East of England
Central Bedfordshire HMO fire safety requirements
Central Bedfordshire publishes its own HMO fire safety standard, "Facilities and amenities guide: for landlords and managing agents of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) (Central Bedfordshire Council)" (2 February 2021 (file modified 24 January 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?
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?
Facilities and amenities guide: for landlords and managing agents of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) (Central Bedfordshire Council)
Published 2 February 2021 (file modified 24 January 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 Central Bedfordshire 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, plus a linked 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
- Not advised
3-storey shared house, 6 tenants
- Fire alarm system
- Grade D1, LD2, plus a linked 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
- Not advised
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
- 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, plus a linked smoke alarm in each letting | Grade D1, LD2, plus a linked smoke alarm in each letting | 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 | 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 | 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
“For smaller, lower risk HMOs, a Grade D1 fire alarm system, compliant with BS 5839-6:2019 will be suitable, comprising smoke alarms in hallways, living room/dining room and bedrooms with a heat detector in the kitchen ... For larger or higher risk HMOs, then a Grade A fire alarm system will be suitable ... Grade D LD2 fire alarm system with smoke detectors in escape route at all levels, bedrooms, living room, dining room and heat alarm in kitchen (interlinked). Detectors are sealed units (Grade D1)”
Fire doors
Council's own standard
“The following examples are based on typical properties with a simple layout i.e. where all bedrooms lead directly onto the means of escape ... Bedroom doors must be 30-minute fire doors with intumescent strips, cold smoke seals and self-closer”
Escape route
Council's own standard
“Stairs must be underdrawn to give 30-minute fire resistance ... 30-minute protected escape route”
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
“Where the escape route is long or complicated or there is no effective borrowed light (e.g. street lighting through windows on the escape route) then emergency lighting is required. It is required in 3 storey or more properties along the escape route, it is not required in the letting rooms ... Where occupants are considered vulnerable, emergency lighting is required.”
Fire extinguishers
Council's own standard
“The Local Agreement between Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Central Bedfordshire Council does not advise to install fire extinguishers in standard HMO's. Should they be provided then each of the occupants must be trained on their use”
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Not in Central Bedfordshire?
Common questions
Do I need a fire risk assessment for a Central Bedfordshire HMO licence?
Can I do my own HMO fire risk assessment in Central Bedfordshire?
Which fire safety standard does Central Bedfordshire use for HMOs?
What fire alarm does a 3-storey shared house need in Central Bedfordshire?
Check your Central Bedfordshire HMO against the council's standard
Answer plain-English questions about your house and get a fire risk assessment report built on Central Bedfordshire's rules. £45, no subscription.