Yorkshire and The Humber

Calderdale HMO fire safety requirements

Calderdale publishes its own HMO fire safety standard, "Calderdale Council Standards for Houses in Multiple Occupation" (Revised November 2023).

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?

A "competent person"

The council says a "competent person" must carry it out. In fire safety law that means someone with enough training, experience or knowledge to assess the house properly. A careful landlord can meet that.

Which standard applies?

Calderdale Council Standards for Houses in Multiple Occupation

Published Revised November 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 Calderdale 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 D2, LD1
Fire doors on bedrooms: Required
Fire door on the kitchen: Required
Protected escape route: Not required
Heat detector in the kitchen: Required
Emergency lighting: Required
Fire blanket in the kitchen: Required
Fire extinguishers: Recommended

3-storey shared house, 6 tenants

Fire alarm system: Grade D2, LD1
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, LD2, 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: Required
Fire blanket in the kitchen: Required
Fire extinguishers: Recommended

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 D2, LD1	Grade D2, LD1	Grade A, LD2, plus a linked heat detector and a standalone smoke alarm 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	Required	Required	Required
Fire blanket in the kitchen	Required	Required	Required
Fire extinguishers	Recommended	Recommended	Recommended

Grade D2 (mains alarms with a replaceable backup battery)
Grade A (a panel system with call points)
LD1 (alarms in all rooms and on the escape route)
LD2 (escape route plus rooms where fires are likely to start)

In the council's own words

The wording these requirements come from, quoted from the published documents.

Fire alarms

Council's own standard

“In most cases a fire detection and alarm system that complies with BS5839 Part 6: 2019 is required.”

Calderdale Council Standards for Houses in Multiple Occupation, Revised November 2023

Fire doors

Council's own standard

“Generally, all rooms opening on to an escape route should be provided with a 30(s) minute fire door”

Calderdale Council Standards for Houses in Multiple Occupation, Revised November 2023

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”

LACORS Housing - Fire Safety: guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing, July 2008

Kitchen heat detector

LACORS national guide

“additional interlinked heat alarm with integral battery back-up located in the kitchen”

LACORS Housing - Fire Safety: guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing, July 2008

Emergency lighting

Council's own standard

“An emergency lighting system shall be provided in most cases with luminaires provided in such numbers and locations to adequately illuminate the staircase enclosure”

Calderdale Council Standards for Houses in Multiple Occupation, Revised November 2023

Fire extinguishers

LACORS national guide

“a simple multi-purpose extinguisher is recommended on each floor in the common parts of HMOs and buildings containing flats.”

LACORS Housing - Fire Safety: guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing, July 2008

Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it.

Not in Calderdale?

LACORS fire safety guide for HMOs →Every council's HMO fire safety standard →

Common questions

Do I need a fire risk assessment for a Calderdale HMO licence?

The council lists a written fire risk assessment as one of the documents you send with your HMO licence application.

Can I do my own HMO fire risk assessment in Calderdale?

Which fire safety standard does Calderdale use for HMOs?

Calderdale publishes "Calderdale Council Standards for Houses in Multiple Occupation" (Revised November 2023). Like most councils, it builds on the national LACORS guide.

What fire alarm does a 3-storey shared house need in Calderdale?

For a typical 3-storey shared house with 6 tenants, Calderdale's rules work out at Grade D2, LD1. Your house may need something different depending on its layout, so check it properly with a fire risk assessment.

Check your Calderdale HMO against the council's standard

Answer plain-English questions about your house and get a fire risk assessment report built on Calderdale's rules. £45, no subscription.

Start my fire risk assessment