As I understand it Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and associated regs like RIDDOR do not apply if the employee is abroad but the common law duty of care might apply. I'd investigate ( I have done similar for dodgy hotels in Brussels but there is a limit as to what you can say in the circumstances- agree that you won't use this facility again despite the brilliant looking website?

In a previous job.... All work related travel incidents were reportable on our stats. Once the person was in the hotel / rented house ( whatever ) any injury was not reportable. I guess on the basis that they could have similar injury at home. To complicate things - if the person was working at the hotel etc during normal work hours then it was reportable.

Houses have steps otherwise they'd be flats or bungalows - if she was living in the house as rented personal accommodation then she was not at work as far as I am concerned. She could have moved house in England and fallen down a step in her new house, that would not be considered work related either. Certainly though I would want a raft of photographs of the step and breakfast bar and an indication of how she came to fall or trip down it, ie what was she actually doing at the time, what shoes she had on and their sole construction, had she eaten or drunk anything (it's a fair question is she is claiming industrial accident). It would be handy if your organisation had a policy on not drinking while working because in that case if she was drinking alcohol she could not have been working - consequently it would not have been work related. Additional photographs of the rest of the house may give more clarity on how this is "dangerous" as well because it could be something as simple as not having toughened glass plate windows which would make it unsuitable for children but you would expect adults to have more sense. It is a very sweeping statement which requires clarification from her and the estate agent as to which way it is considered "dangerous". I think there is a duty of care but to what extent will depend on what the photographs show. If the photos show a clear step which she should have been more than aware of after 3 weeks, then I think she probably doesn't have a leg to stand on if you will pardon the pun. However, if the step is in anyway hidden or oblique then she might have a case and you should talk to the HSE.

No, disagree. In many places around the World a "house" has one floor; in Southern African areas two floors makes the "house" a "double story" and if you're buying property in Australia then asking to look at "bungalows" results in strange looks as you are effectively asking for a large garden shed...! And then there is the origin of "Bungalow" which from memory is Indian and refers to a single story dwelling with verandahs all round As for the OP, well, you're company rented the property so I think you should nip out and make sure it is safe - duty of care Jim

In a recent past someone posted a link about a court case in Australia pushing the limit of workplace definition when one employee was injured in a hotel with a falling object while she was on a working trip and the company had a duty of care and was responsible according to the judgment. Commonwealth’s jurisprudence applies? As regards the investigation, photos of place of incident would be most welcomed but luxury accommodation dangerous? May be in certain circumstances :)