South West
South Gloucestershire HMO fire safety requirements
South Gloucestershire publishes its own HMO fire safety standard, "Fire Safety Standards for Licensable Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) (South Gloucestershire Council)" (Not dated).
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?
Fire Safety Standards for Licensable Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) (South Gloucestershire Council)
Published Not dated.
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 South Gloucestershire 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
- 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
- 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 | Required | Required | Required |
| Heat detector in the kitchen | Required | Required | Required |
| Emergency lighting | Not required | Not 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
“For bedsits: Grade D: LD2 BS5839: Part 6. For shared houses: Grade D: LD3* BS5839: Part 6 *plus shared areas ... DS to hall and landing at each level and to any shared lounge. DH to kitchens and bedsits. For bedsits, a stand-alone 10 year life sealed battery DS will be required in addition to the DH. ... Fire Alarm System | Grade D: LD3* BS5839: Part 6 *plus shared areas. | Grade A: LD2 BS5839: Part 6 ... Shared houses | Shared houses | Bedsits and shared houses”
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
Council's own standard
“Walls / Partitions – Escape route (refer to paragraph 9 of LACORS) | Walls and floors to be of sound, traditional construction. | 30-minute protected route is required with 30-minute fire-resisting construction.”
Kitchen heat detector
Council's own standard
“DH to kitchens and bedsits. ... DS to hall and landing at each level and to lounge and dining room. DH to kitchen.”
Emergency lighting
Council's own standard
“Emergency Lighting | Not required. ... Emergency Lighting | Only required if means of escape has no borrowed light or route is long or complex. | Required ... Shared houses | Shared houses | Bedsits and shared houses”
Fire extinguishers
Council's own standard
“Only required if there are staff that work / sleep at a property. Staff need to be trained / qualified to use.”
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it.
Not in South Gloucestershire?
Common questions
Do I need a fire risk assessment for a South Gloucestershire HMO licence?
Can I do my own HMO fire risk assessment in South Gloucestershire?
Which fire safety standard does South Gloucestershire use for HMOs?
What fire alarm does a 3-storey shared house need in South Gloucestershire?
Check your South Gloucestershire HMO against the council's standard
Answer plain-English questions about your house and get a fire risk assessment report built on South Gloucestershire's rules. £45, no subscription.