Holiday let safety: an owner’s checklist
Holiday let safety requires prevention, maintenance and a procedure for responding to incidents. No accommodation is entirely free of risk, but it can identify the most relevant risks and reduce them through suitable measures.
As owners, we should aim to provide the best possible welfare for our guests. The points below help achieve this. Although no one wants them to happen, accidents and unexpected situations do occur, so it is important to be prepared.
6 basic safety rules for holiday lets
Platforms used to advertise the property
The platform you use to advertise your holiday let should be secure. Choose a recognised, established platform.
It is also important to consider whether the platform offers owners protection when dealing with difficult guests.
Other features to consider before listing your property on a platform include:
- 24-hour customer support, providing guests with assistance if a problem occurs at any time during their stay.
- Identity verification, with guest details collected before the accommodation is booked.
- A local emergency contact for serious problems at the accommodation, enabling contact with the relevant authorities.
- Insurance for hosts.
House rules
When offering a property as a holiday let, draw up basic rules covering matters such as appliance use, whether smoking is allowed indoors, pets and keeping doors and windows closed.
Prepare emergency instructions and contact details, and make them easy to access. Define who handles an incident and check that preventive measures are maintained, rather than merely written down.
Once established, the rules should be read by guests and accepted through an agreement signed by the landlord and tenant.
Communication with guests
It is important for owners to remain in contact with guests so that questions or unexpected problems during a stay can be resolved promptly.
Guests should know the hours during which the landlord is available to help and have a telephone number for contacting the property owner.
Communication should also explain what to do in an emergency, such as a fire, and where the nearest hospital is if they need medical assistance.
Owners should provide the information that gives guests peace of mind, comfort and confidence, as their safety is essential.
Taking out insurance for the rental property
A fundamental consideration is having holiday let insurance in case incidents cause harm to either party — guests or the owner.
There are different types of holiday let insurance, including:
- Public liability insurance, which protects guests and owners and covers possible injury or damage to third parties. This insurance is compulsory in some Spanish autonomous communities.
Platform protections: review the specific programme, who is covered, limits, exclusions and claim deadlines. Do not assume every loss caused by a guest or third party is included. Airbnb’s AirCover comprises different protections and does not automatically replace your own insurance.
Multi-risk property insurance: confirm that the policy permits holiday letting and review buildings, contents, public liability, excesses and exclusions. A product name does not establish comprehensive protection for every situation.
Security systems
Alarms can help detect incidents when the property is unoccupied. Assess installation, maintenance and the response to alerts; they do not guarantee that theft or unauthorised access will be prevented.
Another option is to install safes where guests can store their most valuable belongings, improving security for travellers.
Other preventive measures
Check detectors and safety equipment appropriate to the property and its requirements, keep cleaning products out of children’s reach and inspect the property between stays. Each measure requires correct installation, use and maintenance.
Prevention means reviewing risks and incidents continuously. Hiring a company does not remove operational risks; agree tasks, responsibilities and the response procedure.
If you are looking to improve both the safety of your property and your holiday let’s profitability, please contact us.
Professional management helps organise maintenance, guest support and incident handling. Agreeing responsibilities and scope is as important as buying tools; it does not make the operation a risk-free investment.
A practical check before each stay
- Check locks, access arrangements and an authorised backup if entry fails.
- Inspect equipment, sockets and signs of leaks or deterioration; use qualified professionals for repairs where appropriate.
- Confirm that emergency instructions and contacts are accessible and up to date.
- Remove obstacles and explain property-specific risks, such as stairs or a swimming pool.
- Record outstanding issues and do not consider a problem resolved without checking it.
Cameras and sensors do not replace maintenance. If you install devices, respect privacy and channel rules: Airbnb prohibits indoor cameras. Clearly disclose permitted equipment and do not collect unnecessary data.
What to ask your insurer
Describe the property’s actual use, occupancy, services and unusual features. Request confirmation of the cover and claim reporting procedure. Keep an inventory, supporting documents and relevant evidence, without promising guests cover that has not yet been verified.
