Landlords and tenants

Responsibilities of the landlord / owner / manager

Under the mandatory licensing scheme a HMO must be licensed if its occupied by:

• Five or more people

• who form two or more households and:

• who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet facilities. 

The licence ensures that the property is managed correctly and meets safety standards. These safety standards include fire safety.

Here are a few areas to consider:

• Have the fire precautions from your fire risk assessment been implemented in the common areas to eliminate or reduce the risks identified to the lowest possible level?

• Do the escape routes require the provision of a fire barrier between the common areas and living accommodation to create a protected route to the place of ultimate safety? Escape routes should always be free of any obstructions. 

• The need for a fire detection and warning system and whether this should be included in the living accommodation. 

• Is there a need for emergency escape lighting?

• Is fire fighting equipment and facilities needed? 

• Is there a need for signs and notices?

• Recording, planning, informing, instructing and training which will require producing a fire action plan.

Below is some further information to support you:

LACORS fire safety guide is intended for buildings which have been constructed or adapted for use as a domestic property and includes HMO's. However it doesn't apply to properties constructed or converted to a standard in compliance with the building regulations 1991 or later. 

Tenant Fire Safety

Here are some Do's and Don'ts.

Do:

• Become familiar with escape routes and exits from the building. The final exit door from a HMO should be easily openable from the inside without the use of a key. This also applies to exit doors from each flat or bedsit.

• Unplug electrical appliances at night.

• Close communal and bedroom doors, particularly when people are sleeping. Including during the day when those who may work nights would be sleeping. 

• Check for burning cigarettes before going to bed.

• Keep storage to designated areas.

Don't:

• Wedge open fire doors.

• Remove door closing devices.

• Tamper with fire alarms or equipment.

• Overfill chip pans.

• Smoke in bed.

• Block halls and stairways, including bikes, pushchairs etc.

• Overload plug sockets or have extension leads running of extension leads.

• Leave matches, cooking or heating appliances unattended.

Student Fire Safety

Last updated: Tuesday 18 May 2021