17 December 2025
A growing fire safety challenge: Serviced Apartments
This thought leadership piece, developed by the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) and the Fire Industry Association (FIA), explores why these properties fall into a regulatory grey area, the implications for building design and management, and what fire professionals need to consider mitigating emerging risks. Although the focus is on regulations in England, many of the principles discussed apply internationally as more and more buildings become repurposed.
Serviced apartments and aparthotels are rapidly reshaping the accommodation landscape in the UK, particularly within urban developments and mixed-use buildings. While these units often mirror the design of standard residential flats, their flexible occupancy - from single-night stays to multi-month rentals - creates a complex and often overlooked challenge for fire safety compliance and enforcement.
Please see the link to read the full document around this up-coming issue.