South West
Cheltenham HMO fire safety requirements
Cheltenham publishes its own HMO fire safety standard, "Amenity and Room Size Standards, Housing Act 2004 (Cheltenham Borough Council)" (September 2024). It is based on the Publica councils standard, which 3 other councils use too.
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?
Amenity and Room Size Standards, Housing Act 2004 (Cheltenham Borough Council)
Published September 2024.
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 Cheltenham 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, LD3
- 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 required
3-storey shared house, 6 tenants
- Fire alarm system
- Grade D2, LD3
- 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 required
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 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 D2, LD3 | Grade D2, LD3 | Grade A, LD2, 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 | Required | Required |
| Fire blanket in the kitchen | Required | Required | Required |
| Fire extinguishers | Not required | Not required | Not required |
- Grade D2 (mains alarms with a replaceable backup battery)
- Grade A (a panel system with call points)
- LD3 (escape route only)
- 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
“A Category LD3 Grade A or D fire detection system conforming to BS5839: Part 6:2019 (a Grade A system ... will be required for properties occupied by 7 or more persons). The system will normally include interlinked ... lounges and any cellar. Grade D detectors should have integral battery back-up. ... For 5 and 6 storey properties a Category LD2 Grade A system will be required. ... A Category LD2 Grade A or D fire detection system conforming to BS5839: Part 6:2019 (a Grade A system ... will be required for properties occupied by 7 or more persons and 3 or more storey properties). ... An additional Grade D non-interlinked smoke detector with integral battery back-up”
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 lighting (3 and 4 An emergency lighting system to BS 5266:1:2016. ... storey HMOs)”
Fire extinguishers
Shared regional standard
“There are no longer requirements to have fire-fighting equipment in HMOs. The advice is to evacuate the building to a place of safety and call the fire and rescue service.”
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it.
Not in Cheltenham?
Councils using the same standard as Cheltenham
Common questions
Do I need a fire risk assessment for a Cheltenham HMO licence?
Can I do my own HMO fire risk assessment in Cheltenham?
Which fire safety standard does Cheltenham use for HMOs?
What fire alarm does a 3-storey shared house need in Cheltenham?
Check your Cheltenham HMO against the council's standard
Answer plain-English questions about your house and get a fire risk assessment report built on Cheltenham's rules. £45, no subscription.