East Midlands
South Kesteven HMO fire safety requirements
South Kesteven publishes its own HMO fire safety standard, "Prescribed Standards for deciding the suitability for occupation of a House of Multiple Occupation (South Kesteven District Council)" (June 2021).
Is a fire risk assessment needed for the licence?
Not stated by the council
We could not find the council saying whether it wants to see your fire risk assessment. Fire safety law still says the landlord of an HMO must have one.
Who can carry it out?
A "competent person"
The council says a "competent person" must carry it out. In fire safety law that means someone with enough training, experience or knowledge to assess the house properly. A careful landlord can meet that.
Which standard applies?
Prescribed Standards for deciding the suitability for occupation of a House of Multiple Occupation (South Kesteven District Council)
Published June 2021.
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 South Kesteven 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
- 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
- Recommended
3-storey shared house, 6 tenants
- Fire alarm system
- Grade A, LD2
- 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
- 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
- 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, LD3 | Grade A, LD2 | 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 | 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 | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended |
- 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
“3 story or more, 5 person or more) ... mains wired panel controlled detection alarm system to (BS 5839 Part 1 2002) interconnected smoke detectors to be fitted to every bedroom and common hallway with heat detectors to kitchens and any cellar/ basement.”
Fire doors
Council's own standard
“All doors opening onto an escape route ... must be FD30S with the appropriate door furniture including a self-closing device, three hinges and intumescent strips. These must close fully without assistance. ... Not required in some instances of smaller shared houses.”
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 to be fitted through the escape route in 3 story or larger properties or where there and complex escape routes, or where there is little or ineffective borrowed light.”
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.
Not in South Kesteven?
Common questions
Do I need a fire risk assessment for a South Kesteven HMO licence?
Can I do my own HMO fire risk assessment in South Kesteven?
Which fire safety standard does South Kesteven use for HMOs?
What fire alarm does a 3-storey shared house need in South Kesteven?
Check your South Kesteven HMO against the council's standard
Answer plain-English questions about your house and get a fire risk assessment report built on South Kesteven's rules. £45, no subscription.