In short: we carry out fire risk assessments across the City of Edinburgh for short-term let hosts, HMO landlords, guest houses, hotels, offices and shops. Prices start from £225 + VAT, and your report is issued within 48 hours of the visit.
Short-term lets in Edinburgh
Edinburgh has one of the highest concentrations of short-term lets in Scotland, and two sets of rules apply to them. Every short-term let needs a licence from the City of Edinburgh Council, with fire safety as a mandatory condition. Separately, the whole council area has been a short-term let control area since 5 September 2022, so using a property that is not your main home as a short-term let needs planning permission.
Our short-term let assessments give you the fire risk assessment the licence condition requires, with clear actions and the guest fire safety information you need to display.
More about short-term let fire risk assessments
What we assess in Edinburgh
Short-term lets
Whole-property lets, serviced apartments and rooms let in a lived-in home.
HMOs
Student and professional HMOs needing a licence from the council.
Guest houses and hotels
Guest houses, B&Bs, hostels and hotels, with their higher sleeping risk.
Offices and shops
Workplaces, retail units and mixed-use buildings.
Listed and historic buildings
Many Edinburgh premises are in listed buildings in the Old Town and New Town. The Scottish Government's fire safety guidance recognises that, in a listed building, alternatives to conventional fire safety measures may be appropriate. Original doors, panelling and stairs can often be kept, with the risk managed through upgraded detection, careful fire stopping, or management measures instead. We look for proportionate solutions that protect people without unnecessary damage to the building, and we flag where listed building consent may be needed for any work.
Festival season
Occupancy in guest houses, short-term lets and venues rises sharply in August. If your premises will be used differently or by more people during the festivals, the fire risk assessment should reflect that, so book a review well before the season starts.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a fire risk assessment for an Edinburgh short-term let licence?
Yes. Fire safety is a mandatory condition of every short-term let licence in Scotland, and fire safety law requires the person in charge of the accommodation to carry out a fire risk assessment and keep it under review. Planning permission in the Edinburgh control area is a separate requirement.
How much is a fire risk assessment in Edinburgh?
From £225 + VAT for smaller premises such as a holiday let, HMO flat or small office. Larger premises, hotels and listed buildings with complex layouts are quoted individually.
Can you assess a listed building without recommending changes that harm it?
Yes. Scottish Government guidance allows alternatives to conventional measures in listed buildings. We look for proportionate solutions, such as improved detection or management measures, and flag anything that may need listed building consent.
Written and reviewed by Raj Chall BSc, lead fire risk assessor at Fire Risk Scotland, listed on the Institution of Fire Engineers fire risk assessor register. Last reviewed 12 November 2026. This page is general guidance, not legal advice.