South West
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole HMO fire safety requirements
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole publishes its own HMO fire safety standard, "Guidance Notes on Fire Precautions & Means of Escape (H74 1 and 2 storey shared houses, H90 3 to 4 storey shared houses, H91 1 to 4 storey bedsits)" (January 2025).
Is a fire risk assessment needed for the licence?
Yes, with your licence application
The council lists a written fire risk assessment as one of the documents you send with your HMO licence application.
Who can carry it out?
No rule on who writes it
The council does not say who must carry out the fire risk assessment, so a landlord can do it themselves, as long as it is done properly.
Which standard applies?
Guidance Notes on Fire Precautions & Means of Escape (H74 1 and 2 storey shared houses, H90 3 to 4 storey shared houses, H91 1 to 4 storey bedsits)
Published January 2025.
Read the council's document →When did we last check?
12 October 2026
We re-check every council's documents each month and update this page when they change.
What Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole expects in 3 typical HMOs
Worked out from the council's own fire safety rules for three common kinds of HMO. Your house may need more or less depending on its layout, which is what a fire risk assessment is for.
2-storey shared house, 5 tenants
- Fire alarm system
- Grade D1, LD2
- Fire doors on bedrooms
- Required
- Fire door on the kitchen
- Required
- Protected escape route
- Not required
- Heat detector in the kitchen
- Required
- Emergency lighting
- Not required
- Fire blanket in the kitchen
- Required
- Fire extinguishers
- Recommended
3-storey shared house, 6 tenants
- Fire alarm system
- Grade D1, LD2, plus a standalone smoke alarm in each letting
- Fire doors on bedrooms
- Required
- Fire door on the kitchen
- Required
- Protected escape route
- Required
- Heat detector in the kitchen
- Required
- Emergency lighting
- Required
- Fire blanket in the kitchen
- Required
- Fire extinguishers
- Recommended
3-storey bedsits with cooking in rooms, 6 tenants
- Fire alarm system
- Grade A, LD1, plus a linked heat detector in each letting
- Fire doors on bedrooms
- Required
- Fire door on the kitchen
- Required
- Protected escape route
- Required
- Heat detector in the kitchen
- Required
- Emergency lighting
- Required
- Fire blanket in the kitchen
- Required
- Fire extinguishers
- Required
| Requirement | 2-storey shared house, 5 tenants | 3-storey shared house, 6 tenants | 3-storey bedsits with cooking in rooms, 6 tenants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire alarm system | Grade D1, LD2 | Grade D1, LD2, plus a standalone smoke alarm in each letting | Grade A, LD1, plus a linked heat detector in each letting |
| Fire doors on bedrooms | Required | Required | Required |
| Fire door on the kitchen | Required | Required | Required |
| Protected escape route | Not required | Required | Required |
| Heat detector in the kitchen | Required | Required | Required |
| Emergency lighting | Not required | Required | Required |
| Fire blanket in the kitchen | Required | Required | Required |
| Fire extinguishers | Recommended | Recommended | Required |
- Grade D1 (mains alarms with a sealed backup battery)
- Grade A (a panel system with call points)
- LD2 (escape route plus rooms where fires are likely to start)
- LD1 (alarms in all rooms and on the escape route)
In the council's own words
The wording these requirements come from, quoted from the published documents.
Fire alarms
Council's own standard
“Mains-operated, interlinked detectors complying with BS:5839:Part 6 Grade D1 which must be installed as follows; Heat detector in the kitchen area ... Smoke detector in the lounge area ... Smoke detector in the ground floor hall area”
Fire doors
Council's own standard
“Either ensure all bedrooms have an escape window in accordance with Approved Document B - Fire Safety, of the current Building Regulations, OR replace all bedroom doors with 30-minute fire doors.”
Escape route
LACORS national guide
“No requirement for full 30-minute protected route note 7, but the escape route should have sound, traditional construction and should not pass through risk rooms ... 30-minute protected route note 8, is required, including 30-minute fire-resisting construction”
Kitchen heat detector
LACORS national guide
“additional interlinked heat alarm with integral battery back-up located in the kitchen”
Emergency lighting
Council's own standard
“An emergency lighting system is to be provided, tested and certified that it is in accordance with the current "Regulations for Electrical Equipment of Buildings"”
Fire extinguishers
Council's own standard
“Portable extinguishers are to be installed in accordance with BS 5306-9 on each level within the common parts.”
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it.
Not in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
Common questions
Do I need a fire risk assessment for a Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole HMO licence?
Can I do my own HMO fire risk assessment in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
Which fire safety standard does Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole use for HMOs?
What fire alarm does a 3-storey shared house need in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
Check your Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole HMO against the council's standard
Answer plain-English questions about your house and get a fire risk assessment report built on Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole's rules. £45, no subscription.