LE8 · Great Glen
HMO Fire Risk Assessment
in Great Glen
An HMO landlord or manager is a Responsible Person for the common parts and must ensure a fire risk assessment is carried out and kept under review. Local authorities commonly attach conditions to an HMO licence that require one, and can serve improvement or prohibition notices under the Housing Act 2004. Penalties include unlimited fines, and banning orders are available under the Housing and Planning Act 2016.
Duty summary
England & Wales
- Duty
- HMO Fire Risk Assessment
- Instrument
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which covers the common parts of an HMO
- Also
- Housing Act 2004 and the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, enforced by the local housing authority
- Standard
- LACORS national fire safety guidance for existing housing, which for a typical shared house points to a Grade D LD2 system described in BS 5839-6
- Frequency
- Reviewed regularly; licence conditions commonly expect an annual review
- Carried out by
- A competent person
- Enforced by
- Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service (common parts) and the local housing authority (the dwellings)
- Guide price
- £160 – £420 per property
Guide price only. The firm we pass your enquiry to sets its own price once it knows the building.
Building owners and landlords managing multi-occupied properties in the Harborough district must ensure their premises meet specific safety standards. If you are responsible for a shared property, obtaining a professional HMO fire risk assessment in Great Glen is a necessary step in meeting your legal obligations. The village, situated on the old main road, is characterised by a mix of traditional pubs, a central village hall, and a significant amount of detached housing. Many larger detached homes in the LE8 postcode district have been converted into houses in multiple occupation to accommodate professionals or local workers. These buildings, often spanning multiple floors with complex layouts, require a detailed review of their fire safety provisions.
A HMO fire risk assessment in Great Glen typically costs £160 to £420 per property, though this figure depends entirely on the specific building and the quote comes from the firm we pass the enquiry to. Whether the property is a small shared house or a larger building divided into several units, the assessment identifies potential hazards and outlines the necessary actions to protect the residents. Our service simplifies the process by connecting you with a local firm that understands the specific requirements of the local housing authority and the fire service.
What the assessment covers
The fire risk assessment is a comprehensive review of the physical and management aspects of the property. The firm we put you in touch with will examine the building to identify potential ignition sources and evaluate the adequacy of existing fire precautions. Several factors influence the complexity of the work and the final price quoted by the local firm. These include the number of storeys and the total number of bedrooms within the property. A larger building with more occupants naturally requires a more intensive inspection.
The assessor will also consider whether the property is currently licensed or falls under mandatory licensing requirements, as this often dictates specific safety benchmarks. They will inspect the existing alarm grade and the extent of its coverage throughout the building. A significant portion of the assessment focuses on the condition of fire doors, both those leading to individual bedrooms and those protecting the primary escape route. The internal layout is also a major factor; a shared house where occupants share a kitchen and lounge is assessed differently than a building converted into fully self-contained flats. The goal is to ensure that if a fire occurs, it is detected early and contained long enough for all residents to exit safely.
How the enquiry works
We operate as a dedicated enquiry service to help landlords find local expertise. The process follows four straightforward steps:
- You provide the details of your property through our enquiry form.
- We pass these details to a local fire safety firm that covers Great Glen.
- That firm contacts you directly to provide a specific quote for your building.
- You deal with the firm directly to arrange the site visit and payment.
Please be aware that Leicester Fire Risk Assessment does not carry out the assessments; we are the bridge between you and the professional company that will perform the work.
The legal position for HMO landlords
Fire safety in houses in multiple occupation is governed by several pieces of legislation and guidance. The primary regulation is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which applies to the common parts of an HMO, such as hallways, landings, and shared kitchens. Additionally, the Housing Act 2004 and the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) allow the local housing authority to inspect properties for fire hazards. For existing residential buildings, the LACORS national fire safety guidance is the standard document used to determine the appropriate level of protection.
In practice, this means an HMO landlord or manager must hold a current fire risk assessment. If the property requires a mandatory HMO licence, the local authority will usually demand to see a valid assessment as a condition of that licence. Work is normally carried out against the recommendations of BS 5839-6, which for a standard shared house commonly requires a Grade D LD2 system. Failure to comply with these duties can lead to the local authority serving improvement or prohibition notices. In more serious cases, penalties include unlimited fines and banning orders.
Enforcement in Great Glen is handled by the local fire and rescue service or the local authority, depending on the specific nature of the building and the breach. It is a legal requirement that the assessment is carried out by a competent person who has the necessary training and experience to identify risks accurately. Please note that the information on this page is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice for a specific building.
Questions duty holders ask
7 answers
Does my HMO need a fire risk assessment?
Yes, if you manage a property where three or more tenants from more than one household share facilities, you have a legal duty to ensure a fire risk assessment is in place. This applies to the common parts of the building under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Even if the property does not require a mandatory licence from the council, the requirement to manage fire risk remains a statutory obligation for the landlord or manager.
What alarm grade does an HMO need?
The required alarm grade depends on the size and layout of the property, but for a standard shared house, guidance usually points toward BS 5839-6 Grade D LD2. This typically involves mains-powered, interlinked smoke alarms in the escape routes and high-risk rooms like kitchens and lounges. The assessor who contacts you will evaluate your specific layout against the LACORS guidance to determine if your current system is adequate or needs upgrading to meet modern safety standards.
Do bedroom doors have to be fire doors?
In most HMOs, bedroom doors are required to be fire-resisting units, often rated to FD30S standards, meaning they provide 30 minutes of fire resistance and include smoke seals. These doors are essential for protecting the escape route and so that a fire starting in a bedroom is contained. The assessment will check the condition of these doors, so that they are fitted with self-closing devices and that there are no gaps that would allow smoke to bypass the door.
How often does a licensed HMO need one?
While the law does not set a fixed expiry date, it states the assessment must be reviewed regularly to remain valid. For a licensed HMO, many local authorities expect a full review every twelve months or whenever there is a significant change to the building or the way it is used. Keeping the document up to date is often a condition of your HMO licence, and failing to do so could result in enforcement action during a council inspection.
What does the council actually check?
When the local authority or fire service inspects a property in Great Glen, they look for evidence that the landlord is actively managing fire risks. They will check for a valid fire risk assessment, service records for alarms and emergency lighting, and the physical state of fire doors. They use the Housing Health and Safety Rating System to identify hazards. If the property is found to be deficient, they can issue formal notices requiring you to carry out specific remedial works within a set timeframe.
How much will the assessment cost me?
A HMO fire risk assessment in Great Glen typically costs £160 to £420 per property. This range accounts for the differences between smaller three-bed shared houses and larger, more complex multi-storey buildings. The final price is determined by the local firm we put you in touch with, based on the specific details you provide about your property. They will provide a transparent quote before any work commences, so you know exactly what the costs will be.
Who is responsible for carrying out the work?
Leicester Fire Risk Assessment is an enquiry service, not a consultancy or an inspection firm. We do not attend your site or write the reports ourselves. Our role is to take your property details and pass them to a competent local firm that specialises in residential fire safety. That independent company will then contact you to provide a quote, conduct the site visit, and issue your completed fire risk assessment document directly to you.
Sources and review
Checked against Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Housing Act 2004, LACORS fire safety guidance and BS 5839-6 on . We recheck this page against the legislation quarterly, and sooner if the law changes. Spotted something wrong? Tell us at enquiries@leicesterfireriskassessment.co.uk and we will correct it.
HMO Fire Risk Assessment nearby
Other duties at the same premises
This page is general information about fire safety law in England and Wales. It is not a fire risk assessment and it is not legal advice. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 the Responsible Person must ensure an assessment is carried out by a competent person.