North Wales is quite simply a fantastic place to visit and stay. With its golden beaches, traditional market towns and seaside resorts, coupled with dramatic mountain ranges, lush green countryside and ancient forests, North Wales is the destination of choice for discerning visitors of all ages. It comes as no surprise therefore that the tourism sector constitutes a large proportion of the local economy with self-catering accommodation in particular becoming an increasingly popular choice for holiday makers to, and from within, the region.

To assist owners and proprietors of such premises in meeting their legal obligations, the three Welsh Fire and Rescue Services have worked in partnership to create a guidance document specifically for small self-catering accommodation, outlining the fire safety measures required to help keep guests safe.

The document sets out:

• Your responsibilities under the law.
• Practical advice on what fire safety measures may be appropriate to provide an adequate level of fire safety.
• How to undertake a fire risk assessment.
• Where to go for further information.

The document is appropriate for small single domestic-type accommodation with sleeping accommodation on only the ground and/or first floors, such as houses, cottages, chalets or for single flats (whether within a block of flats or a house that has been converted into flats); and smaller types of outdoor accommodation such as caravans, camping and glamping pods, bothies, lodges, shepherds’ huts, tents, tree houses and yurts.

A failure to meet legal responsibilities means that guests are being placed at risk; in turn this could result in enforcement action, your premises being closed down or even prosecution.

If you are looking to convert or make changes to an existing property for the purpose of providing self-catering holiday accommodation, you may need to contact your local authority planning and building control department.

You can read the document here.