Joshroom

I stayed for two nights in August 2024. The rented rooms are up a narrow staircase behind one door, with a small metal spiral staircase leading to the mezzanine bed. Below, the hosts seem to live on the floor above the vaulted ground floor, where they appear to run an informal dining room. Its partly enclosed kitchen sits right at the foot of a steep wooden spiral staircase connecting the floors. My concern is how someone on the top floor could get out if a fire started below. That staircase and its opening could act like a chimney, and the kitchen is a significant potential fire source at its base. The stairs didn't appear to have fire-retardant treatment. The accommodation door didn't seem fire resistant, and it often wouldn't shut properly because of the usual draft from below. I believe a ground-floor fire could quickly bring heat, smoke, and possibly flames up the stairs. Linked smoke alarms on every level seem essential to alert everyone promptly, so they can try to escape down the stairs. Otherwise, the route would be through the patio and onto neighboring roofs, which isn't ideal. I saw one smoke detector, but its battery was flat and it wasn't working. I didn't see any other smoke or fire alarms or any extinguishers, and nobody briefed me or left instructions about what to do if there was a fire. I stayed here in August 2024, and this is what I observed on those dates. I couldn't post these comments on every online rental platform where the accommodation is listed, so this will have to do. I tried to get Airbnb to take my report seriously, but I felt its procedures for dealing with an allegedly unsafe property fell short. Readers can consider this account and any response from the owners for themselves. I believe the property needs several linked, properly maintained smoke and fire detectors. The kitchen should have suitable extinguishers, and the rental door should provide at least ½ hour of fire resistance and close by itself. Guests should also be told what to do if an alarm detects smoke. I welcome a response from the owners that might reassure future guests. You may have guessed by now that I'm a fire safety expert.