The Airbnb balcony collapse in Brighton has prompted fire safety bosses to issue a warning to landlords about their responsibility to keep their guests safe.
The fire service said today (Wednesday 4 January): “East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service would like to encourage everyone to improve safety in short-term holiday lets and party accommodation to prevent any future incidents or accidents.
“Brighton and Hove has a thriving tourist industry and large-group holiday (and) party lets are a popular choice for people visiting the area.
“However, that relaxing getaway can rapidly turn into a disaster if correct fire and other safety standards have not been implemented by those legally responsible for the property.
“Previously, a group of letting agents and owners have worked with our fire safety specialists to improve the safety of their properties.
“This enabled the agents to learn about legal requirements for these properties, including which smoke alarms are best suited and what improvements they can make, to ensure that in case of fire everyone can safely escape.
“However, in light of a balcony collapse in Brighton, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service would now like to take this opportunity to also remind anyone involved in short-term holiday lets (and) party accommodation of wider safety requirements.
“It is imperative that those who have any control or who are in any position of responsibility consider carefully the safety of guests using their premises.”
The fire service’s business safety manager for Brighton and Hove, Amy Reynolds, said: “We have been very encouraged by the way some letting agents and owners have taken on board our advice and we hope that other people in the same business take note and follow their lead.
“We appreciate that providing people with holiday accommodation can be a rewarding experience both personally and financially but with it comes a legal responsibility to ensure the health and safety of those that you are renting to.
“These properties are of particular significance to the fire service because the people staying inside may not know what to do in case of an emergency and so reducing the risk of a fire or other emergency in the first place is of great importance.
“The service takes its role in protecting its community very seriously and will visit such premises and enforce fire safety law where necessary.
“Where the service encounters premises that fall well below expected standards and place people at risk, it may prohibit or restrict the use of such premises or even prosecute those responsible for the failings.
“Additionally, where fire safety inspectors encounter such premises not previously known to the service, they will inform partner authorities responsible for enforcing building and planning regulations.”
The balcony collapse in Brighton led to an earlier its own safety warning from the fire service about people mistakenly using decorative or weakened balconies.
A pity AirBNB do not have to suffer any liabiity for advertising premises that are unsafe.
Or advertising premises that should not be legally advertised. A number of premises are being advertised by tenants with out permission from the owners. Also in breach of the mortgage conditions which stipulate that the property should be for long term and not short term lets, in breach of the lease and also commonly in breach of the buildings insurance. As it is almost impossible to get holiday home finance on flats due to the court ruling that allowed freeholders to invoke the lease on holiday rental flats if the flat has a residential use clause in the lease (which almost all leases have) this means almost all AirBnB properties in Brighton are operating illegally.