Fire safety for your vacation rental

As careful as your guests might be, accidents can happen. Equipping your property with fire alarms helps make travelers aware of any potential safety issues. Read further to find the information you need to keep your vacation rental and guests safe.

We take the safety of your home — and of anyone staying in it — seriously, which is why we strongly recommend having fire alarms in every vacation rental.

Make sure you’re up to date with your area’s requirements and laws about fire safety. Your local Red Cross guidelines are a good place to start. If your property already adheres to all fire safety regulations, use the property editor to add this information to your listing details to make travelers aware of your safety equipment.

Here’s an easy checklist of safety and security features from the American Red Cross to help ensure your property is safe from fire:

Install fire alarms

Make sure to install the right number of devices, according to the Red Cross guidelines:

  • Install a fire alarm outside each sleeping area and/or in bedrooms.
  • Alarms should be wired together so if one sounds, they all sound.
  • Consider installing flashing alarms for people who are hearing impaired. 
  • Test alarms once a month. 
  • Replace batteries at least once a year.

Provide fire extinguishers

  • Install extinguishers high on the wall, near an exit, away from heat sources and out of reach of children.
  • Ensure that they’re properly charged and ready to use. (Consider that many fire extinguisher models are designed for one-time use and cannot be recharged.)
  • For more info, check the Red Cross guidelines.
  • Don’t forget to add this safety feature to your listing and provide the location in any safety communication with travelers.

Set an emergency exit route and provide emergency phone numbers

  • If you have a condo or a unit in a large apartment building, it’s a best practice to indicate an emergency exit route for your guests.
  • All property types can benefit from listing emergency phone numbers, so include them in your guidebook or display them on the refrigerator and in bedrooms.
  • Indicate your emergency exit route on your listing under “Home and safety.”
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