HMO Fire Door Regulations Fire doors are an essential feature of HMO fire safety regulations. The rule is that, as a landlord, you need to make sure that all escape routes from the property are protected.

Is it a legal requirement to have fire doors?

Building Regulations specify that in homes over two storeys high, every door of a habitable room leading to a stairwell must be a fire door (this does not apply to toilets or bathrooms). Fire doors are also required between the house and integral garage (if applicable).

What are the fire regulations for HMO properties?

The HMO's design, construction and condition must limit the spread of fire and smoke and provide a safe and ready means of escape. There must be adequate fire protection to the means of escape and between each unit of accommodation, with appropriate detection and alarm systems provided.

What requirements are needed for a HMO?

Your home is probably an HMO if: 3 or more unrelated people live there as at least 2 separate households – for example, 3 single people with their own rooms, or 2 couples each sharing a room. the 3 or more people living there share basic amenities, such as a kitchen or bathroom.

Does the Fire Safety Order apply to HMO?

This Order applies to the common areas of buildings which contain bedsits and separate flats, but not to a HMO where the occupiers share the property on a joint tenancy. The Fire Safety Order (FSO) places more onerous duties on the "responsible person" which would usually be the landlord.

Everything you NEED to Know about Firedoors in your HMO

26 related questions found

Do I need fire risk assessment for HMO?

Do HMOs Need Fire Risk Assessments? According to the Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), Yes, HMO's need a Fire Risk Assessment. A Fire Risk Assessment identifies possible fire hazards and helps put in place precautions and general measures to ensure safety.

How often should a fire alarm be tested in a HMO?

The minimum testing frequency will depend on the size and type of HMO: More often for higher risk properties e.g. 'bedsit' type (separately let bedrooms) and larger two and three storey HMOs – fortnightly or monthly.

Can I turn my house into a HMO?

If your property is let to five or more tenants from more than one household, some or all of the tenants share toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities and at least one tenant pays rent, then your property will be considered as a large HMO and will need a licence.

Can 2 families live in a single family home?

Can Two Families Live In A Single-Family Home? Two families can live in a single-family home provided that doing so isn't specifically prohibited by local zoning ordinances or homeowners association rules. In some areas, zoning laws limit how many unrelated people are allowed to live under the same roof.

Can Neighbours object to HMO?

Your objection must be in writing, must include your name and address and must be signed by you, or on your behalf. For an objection to be valid it must be for specific reasons. The local authority will not automatically refuse an application just because there is an objection to it.

Does a HMO bedroom need a window?

The requirement for bedroom windows is for the tenant's safety. In the event of a fire, even if you're unable to safely jump out to street level due to being on the upper floors of a HMO, firefighters would be able to climb a ladder to rescue you.

What is the minimum requirement for a fire door?

Building Regulations state that a front door to a flat must be FD30S. This means that the door needs to be 30 minute fire and smoke resistant, FD = Fire Door and 30 = relates to the minutes of fire resistance, S denotes that the door is also smoke sealed.

Where are fire doors needed in an HMO?

As it currently stands, fire doors are only legally required in Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). All doors leading to an escape route must be fire resistant and close automatically and it's advised that fire doors are also fitted to high-risk rooms, such as the kitchen.

What are the requirements of a fire door?

Fire doors will have at least 3 hinges with a melting point above 800 degrees centigrade and apertures for glazing and for letter boxes should be in place at testing.

How many tenants should you have in a bathroom?

As a rule of thumb, you should be aiming for one bathroom per three tenants. You can have less but this is the sweet spot and ideally is what you should be going for.

Why is it called a townhouse?

The origins of the word townhouse go back to early England, where the term referred to a dwelling a family (usually royalty) kept “in town” (meaning London) when their primary residence was in the country. ... Unlike duplexes or fourplexes, however, each townhouse is individually owned.

Can you have roommates in a single family home?

You can rent out rooms in a single-family home if you are living there in most areas; if you are not living there, you will need to check your local restrictions to see if it is allowable to rent out the rooms individually.

Why HMO is bad?

Since HMOs only contract with a certain number of doctors and hospitals in any one particular area, and insurers won't pay for healthcare received at out-of-network providers, the biggest disadvantages of HMOs are fewer choices and potentially, higher costs.

What is minimum room size for HMO?

Minimum size of bedrooms:

6.52 square metres for a single person. 10.23 square metres if occupied by two people.

Do you need permission for HMO?

The quick answer is: no, often you don't need planning permission to convert a property to an HMO.

Is emergency lighting required in HMO?

The legislation would be the RRO - typically, Emergency/escape lighting is not required in 1 and 2 storey HMOs, Except: If the route of escape is complex or lengthy or; The HMO is occupied by 6 or more persons or; Where no natural light is available.

Do you have to have fire doors in a rented property?

Do you need fire doors in a rented property? Currently only Houses in Multiple Occupation need fire doors if they are likely to be used as an escape route. To ensure they meet the safety requirements, it is worth getting a certified fire door which is fire-resistant and closes automatically.

Who carries out a fire risk assessment for an HMO?

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, it is a legal requirement for the responsible person of a building to carry out a fire safety risk assessment where the building contains areas that may be accessible by members of the public or contractors.

Can HMO have two kitchens?

An HMO is required to be licensed with the Council if it is occupied by 5 or more tenants, of which at least 2 households share one or more basic amenities including kitchen, bathroom or WC. If the HMO is above business premises, each storey of the business premises is included when counting storeys.

How many people can live in a 3 bedroom house?

According to the Federal Occupancy Standards set by Housing and Urban Development, seven people can live in a three-bedroom house that also has a separate living room. The number may be smaller than that if the people are unrelated. HUD guidelines also state that each person should have 165 square feet in a home.