East of England
Watford HMO fire safety requirements
Watford publishes its own HMO fire safety standard, "Hertfordshire Fire Precautions Guide: Guide to Fire Safety in Houses in Multiple Occupation, Version 3 with 2019 revision (Herts authorities and HFRS, Watford copy)" (September 2015, revised 2019). It is based on the Hertfordshire standard, which 2 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?
Hertfordshire Fire Precautions Guide: Guide to Fire Safety in Houses in Multiple Occupation, Version 3 with 2019 revision (Herts authorities and HFRS, Watford copy)
Published September 2015, revised 2019.
Read the council's document →When did we last check?
11 October 2026
We re-check every council's documents each month and update this page when they change.
What Watford 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
- Not 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 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 advised
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 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 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 | Not required | Required | Required |
| Protected escape route | Not 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 advised | Not advised | Not advised |
- 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
“BS5839-6 (2019) has changed the requirements for HMO premises of 1-2 stories (below 200m2) for new or materially altered premises, which will now require a grade D category LD1 rather than LD2. Existing premises remain compliant if they have a category LD2.”
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
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
Shared regional standard
“To be provided in accordance with the current BS 5266 Part 1 (or equivalent) ... to cover the protected escape route.”
Fire extinguishers
Shared regional standard
“on balance it is best to encourage people to get out of the house quickly and call the Fire Service ... Therefore, whilst fire blankets should be provided to all cooking facilities normally there will be no requirement for fire extinguishers.”
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it.
Not in Watford?
Councils using the same standard as Watford
Common questions
Do I need a fire risk assessment for a Watford HMO licence?
Can I do my own HMO fire risk assessment in Watford?
Which fire safety standard does Watford use for HMOs?
What fire alarm does a 3-storey shared house need in Watford?
Check your Watford HMO against the council's standard
Answer plain-English questions about your house and get a fire risk assessment report built on Watford's rules. £45, no subscription.