Safety checklist for guests
This covers the practical, operational side of guest safety — always confirm the specific legal requirements that apply in your area separately.
What this guide is, and isn't
Smoke alarm rules, carbon monoxide detector requirements and fire safety standards vary by location and change over time, so we don't attempt to list them here — check with your local authority for the current requirements. What follows is the practical, operational checklist worth running regardless.
Check, don't assume, on a schedule
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on a fixed schedule (for example, at every change of cleaner or monthly) rather than only when you remember
- Confirm fire extinguishers or blankets, if present, haven't passed any marked expiry
- Check window locks and any balcony or stair railings are secure
Make escape routes obvious
A simple note in the welcome book — nearest exit, where the fire extinguisher is, what to do if the alarm sounds — takes two minutes to write and matters far more than guests tend to assume before they need it.
Electrical and gas basics
- No visibly damaged cables or overloaded sockets left in guest-accessible areas
- Space heaters, if provided, positioned away from curtains and bedding
- Gas appliances serviced on the schedule your local rules require
Document that you checked
A simple dated log — even a note on your phone — of when alarms were last tested and extinguishers last checked is useful both for your own peace of mind and if a question ever comes up later.