East of England
Peterborough HMO fire safety requirements
Peterborough publishes its own HMO fire safety standard, "Fire Safety Standards in Houses in Multiple Occupations (HMOs), on the HMO standards and regulations page (Peterborough City Council)" (Page last updated 28 August 2026).
Is a fire risk assessment needed for the licence?
Yes, as a licence condition
You need a written fire risk assessment as a condition of the licence, and the council can ask to see it at any time.
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?
Fire Safety Standards in Houses in Multiple Occupations (HMOs), on the HMO standards and regulations page (Peterborough City Council)
Published Page last updated 28 August 2026.
Read the council's document →When did we last check?
14 October 2026
We re-check every council's documents each month and update this page when they change.
What Peterborough 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, LD2, plus a linked smoke alarm in each letting
- Fire doors on bedrooms
- Not 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
- Recommended
3-storey shared house, 6 tenants
- Fire alarm system
- Grade D2, 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
- 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
- Not 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, LD2, plus a linked smoke alarm in each letting | Grade D2, 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 | Not 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 | Not required | Not 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)
- 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
“2 Storey Dwellings containing 3-4 persons ... Dwelling with a shared kitchen: Grade D, LD3 system with mains-powered smoke alarms with battery backup on all escape routes (hallways, landings) ... Dwelling with cooking in bedsits: Grade D, LD2 system with interlinked smoke detectors in the escape route and common areas with additional interlinked heat detectors in each bedsit and non-interlinked smoke alarms in each bedsit ... 2 Storey Dwellings containing 5+ persons ... Dwelling with a shared kitchen: Grade D, LD2 system with interlinked smoke detectors in the escape route, common areas and bedrooms + additional interlinked heat detector in each kitchen ... Dwelling with cooking in bedsits: Mixed system Grade A, LD2 system with interlinked smoke detectors in the escape route and common areas with additional heat detectors in bedsits (interlinked). Grade D mains powered smoke alarm in each bedsit (non-interlinked) ... Dwelling with a shared kitchen: Mixed system Grade A, LD2 system with interlinked smoke detectors in the escape route and in all bedrooms, kitchens and lounges and additional interlinked heat detector in each kitchen”
Fire doors
Council's own standard
“Dwelling with cooking in bedsits: 30-minute fire doors (complete with self-closers, intumescent strips, cold smoke seals and 3x 100mm heavy duty hinges) to all risk rooms* ... Risk rooms are defined as any room which includes cooking facilities ... 30-minute fire doors (complete with self-closers, intumescent strips, cold smoke seals and 3x 100mm heavy duty hinges) to all letting rooms, common lounges and kitchens (and boiler cupboards if located on the escape route)”
Escape route
Council's own standard
“2 Storey Dwellings containing 3-4 persons Item: Fire separation (walls/partitions/ceilings) Peterborough City Council standard: Escape routes of sound construction ... 2 Storey Dwellings containing 5+ persons Item: Fire separation (walls/partitions/ceilings) Peterborough City Council Standard: 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
“Dwelling with cooking in bedsits: Conventional lighting (and emergency escape lighting if risk requires or there is no effective borrowed light) ... Dwelling with a shared kitchen: Conventional lighting and emergency escape lighting”
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.”
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it.
Common questions
Do I need a fire risk assessment for a Peterborough HMO licence?
Can I do my own HMO fire risk assessment in Peterborough?
Which fire safety standard does Peterborough use for HMOs?
What fire alarm does a 3-storey shared house need in Peterborough?
Check your Peterborough HMO against the council's standard
Answer plain-English questions about your house and get a fire risk assessment report built on Peterborough's rules. £45, no subscription.