---|
| All exits clear | No furniture, luggage, boxes or decor blocking doors or escape windows | Every check-in |
| Exit doors open freely | Test each one — no stuck locks, swollen frames or missing thumb-turns | Monthly |
| Escape windows operate | Bedroom windows open fully and stay open | Monthly |
| Emergency lighting works | A torch with working batteries in each bedroom | Monthly |
| Escape route posted | A simple map in each bedroom showing the way out and the meeting point | Every check-in |
| Escape ladder accessible | Upper-floor bedrooms in multi-storey properties, stored where a guest can find it | Quarterly |
Fire Safety requirements for short-term rentals: US vs UK
United States
Fire safety rules for short-term rentals are set locally, so they vary by state, county and city. Requirements commonly include:
- Working smoke alarms on every level and in every sleeping area
- A fire extinguisher within about 10 feet of the kitchen
- Clear, unobstructed emergency exits
- Carbon monoxide alarms where there are fuel-burning appliances or an attached garage
- Posted emergency contact information and the property address
Cities with dedicated short-term rental ordinances — New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles among them — add inspections and permit conditions. Check the rules for your specific address.
United Kingdom
Paying-guest accommodation in England and Wales falls under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, alongside separate duties for gas, electrics and furnishings:
- A recorded fire risk assessment for the property
- Smoke alarms on every storey
- Carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with a solid fuel appliance
- An annual gas safety record from a Gas Safe registered engineer
- An Electrical Installation Condition Report, typically every 5 years
- Fire-resistant upholstered furniture under the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988
Scotland operates a separate short-term let licensing scheme with its own safety conditions, and Wales and Northern Ireland differ again.
How often should you run this check?
- Before every check-inSmoke alarm test, extinguisher present and unobstructed, exits clear, escape route posted
- MonthlyExtinguisher pressure gauge, alarm batteries, torches, exit doors and escape windows
- QuarterlyExtinguisher service dates, alarm expiry dates, fire door operation, escape ladder
- AnnuallyProfessional servicing, chimney sweep, gas safety record (UK), fire risk assessment review
If it protects life in the first 60 seconds of a fire, check it before every guest.
5 mistakes hosts make
- 1
Assuming the cleaner checked it
If there's no photo, you don't know it happened — and neither does your insurer.
- 2
Looking at the alarm instead of testing it
A detector that looks fine can have a flat battery or a dead sensor. Press the button.
- 3
Ignoring expiry dates
Smoke alarms expire about 10 years after manufacture. An expired one looks identical on the ceiling.
- 4
Blocking an escape route
The console table in the hallway, the suitcase by the patio door, the wardrobe in front of the escape window.
- 5
Keeping no record
A ticked paper box proves nothing after a fire. A timestamped photo of a charged extinguisher does.
FAQs
- What fire safety equipment is required for an Airbnb?
- Most jurisdictions expect a working fire extinguisher within about 10 feet of the kitchen, smoke alarms on every level and in every sleeping area, and clear emergency exits. Many also require carbon monoxide alarms where there is a fuel-burning appliance, and a posted escape route. Requirements vary by city, state and UK nation.
- Do I need a fire risk assessment for my Airbnb?
- In England and Wales, paying-guest accommodation falls under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which requires the responsible person to carry out a fire risk assessment and keep a record of it. In the US there is no equivalent federal duty and rules vary locally, but the exercise is worth doing regardless.
- How often should I test smoke detectors?
- Press the test button before every guest check-in, and at minimum monthly. Replace batteries every six months unless the unit is a sealed 10-year model. Replace the alarm itself 10 years from its manufacture date — a expired detector looks identical to a working one.
- Can I do fire safety checks myself?
- Most of them, yes: testing alarms, reading the extinguisher gauge, confirming exits are clear and escape routes are posted. Leave servicing to a licensed provider — extinguisher recharge and certification, chimney sweeping, gas safety checks and electrical inspection all need someone qualified.
- How do I document fire safety checks for my insurer?
- Record each item with a photo, a timestamp and the name of whoever completed it, then keep the whole set together as one report. That is what an insurer or investigator asks for after an incident. Ticking a paper box proves the box was ticked; a dated photo of a green pressure gauge proves the extinguisher was charged.
- Where should the fire extinguisher go in an Airbnb?
- Mount it in or near the kitchen on an exit route, visible and within about 10 feet (3 m) of the cooker, but not directly beside the stove — a guest should be able to reach it without moving towards the fire.