The Complete Airbnb Safety Checklist (Free PDF for US & UK Hosts)

Your guests are sleeping in a home they've never seen before. They don't know where the fire extinguisher is, which door leads outside, or whether the boiler was serviced. That's why a written Airbnb safety checklist — completed before every stay — is the most important document a short-term rental host can have.

This guide covers every safety and security check we recommend for US and UK hosts, how often to do each one, and how to prove you did it. You can tick the checklist off online below, or download the free PDF to print.

The Airbnb safety checklist at a glance

• Smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas and on every level — tested
• Carbon monoxide alarms near sleeping areas — tested and in date
• Fire extinguisher (charged) and fire blanket in or near the kitchen
• Posted fire escape plan and emergency contact information
• Clear, unobstructed exits that open from the inside without a key
• Stocked, in-date first aid kit and a flashlight in each bedroom
• Secure pool or hot tub barrier with a self-closing, self-latching gate
• Working door and window locks, and no cameras in private areas
• Heating, electrics, balconies and stairs in safe condition

Tick it off online

Use this interactive version on your phone during your walk-through. Your ticks are saved in your browser, and you can print it at any time.

1. Fire safety

Fire is the highest-consequence risk in any rental. Test every smoke alarm before each booking — it takes seconds — and replace alarms at the end of their service life (typically 10 years). Keep a multipurpose extinguisher on an exit route in or near the kitchen, within about 10 feet (3 m) but not right beside the stove, and check that the gauge needle is in the green. Add a fire blanket for pan fires, and post a simple floor plan showing exits and the meeting point.

US hosts should read our guide to Airbnb fire safety requirements. In England and Wales, holiday lets fall under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which requires a recorded fire risk assessment — see the UK host's guide. Use the free fire safety checklist template.

2. Carbon monoxide detection

If the property has a gas boiler or furnace, a fireplace or wood stove, gas appliances or an attached garage, install CO alarms outside each sleeping area and on every level. Test them monthly and check the “replace by” date on the back — CO sensors wear out. Most US states and several UK nations have CO alarm laws; see do you need a carbon monoxide detector for your Airbnb?

3. Emergency exits and information

Walk every exit route before each stay. Doors must open from the inside without a key, and hallways and stairs should be clear. Post the emergency number (911 in the US; 999 or 112 in the UK), the full property address, your phone number and the nearest hospital. Keep a working flashlight in every bedroom for power cuts. Our guide to emergency exit requirements covers bedroom windows, locks and escape routes in detail.

4. First aid

Most guest injuries are small: kitchen cuts, grill burns, scraped knees. Keep a first aid kit in a consistent, labelled place and glance inside before every booking — kits get used and not restocked. Include burn dressings and a cold pack, and store cleaning products and pool chemicals out of children's reach. The first aid checklist lists what to include.

5. Pool and hot tub safety

If you have a pool or hot tub, check the barrier and gate before every booking. The gate should close and latch by itself from any open position. Keep rescue equipment poolside, test GFCI-protected outlets monthly and lock hot tub covers. Our Airbnb pool safety checklist covers barriers, drains, water quality and house rules.

6. Security and privacy

Check that every exterior door and accessible window locks, reset smart lock codes between guests, and make sure the guest safe is open and reset. Airbnb's current policy prohibits security cameras inside listings — record an attestation that there are no cameras or recording devices in private areas before each stay. Read more in Airbnb's hidden camera policy explained.

7. General hazards

The everyday hazards cause real injuries: loose balcony railings, wobbly banisters, overloaded sockets and extension leads, unanchored bookcases and TVs that a child could pull over, blind cords within reach of a cot, and hot water that is set too hot. Heating should be serviced annually, and in the UK gas appliances in holiday lets need an annual safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Room-by-room walk-through

How often to check each item

For the reasoning behind each interval, see how often you should inspect your Airbnb.

Starting an Airbnb? The first-time host checklist

If you're starting an Airbnb, handle these before your first guest books — not after:

1. Check the rules. Many US cities require a short-term rental permit and some inspect for smoke alarms, CO alarms and extinguishers. In Scotland, a short-term let licence is mandatory.
2. Talk to your insurer and lender. Standard home policies often exclude paying guests.
3. Install the safety equipment in the checklist above and record where it is.
4. Write house rules that cover pools, fireplaces, grills, smoking and maximum occupancy.
5. Set up a recurring safety check for every booking, with photo proof.

We walk through each step in how to create a safety checklist for your first Airbnb.

How to prove you did the checks

A ticked box isn't evidence. If something goes wrong, your insurer will want to know when the alarms were last tested and by whom. The strongest record is a dated photo of each item — the extinguisher gauge, the alarm after testing, the pool gate latched — linked to the person who checked it. That's what our Airbnb safety checklist software does: your cleaner opens a link on their phone, photographs each item, and you get an audit-ready compliance report. Read more in how to document safety checks for insurance claims.

Download the free Airbnb safety checklist PDF

Frequently asked questions