The start of a new year is the perfect time for short-term rental managers to reset priorities, review operations, and make smart investments. When it comes to safety, the good news is that meaningful risk reduction doesn’t require major renovations or six-figure budgets.

In 2025, there were a lot of changes related to safety in the short-term rental industry that many operators and hosts might have missed.

1. Upgrade and standardize smoke alarms

Smoke alarms are the most important life-safety device in any short-term rental, yet many operators have missed a significant change in how they are tested and designed over the past year.

Recent updates to the UL 217 smoke alarm standard were introduced to address a long-standing problem: nuisance alarms triggered by everyday cooking. Research shows that frequent false alarms often lead people to disable or remove smoke alarms altogether. In short-term rentals, this commonly means guests removing batteries without anyone knowing.

Under the updated UL 217 standard, smoke alarms must now better distinguish between common cooking aerosols and the smoke produced by actual fires. In response, manufacturers have released a new generation of smoke alarms that significantly reduce nuisance activations while still providing early warning during real fire events.

Investing in modern, UL 217–compliant smoke alarms is a small upgrade with a big payoff. This means that alarms that stay installed, stay trusted, and work when guests need them most.

Pro tip: Use Breezeway tasks to schedule regular smoke alarm testing and replacement cycles so nothing gets missed as seasons change or staff turnover.

2. Improve fire extinguisher visibility and placement

This is an issue many hosts and operators have not fully embraced. A fire extinguisher is not just a code requirement; it is a tool you give your guests to protect the home you’ve entrusted to them.

Fire extinguishers are required in short-term rentals, yet they remain one of the most overlooked safety tools. Too often, they’re hidden under sinks, buried in closets, or mounted incorrectly. In an emergency, seconds matter, and guests will not search for equipment they can’t immediately see.

Invest in the right fire extinguisher and invest the time to mount them visibly in all of your properties. A properly sized A-B-C fire extinguisher, mounted in visible and accessible locations (near kitchen exits and on every level), dramatically improves a guest’s ability to stop a small fire before it becomes catastrophic. Clear, visible signage further ensures guests know exactly where to find them.

This simple step is one of the most effective safety investments an operator can make.

3. Remove or secure the most common trip hazards

Slips, trips, and falls are one of the top insurance claims in short-term rentals. The most common culprits? Loose rugs, curled carpet edges, uneven entry mats, poor lighting, and cluttered walkways.

Invest the time in removing unnecessary rugs, securing remaining ones with non-slip backing, replacing curled mats, and improving lighting on stairs and exterior pathways. These small changes disproportionately reduce injury risk, especially for older guests who are unfamiliar with the space.

4. Add clear, physical safety signage (paired with digital)

Many hosts and operators rely on digital guidebooks to communicate important guest information for their stay. While digital tools are important, they are not sufficient on their own to communicate all safety information. In real emergencies, phones may not be accessible, batteries may be dead, or the primary renter may not be the person responding. Physical safety signage fills that gap.

Invest in clearly posted safety signage, such as emergency information cards, pool and spa warnings, grill instructions, and fire extinguisher identifiers. This can make a meaningful difference when guests are stressed or panicked.

Digital and physical signage should work hand in hand. Physical signs provide immediate guidance in the moment, while digital guides reinforce expectations and instructions before and during a stay.

Pro tip: Download Breezeway’s safety signage for pre-designed signs to print and display at your short-term rentals. The same signs should be physically posted in the home and mirrored in your Breezeway Guide, ensuring guests see critical safety information in multiple, reliable ways.

The key is restraint. Limit signage to essential, high-impact safety information so it remains visible, credible, and effective, rather than becoming background noise guests ignore.

5. Schedule an annual safety review (and actually act on it)

One of the most impactful safety investments isn’t a product, it’s time.

Schedule an annual, documented safety review using a standardized checklist from Breezeway to help identify risks before they turn into incidents.

Whether performed by a trained inspector or an internal team member following Breezeway’s Short-Term Rental Safety Course framework, annual reviews establish a clear pattern of due diligence. They also create documentation that demonstrates a proactive commitment to guest safety, something insurers and regulators all pay close attention to.

But there’s another important benefit: safety sells. Today’s guests are more informed and more risk-aware than ever. Properties that can confidently communicate their safety practices earn trust faster, convert better, and often justify higher nightly rates. A documented safety review isn’t just protection; it’s a competitive advantage.

The cost of an annual safety review is minimal compared to the financial, reputational, and legal impact of a single serious incident. When safety is visible and intentional, everyone wins.

Why these small investments matter

Short-term rentals are unique because guests are unfamiliar with the space or distracted. That combination amplifies risk. The goal isn’t to eliminate every hazard; it’s to reduce foreseeable risks and give guests the tools they need to stay safe.

Safety doesn’t have to be overwhelming. When broken into manageable steps, it becomes one of the smartest operational investments you can make.

As the new year begins, ask a simple question: What small changes can we make now that prevent big problems later?

Often, the answer is simpler and cheaper than you might expect.