Plenty of owners in Wiltshire want to keep costs down and do things themselves. A DIY fire risk assessment holiday let approach is allowed in some cases, and the official guidance genuinely supports it for the right kind of property. The key is being honest about whether your place fits.
When a DIY fire risk assessment holiday let is acceptable
The Home Office guidance says preparation of a fire risk assessment can be completed, in most cases, without specialist knowledge by following the simple steps it sets out, particularly in small premises. The government provides a free five-step checklist aimed at exactly this. So if you have a straightforward single home or flat with a simple layout, you may well be able to assess it yourself.
The All-Wales guidance agrees that in many cases, particularly in smaller premises, the assessment may be relatively simple. You work through the five steps: identify hazards, identify people at risk, evaluate and reduce the risk, record and inform, then review.
The limits you need to respect
Here is the balance the guidance itself insists on. If you do not feel confident to interpret and apply the guidance to your property, you should engage a competent fire risk assessor. And getting help does not transfer responsibility. As the responsible person you remain legally accountable for the outcome.
It is also worth being realistic about what you can actually judge. A professional assessor works through areas most owners would never think to examine: compartmentation and fire-stopping in roof voids and service ducts, travel distances and door widths along escape routes, detector siting and alarm coverage, and evacuation plans for guests who cannot get themselves out. Few owners can assess whether a roof void is properly fire-stopped or a travel distance passes muster.
The properties where DIY rarely works
Some properties are clearly beyond the simple route. Multiple floors, an open-plan layout, bedrooms reached only through another room, a listed or heritage building, a converted barn, or sleeping accommodation for large groups all introduce risks that need trained judgement. If any of these describe your let, the checklist alone is unlikely to produce a suitable and sufficient assessment.
A sensible middle ground
Many owners use the free checklist to understand the basics and fix the obvious issues, then bring in a professional to validate it and produce the recorded assessment the law now demands. That combines low cost with genuine reassurance. The Fire Sector Federation publishes guidance on choosing a competent assessor if you decide to go that route. The DIY approach suits simple, modern, low-risk properties; the moment your place is anything more, the professional route is the safer call.
Where DIY tends to fall short
The official five-step method is designed so that an owner of a small, simple property can follow it. The areas owners miss are rarely the obvious ones. The ESI assessor checklist covers points such as compartmentation and fire-stopping in roof voids, travel distances and door widths on escape routes, and detector siting, none of which a downloaded template prompts you to think about. The Home Office guidance accepts you can assess your own risk, while reminding you that if you are not confident applying it you should bring in a competent assessor, and that you remain responsible either way. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service offers free guidance for small businesses that is a sensible first read.
Get the right advice for your property
Not sure your property is simple enough to assess yourself? For advice tailored to your property from a competent professional, speak to Jamie at ESI: Fire Safety on 01276 300 351.
