Fire risk assessment for HMOs: what Stockport and Manchester landlords should have on file

Why shared housing is scoped differently

In a typical shared house or bedsit-style HMO, people rely on common corridors, stairs and exits. Detection often serves the whole building. That is why fire risk for HMOs is usually treated more carefully than for a simple single-family let.

Where the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order applies — commonly including HMO common parts and other multi-occupied buildings — the responsible person needs a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, with significant findings acted on and the assessment kept under review. Applicability is fact-specific. Some commercial and other multi-occupied buildings sit in that same “check whether the Order applies” category. Do not assume every single self-contained let needs the same FRA as an HMO, and do not assume “no FRA” for a multi-occupied building without checking official guidance.

An HMO licence in Stockport, Manchester or another Greater Manchester borough can require detection, emergency lighting, fire doors or management standards on top of national rules. Those conditions are set by that council. They are not automatically the same in every borough, and a licence is not proof that the fire file is complete. The existing fire risk assessment service is the service page for this work — this landing does not replace it.

• What a suitable FRA looks at

  At a high level: hazards (ignition, fuel and how the building is used), people at risk, existing measures (detection, escape, doors as present, emergency lighting where fitted, management and resident information), findings and actions, and when to review. This page does not claim compliance with a named British Standard for a typical job. The competent person confirms the guidance used on that building.

• Who should carry it out

  Someone competent for the size, layout and risk of the building. Do not treat a DIY checklist as a finished HMO FRA. This page uses competent-person language only. It does not claim BAFE, IFE or any other badge.

• Documents to keep

  The full FRA, an action log with evidence, related alarm or emergency-lighting records where those systems exist, the HMO licence and conditions, a review diary, and an agreed agent handback. Keep fire documents with the gas record and the EICR.

• Related works, quoted separately

  An FRA is not automatically an install package. Fire alarms, emergency lighting and extinguishers are scoped and quoted separately (POA) unless they are written into an agreed package. See the fire alarm service and emergency lighting service.

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