East of England
Breckland HMO fire safety requirements
Breckland publishes its own HMO fire safety standard, "Fire Precautions in Dwellings (Breckland Council, Private Sector Housing)" (March 2023).
Is a fire risk assessment needed for the licence?
Expected, but not sent in
The council's guidance talks about fire risk assessments, but it does not ask you to send one with your application. Fire safety law still says you need one.
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?
Fire Precautions in Dwellings (Breckland Council, Private Sector Housing)
Published March 2023.
Read the council's document →When did we last check?
15 October 2026
We re-check every council's documents each month and update this page when they change.
What Breckland 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
- Not 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
- Required
3-storey shared house, 6 tenants
- Fire alarm system
- Grade D1, LD1
- Fire doors on bedrooms
- Required
- Fire door on the kitchen
- Required
- Protected escape route
- Required
- Heat detector in the kitchen
- Required
- Emergency lighting
- Not required
- Fire blanket in the kitchen
- Required
- Fire extinguishers
- Required
3-storey bedsits with cooking in rooms, 6 tenants
- Fire alarm system
- Grade A, LD1, plus a linked heat detector and 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
- Not 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, LD1 | Grade A, LD1, plus a linked heat detector and a standalone smoke alarm in each letting |
| Fire doors on bedrooms | Not 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 | Not required | Not required |
| Fire blanket in the kitchen | Required | Required | Required |
| Fire extinguishers | Required | Required | 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
“The HMO must have close fitting doors to all risk rooms and a Grade D1 LD2 fire detection system with an additional Grade D1 interlinked heat detector to the kitchen(s). ... The HMO must have a fully protected means of escape and a Grade D1 LD1 fire detection system. ... Grade D1 LD1 system ... A mixed Grade A and Grade D1 smoke and heat detection system. ... FD30s door. Grade D1 heat detection ... Grade F1 or F2 smoke detector in each bedroom/unit ... Difference to assumption Property type Additional requirements”
Fire doors
Council's own standard
“Kitchens within bedroom/unit HMOs – 1 & 2 stories FD30s door. Grade D1 heat detection”
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
“Emergency lighting is required if the means of escape does not have effective borrowed light.”
Fire extinguishers
Council's own standard
“A multi-purpose extinguisher and a fire blanket are required in each kitchen.”
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it.
Common questions
Do I need a fire risk assessment for a Breckland HMO licence?
Can I do my own HMO fire risk assessment in Breckland?
Which fire safety standard does Breckland use for HMOs?
What fire alarm does a 3-storey shared house need in Breckland?
Check your Breckland HMO against the council's standard
Answer plain-English questions about your house and get a fire risk assessment report built on Breckland's rules. £45, no subscription.