Christmas can bring extra cooking, visitors, decorations and time away from home. A short, shared safety check helps landlords and tenants deal with practical issues before the festive rush. This is general information, not a substitute for the property’s specific fire plan or local guidance. Safety rules differ across the UK; the legal examples below relate to England unless stated otherwise.
Check alarms and essential records
Before the season begins, make sure there is a simple way to report a fault or urgent repair. In England, landlord guidance covers smoke alarms on every storey used as living accommodation and carbon-monoxide alarms in rooms with a fixed combustion appliance, excluding gas cookers. Landlords should check the current requirements for the home and ensure alarms work at the start of a tenancy. Gas appliances provided for tenants must be maintained safely; HSE guidance says landlords must arrange an annual gas safety check with a Gas Safe registered engineer and keep the record. Do not postpone a reported alarm, gas or electrical concern because it is a holiday period.
Use decorations and lights carefully
Check seasonal lights and plugs for visible damage, and use electrical items as their maker instructs. Avoid overloading sockets or joining adaptors in ways that create heat. Keep lights and decorations clear of heaters, open fires and anything that can catch fire. Switch lights off and unplug them before leaving the home or going to bed. Keep candles on a stable, suitable holder, away from trees, paper, fabric and other decorations, and put them out whenever the room is left. Battery-operated alternatives avoid an open flame. Keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach.
Plan for cooking and visitors
Kitchens are busier when people prepare meals for guests. Stay with cooking, keep tea towels and packaging away from hot surfaces, and avoid cooking if tired or impaired. Make sure visitors can find exits and that routes remain clear of bags, gifts and decorations. If the home has a fire action plan or shared-building arrangements, make sure everyone knows where to find them.
Agree how to handle time away
Tenants can tell the landlord or agent how to contact them about an urgent property problem while away, without sharing unnecessary personal details. Landlords should agree any check or access in advance and follow the tenancy arrangements; a tenant’s trip is not permission for unannounced entry. Both sides can discuss a sensible response to very cold weather, such as who to contact if a pipe leaks, using advice suited to that property.
A brief conversation, working alarms and careful use of lights, candles and cooking can make the holiday period easier to manage. Check current local fire and housing guidance if circumstances differ.
Sources: GOV.UK, Wishing you a safe and happy Christmas — https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-tips-for-christmas/wishing-you-a-safe-and-happy-christmas-accessible ; Landlord responsibilities — https://www.gov.uk/renting-out-a-property/landlord-responsibilities ; HSE, Gas safety for landlords — https://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqlandlord.htm. Original archive source checked: https://www.landlordvision.co.uk/blog/christmas-safety-tips-landlords-and-tenants/.