East of England
Cambridge HMO fire safety requirements
Cambridge publishes its own HMO fire safety standard, "The Private Rented Sector Housing Standard: a guide for landlords, letting agents and property professionals" (Updated June 2026). It is based on the Cambridgeshire standard, which 2 other councils use too.
Is a fire risk assessment needed for the licence?
Not stated by the council
We could not find the council saying whether it wants to see your fire risk assessment. Fire safety law still says the landlord of an HMO must have 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?
The Private Rented Sector Housing Standard: a guide for landlords, letting agents and property professionals
Published Updated June 2026.
Read the council's document →When did we last check?
13 October 2026
We re-check every council's documents each month and update this page when they change.
What Cambridge 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
- Not advised
3-storey shared house, 6 tenants
- Fire alarm system
- Grade D1, LD2
- 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
- Not advised
3-storey bedsits with cooking in rooms, 6 tenants
- Fire alarm system
- Grade A, LD2, plus a standalone 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
- Not required
- Fire blanket in the kitchen
- Required
- Fire extinguishers
- Not advised
| 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 | Grade A, LD2, plus a standalone heat detector 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 | Not advised | Not advised | Not advised |
- 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)
In the council's own words
The wording these requirements come from, quoted from the published documents.
Fire alarms
Council's own standard
“Existing premises - Grade D1, Category LD2 system ... New or materially altered premises – Grade D1, Category LD1 system ... Grade A, Category LD2 system in the communal areas, in accordance with British Standard 5839-1:2017 for a Category L2 system ... Grade D1, Category LD1 system in the individual dwelling units comprising of a single room, not connected to the communal system ... Heat detection to be provided to dwelling units containing cooking facilities rather than smoke detection ... Grade D1, Category LD2 system in the individual dwelling units, not connected to the communal system, comprising of two or more rooms ... New or materially altered premises – two-storey houses and maisonettes with no floor above 4.5m from ground level – Grade A, Category LD2 system ... Existing premises – four-storey house – Grade D1, Category LD1 system ... Existing, new, or materially altered premises – four-storey house – Grade A, Category LD1 system ... Any shared house where there are more than 6 persons the fire detection and alarm systems shall comply with bedsit type HMO requirements ... Existing, new, or materially altered premises – maisonettes with any floor above 4.5m from ground level - Grade D1, Category LD1 system ... Existing, new, or materially altered premises – bungalows, flats, or single-storey units – Grade D1, Category LD2 system ... New or materially altered premises – maisonettes with any floor above 4.5m from ground level – Grade A, Category LD1 system”
Fire doors
LACORS national guide
“30-minute protected route note 8, is required, including 30-minute fire-resisting construction and FD30 doors to all risk rooms (without smoke seals ... 30-minute fire-resisting construction and FD30S doors to all risk rooms. Travel distance must not be excessive”
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 escape lighting required on long or complex escape routes or where no effective borrowed light.”
Fire extinguishers
Council's own standard
“Fire extinguishers are not a formal requirement for most types of HMO unless specified as part of a risk assessment. The Fire Service generally encourages occupants to escape the building”
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it.
Not in Cambridge?
Councils using the same standard as Cambridge
Common questions
Do I need a fire risk assessment for a Cambridge HMO licence?
Can I do my own HMO fire risk assessment in Cambridge?
Which fire safety standard does Cambridge use for HMOs?
What fire alarm does a 3-storey shared house need in Cambridge?
Check your Cambridge HMO against the council's standard
Answer plain-English questions about your house and get a fire risk assessment report built on Cambridge's rules. £45, no subscription.