South West
Tewkesbury HMO fire safety requirements
Tewkesbury publishes its own HMO fire safety standard, "Landlord's Guide to Amenities and Facilities for Houses in Multiple Occupation (Tewkesbury Borough Council)" (October 2023). 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?
Landlord's Guide to Amenities and Facilities for Houses in Multiple Occupation (Tewkesbury Borough Council)
Published October 2023.
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 Tewkesbury 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 D1, LD2
- 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 advised
3-storey shared house, 6 tenants
- Fire alarm system
- Grade D1, LD2
- 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 advised
3-storey bedsits with cooking in rooms, 6 tenants
- Fire alarm system
- Grade A, LD1, plus a linked heat detector and 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
- Not advised
| 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 D1, LD2 | Grade D1, LD2 | Grade A, LD1, plus a linked heat detector and a linked 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 | Not required | Not required |
| Fire blanket in the kitchen | Required | Required | Required |
| Fire extinguishers | Not advised | Not advised | Not advised |
- Grade D1 (mains alarms with a sealed backup battery)
- Grade A (a panel system with call points)
- LD2 (escape route plus rooms where fires are likely to start)
- LD1 (alarms in all rooms and on the escape route)
- * The council's own standard asks for less here, so we show the LACORS minimum. We never go below LACORS.
In the council's own words
The wording these requirements come from, quoted from the published documents.
Fire alarms
Council's own standard
“Grade D1, LD2 interlinked fire alarm system with smoke alarms in ... escape routes at all levels and heat alarm in the kitchen. ... Grade D1, LD1 system consisting of mains wired, interlinked smoke ... alarms in escape route at all levels, in all letting rooms, living/dining ... Mains wired, interlinked heat alarm in kitchen or any room ... containing cooking facilities”
Fire doors
Council's own standard
“Bedroom doors must be solid, in good repair with no gaps and close fitting”
Escape route
Council's own standard
“Cellars must have a ceiling that is 30 minutes fire resistant. 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
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
Council's own standard
“The Fire Service discourages the provision of fire extinguishers except in premises with full time on- site staff who are trained in their use.”
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it.
Not in Tewkesbury?
Councils using the same standard as Tewkesbury
Common questions
Do I need a fire risk assessment for a Tewkesbury HMO licence?
Can I do my own HMO fire risk assessment in Tewkesbury?
Which fire safety standard does Tewkesbury use for HMOs?
What fire alarm does a 3-storey shared house need in Tewkesbury?
Check your Tewkesbury HMO against the council's standard
Answer plain-English questions about your house and get a fire risk assessment report built on Tewkesbury's rules. £45, no subscription.