If you have a property that you are wanting to let out to holidaymakers or you are thinking of buying a holiday property for this purpose, it can be a great investment, as well as something that you can use yourself when you want to. However, it is also important to be aware of the rules and regulations when it comes to letting a property out for holiday use.
Health and safety regulations in a holiday let property are there to make sure that people who use the property are safe and also make sure that you are covered by insurance if anything should happen, however they will also help to make sure that your property is safer.
Gas safety is one of the most important things and like any property that is let out in the UK, the correct gas safety procedures should be followed. Any gas equipment as well as the boiler itself and the flues are checked by a gas engineer on an annual basis to make sure that they are safe and in good working order. There also should be a carbon monoxide alarm installed in the property.
Fire safety is also important when you are letting out a holiday property, and you should get a professional like this fire risk assessment Bristol based company keloscape.co.uk/areas-we-cover/fire-safety-consultancy-bristol to assess the property and then they will be able to identify any risks and let you know how you can mitigate them. You also need to have a fire alarm in the property, and have it tested to ensure it is working correctly, and clear and accessible fire exits in place.
Electrical safety is another thing that needs to be adhered to, and like the gas appliances, you also need to make sure that electrical equipment is checked for safety regularly and make sure that the correct electrical safety standards are met in the property.
Another thing that you should check before buying a property that you are planning to use as a holiday let, is whether you need planning permission to do so from the local council. Different councils will have different laws around this, so it is always something that you need to check.
You also need to look into the financial side of buying and owning a second home such as taxes when you buy as well as council tax and utilities.