West Midlands
Walsall HMO fire safety requirements
Walsall publishes its own HMO fire safety standard, "Minimum Property and Management Standards Applicable to HMOs in Walsall" (February 2018). It is based on the Homestamp standard, which 10 other councils use too.
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?
Minimum Property and Management Standards Applicable to HMOs in Walsall
Published February 2018.
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 Walsall 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
- 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
3-storey shared house, 6 tenants
- Fire alarm system
- Grade A, 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
- 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, LD2, plus a linked smoke alarm in each letting | Grade A, 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 | 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 | Required | 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)
- 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
“Installing an automatic fire detection and warning system in accordance with British Standard S839 Part 6 : 2004 Grade A, giving a category LD2 level of coverage (ie smoke detectors in each bedroom, communal living room, hall, landings and any walk-in cupboards and cellars (where appropriate) plus heat detectors in each shared kitchen all linked to a control panel). ... Installing an interlinked automatic fire detection and warning system in accordance with British Standard 5839 Part 6: 2004 Grade D giving a category LD2 level of coverage. No control panel is required”
Fire doors
Council's own standard
“A protected escape route which is created by fitting half hour fire resisting self-closing fire doors to all risk rooms adjoining the communal escape route ... The fitting of a half hour fire resisting self-closing door to the kitchen only is however acceptable where all bedroom windows at first floor level meet with escape window specifications. ... The protected route and emergency lighting system are as for a 3 storey property”
Escape route
Council's own standard
“A protected escape route which is created by fitting half hour fire resisting self-closing fire doors to all risk rooms adjoining the communal escape route ... The fitting of a half hour fire resisting self-closing door to the kitchen only is however acceptable where all bedroom windows at first floor level meet with escape window specifications. ... The protected route and emergency lighting system are as for a 3 storey property”
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
“Installing an emergency lighting system to the communal escape route in accordance with BS5266. ... Installing an emergency lighting system to the communal escape route in accordance with British Standard 5266.”
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 Walsall?
Councils using the same standard as Walsall
Common questions
Do I need a fire risk assessment for a Walsall HMO licence?
Can I do my own HMO fire risk assessment in Walsall?
Which fire safety standard does Walsall use for HMOs?
What fire alarm does a 3-storey shared house need in Walsall?
Check your Walsall HMO against the council's standard
Answer plain-English questions about your house and get a fire risk assessment report built on Walsall's rules. £45, no subscription.