SIC 55.90 1,305 enterprises in the UK
Other accommodation
What this covers (17 activity descriptions)
- Boarding house
- Boarding school accommodation
- Halls of residence
- Hostels (not social work)
- Landlord (boarding house)
- Lodging house (private)
- Migrant worker accommodation
- Pension (accommodation)
- Private lodging house
- Railway sleeping cars when operated by separate units from the transport provider
- Rooming and boarding houses
- School dormitories
- Student house accommodation
- Student residences
- University halls of residence
- Workers' hostels
- YMCA hostel
What you must comply with
Unique to other accommodation
HMO licence (Houses in Multiple Occupation)
Mandatory HMO licence if 5+ people from 2+ households share facilities. Additional licensing schemes may apply in some areas (3+ people). Applies to hostels, large B&Bs, and student halls.
Gas safety certificate (annual landlord check)
Annual gas safety check by Gas Safe registered engineer. Record kept for 2 years. Copy provided to guests/tenants. Applies to all accommodation with gas appliances.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Smoke alarm on every storey. CO alarm in rooms with fixed combustion appliance (extended from solid fuel only by 2022 amendment). Must test alarms at start of each new occupancy.
Electrical safety standards (5-yearly inspection)
Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) every 5 years for rented accommodation. Must be carried out by qualified person. Applies to HMOs, hostels, and B&Bs operated as rented accommodation.
Food safety (breakfast service)
B&Bs serving breakfast must register as food business and comply with food hygiene regulations. Subject to food hygiene rating inspection. Allergen information required.
Applies to all other accommodation
Fire safety compliance (fire risk assessment)
Fire risk assessment mandatory for all accommodation premises. Responsible person must be designated. Scotland: Fire (Scotland) Act 2005. NI: Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.
Employers' Liability Insurance
Required for all employers. Sole traders with no employees exempt.
Public liability insurance
Not a legal requirement but industry standard. Essential given duty of care to guests under Occupiers' Liability Acts 1957 and 1984.
Equality Act 2010 (accessibility and reasonable adjustments)
Duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled guests. Anticipatory duty — must plan ahead, not just respond to requests. NI: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 still applies.
Guest registration (non-British nationals)
Must record full name and nationality of all guests aged 16+. Non-British/Irish nationals must also provide passport/ID details. Records retained 12 months, open to police inspection.
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
General duty to employees and guests. Written health and safety policy required for 5+ employees. HSENI enforces in Northern Ireland.
GDPR / Data Protection Act 2018 (guest data)
Must register with ICO if processing personal data. Privacy notice required. Guest data (names, payment details, CCTV) must be handled lawfully.
Guidance for this activity
Host weddings and events on your farm
How to set up and run a farm wedding or event venue. Covers planning permission, licensing, fire safety, insurance, and food safety requirements for converting agricultural buildings to event spaces.
Read guideRight to work checks for hospitality employers
Step-by-step guide to conducting right to work checks for hospitality staff, including the three-step process, online checking service, repeat checks for time-limited permission, and avoiding civil penalties of up to 60,000 pounds per illegal worker.
Read guideNational Minimum Wage, tips, and pay compliance in hospitality
How to ensure NMW compliance in hospitality, covering the accommodation offset, why tips cannot count towards minimum wage, unpaid trial shift rules, uniform deductions, and avoiding HMRC naming and shaming.
Read guideWorking time and rest breaks in hospitality
Working Time Regulations explained for hospitality employers including maximum hours, rest break entitlements, split shift rules, night work limits, young worker protections, and the 48-hour opt-out.
Read guideSet up food premises that meet hygiene standards
How to set up food premises that meet the legal hygiene standards under Regulation (EC) 852/2004. Covers layout, surfaces, ventilation, handwashing, storage, pest control, and when you need FSA approval.
Read guideControl food temperatures safely
Keep food at safe temperatures throughout storage, cooking, holding, cooling, and reheating to prevent harmful bacterial growth and comply with food hygiene law.
Read guideFood safety training for your staff
Food hygiene certificates are not a legal requirement -- UK law requires competency, not certificates. This guide explains what training your food handlers actually need, available course levels, and how to demonstrate compliance during inspections.
Read guideSelling food online: labelling and safety requirements
Comply with distance selling rules when selling food online, including providing mandatory food information before purchase, allergen labelling at two points, and maintaining safe delivery temperatures.
Read guideFood safety requirements in Scotland
How food safety regulation differs in Scotland. Covers Food Standards Scotland, CookSafe, the Food Hygiene Information Scheme, and key legislative differences that affect Scottish food businesses.
Read guideRunning a package travel business
How to comply with ATOL licensing and Package Travel Regulations 2018 when selling package holidays. Covers ATOL application, bonding requirements, consumer cancellation rights, and complaints handling.
Read guidePubs Code for tied tenants
Your rights as a tied pub tenant under the Pubs Code. Covers Market Rent Only (MRO) option, rent assessment process, regulated pub companies, and how to raise disputes with the Pubs Code Adjudicator.
Read guideRegister and run a food business
How to register your food business with your local authority, meet food hygiene requirements, and achieve a good food hygiene rating. Essential compliance for all food businesses including home-based and mobile.
Read guideLate Night Levy for licensed premises
Understanding the Late Night Levy for alcohol premises trading between midnight and 6am, including rates by rateable value, available reductions, and how it interacts with EMROs and Cumulative Impact Policies. England and Wales only.
Read guideFood Information Regulations 2014 compliance
Comply with mandatory food labelling and information requirements under UK and assimilated EU law.
Read guideAllergen control systems and Natasha's Law
Implement comprehensive allergen management systems and comply with Natasha's Law PPDS labelling requirements.
Read guideFood safety management systems and HACCP
Implement HACCP-based food safety management procedures and comply with food hygiene regulations.
Read guideBrewery licensing and compliance
Complete licensing, registration, and duty requirements for operating a brewery in the UK, including APPA registration, food safety, premises licensing, and alcohol duty obligations.
Read guideFood and drink business licensing and compliance
Navigate the complete range of licences, registrations, certifications, and consents required for food and drink businesses across production, sales, export, and environmental compliance.
Read guideFood and drink regulations and traceability
Comply with HFSS labelling, traceability requirements, alcohol duty obligations, packaging regulations, waste disposal, and animal by-products rules.
Read guideGambling licensing requirements for UK businesses
How to obtain gambling licences from the Gambling Commission, including operating, personal and premises licences. Covers responsible gambling requirements, compliance obligations, and 2025 regulatory changes.
Read guide