Use this page to find out the fire safety standards for rental properties, including houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).
If you are a landlord or have a legal duty for fire safety in a property, you must ensure your property complies with fire safety legislation. You can read more about your legal duties on GOV.uk
If you are a tenant or resident, GOV.uk also provides guidance about fire safety and advice if you have concerns about the fire safety of your building.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
If you are a landlord, you are responsible for ensuring the properties you rent are safe and have working smoke alarms.
Read the GOV.uk guidance on smoke and carbon monoxide regulations.
Fire precautions
As well as smoke alarms, properties may need further fire precautions to make them safe, such as fire doors.
We recommend all homes are fitted with mains-wired smoke alarms, because battery alarms have up to a 45% failure rate and batteries may be removed and not replaced.
The appropriate fire precautions for your property can depend on the following factors:
- Whether the property is a house or flat
- Whether the property is a family home or a house in multiple occupation (HMO)
- The number of floors in the property
- The layout of the property
- Any additional risk factors, for example, if a person is hard of hearing and needs special equipment
Following an inspection, we can enforce further fire detection or structural improvements if our inspectors find that your property does not meet national fire safety guidance.
If we identify a hazard during an inspection, mains alarms and fire safety improvements will be required.
The Local Government Regulation (formerly LACoRS) has produced extensive guidance on fire precautions for housing.
Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs)
HMOs require a higher standard of fire precautions.
The fire detection in an HMO must be powered by the mains electrical system. Battery detectors are not acceptable.
If you are a landlord of an HMO, you may also be required to install fire doors and make structural improvements. You must also maintain the fire precautions provided in your properties.
Fire risk assessments
Landlords of some buildings (including licensed HMOs) have a responsibility to carry out a fire risk assessment and have appropriate fire precautions in place in the common parts of the house.
You can find further information on the Avon Fire and Rescue Service website or on GOV.uk
Lead fire authority
We have an agreement with Avon Fire & Rescue Service and the West of England Local Authorities of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire on who will be the 'lead' authority for particular types of property concerning fire safety.
We lead on HMOs and single dwellings. Avon Fire and Rescue Service lead on sheltered housing and properties with mixed commercial and residential accommodation with no independent access.
Read the Fire Safety Protocol for full details on the agreement.