North West
Halton HMO fire safety requirements
Halton publishes its own HMO fire safety standard, "Houses in Multiple Occupation Licensing Conditions and Amenity Standards (Halton Borough Council HMO Standards)" (Version 2 September 2025). It is based on the Homestamp standard, which 10 other councils use too.
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?
Houses in Multiple Occupation Licensing Conditions and Amenity Standards (Halton Borough Council HMO Standards)
Published Version 2 September 2025.
Read the council's document →When did we last check?
1 October 2026
We re-check every council's documents each month and update this page when they change.
What Halton 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
- Not 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
- Not 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
- Not 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 | Not 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 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
Shared regional standard
“A system of mains powered automatic smoke detectors with battery back up, to achieve a Grade D system in accordance with the current BS 5839 Part 6 (or equivalent), must be installed. ... In kitchens a heat detector, rather than a smoke detector, must be installed. ... By providing a detector/ sounder in the communal areas ... Detectors must be sited in all areas containing a fire risk. ... The main system shall provide heat detectors in individual lets and smoke detectors in common areas and any storerooms/cellars (interlinked system). ... single point smoke alarms are also required. These detectors are not interlinked between rooms. ... GRADE A of the current BS 5859 Part 6 (or equivalent). Automatic detection must provide LD2 coverage. ... comprising of GRADE A (main system) and GRADE D (Single point smoke alarms). The main system must provide LD2 coverage.”
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
Shared regional standard
“Subject to a fire risk assessment emergency lighting should not be necessary, provided that the escape route is not long or complex and there is effective artificial or borrowed lighting. ... Where emergency lighting is considered to be necessary, it should be provided in accordance with the current BS 5266 Part 1 (or equivalent) to cover the protected escape route.”
Fire extinguishers
Shared regional standard
“Landlords should consider the following points where extinguishers are to be provided ... devices. Unless a fire is very small, it is best ... on balance to encourage people simply to”
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it.
Not in Halton?
Councils using the same standard as Halton
Common questions
Do I need a fire risk assessment for a Halton HMO licence?
Can I do my own HMO fire risk assessment in Halton?
Which fire safety standard does Halton use for HMOs?
What fire alarm does a 3-storey shared house need in Halton?
Check your Halton HMO against the council's standard
Answer plain-English questions about your house and get a fire risk assessment report built on Halton's rules. £45, no subscription.