If you are a landlord or investor with an HMO then there are some important things that you need to be aware of in regards to fire safety and prevention.
This type of property is more complicated than a buy-to-let, and requires not only that you acquire a licence from your local council housing department which ensures the property is correctly managed and meets the necessary safety standards, but also that you adhere to relevant fire and safety legislation.
The specialists at T2 Fire are here to help owners of HMO properties to better protect their buildings, their tenants and their investment through reliable, cost-effective HMO fire risk assessment services.
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Who Is Responsible for the Fire Safety of a HMO?
Where there are multiple families, households and different groups of people living within the same building or property, the risks can skyrocket, which is why it is so important to take fire safety seriously.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, states that housing providers have to risk-assess their properties for fire safety and take adequate precautions to reduce identified risks and manage any that remain. Article 6 of the FSO (Fire Safety Order) specifically states that this does not apply to private domestic areas, but it does for any shared areas of living accommodation such as a communal kitchen, hallway, bathroom, stairs, boiler rooms, lift shafts, lounge area etc.
This means that the FSO applies to the:
- Common parts of HMOs (but not shared houses)
- Communal parts of buildings which contain flats and maisonettes
- Common parts of sheltered accommodation
It is the responsibility of the buildings landlord to arrange a fire risk assessment, whether that’s the owner (freeholder), a managing agent, residents’ management company or right to manage company.