Fire Door Inspections for HMOs and Landlords

Fire doors are especially critical in HMOs and multi-let properties where multiple households share common escape routes. Here is what landlords need to know.

Why HMOs Require Special Attention

Houses in Multiple Occupation present heightened fire risks because multiple unrelated households share the building. If a fire starts in one part of the building, fire doors in hallways, stairwells, and at the entrance to each let room are the first line of defence in protecting the other occupants and allowing safe evacuation.

HMO Licensing Requirements

Most local authority HMO licensing conditions include specific requirements for fire doors. Typically, HMO licences require fire doors to bedrooms and kitchens (minimum FD30 rated), fire doors to any room opening onto a shared escape route, self-closing devices on all fire doors, and intumescent strips and cold smoke seals on all fire doors. Failure to meet these conditions can result in your HMO licence being revoked, financial penalties, and in serious cases, criminal prosecution.

Tenant Behaviour Challenges

One of the biggest challenges in HMOs is tenants propping fire doors open for convenience or removing self-closing devices because they find them annoying. Landlords and managers need to educate tenants about why fire doors must be kept closed and regularly check that doors are not being propped open. If a fire door is consistently propped open, consider installing a hold-open device connected to the fire alarm system, which releases the door automatically when the alarm sounds.

Our HMO Fire Door Service

We provide comprehensive fire door inspections specifically tailored for HMOs and multi-let properties. Our inspection includes a detailed photographic report for each door, a clear pass/fail assessment with regulatory references, a prioritised action plan for any remedial work needed, and advice on compliant hardware and hold-open devices.