
A Fire Risk Assessment required in a Hotel or Guest House in the United Kingdom
Yes. A suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is a legal requirement for hotels and guest houses in the United Kingdom. These premises provide sleeping accommodation for paying guests, so they fall outside the “domestic premises” exemption and are treated as non-domestic premises under fire safety law.
The duty applies even for a single night’s booking and regardless of size. A two-room B&B has the same legal obligation as a large hotel, though the precautions identified by the assessment will be proportionate to the risk.
Fire safety law is devolved, so the exact legislation and guidance differ by nation.England and Wales . The main law is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (as amended). Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 (in force from October 2023) requires the significant findings of the assessment to be recorded, irrespective of how many people you employ.
The “responsible person” is normally the owner, operator or anyone with control of the premises. That person must:
- Identify fire hazards and people at risk (especially sleeping guests who are unfamiliar with the building).
- Evaluate, remove or reduce the risks.
- Put in place and maintain general fire precautions (escape routes, detection and warning, emergency lighting, fire-fighting equipment where appropriate, and an emergency plan).
- Record the significant findings and the actions taken.
- Review the assessment regularly (at least annually, and after any significant change, fire or near-miss).
- Small guest houses, B&Bs and self-catering properties with a simple layout, limited risk, sleeping accommodation for a maximum of 10 people and no more than four bedrooms on the first floor: use the Home Office guide Making your small paying guest accommodation safe from fire (updated January 2025). It includes a checklist.
- Larger or more complex hotels and guest houses: use Fire safety risk assessment: sleeping accommodation. These premises typically need more robust measures, such as an L1 automatic fire detection and warning system covering bedrooms and en-suites.
The assessment is not a one-off paper exercise. It must lead to actual precautions being put in place and kept under review. Official government guides and the VisitBritain template are the best starting points; they are free and written specifically for this type of premises.
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