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HMO fire risk assessment

Fire risk assessments for Cambridge HMOs.

Every Cambridge HMO needs a written fire risk assessment. Do yours online to BS 9792:2025, and see what Cambridge's own fire safety rules mean for your house.

Skip the £200–£500 assessor bill. Built on the guidance councils use, for £45.

BS 9792:2025 methodBuilt on the LACORS guideWorks offline on-siteInstant PDF report

Refund guarantee: full refund if your council rejects our report’s format or the standard it’s written to. Terms apply.

£45 one-off · PDF report · no subscription

CambridgeCambridge council area
Council rulesOwn standard, Updated June 2026
Typical assessor cost£200–£500
With FRASafe£45
TurnaroundSame day

Written by Bradley, Founder of FRASafeCouncil rules last checked 13 October 2026How we check →

East of England

Cambridge's HMO fire safety rules

Cambridge publishes its own HMO fire safety standard, "The Private Rented Sector Housing Standard: a guide for landlords, letting agents and property professionals" (Updated June 2026). It is based on the Cambridgeshire standard, which 2 other councils use too. FRASafe's assessment follows BS 9792:2025 and LACORS. Below is what Cambridge's rules ask for in a typical house, so you know what to expect.

Assessment for the licence
Not stated by the council
Who can carry it out
No rule on who writes it
Last checked
13 October 2026

Running an HMO in Cambridge

The local rules and contacts that sit alongside your fire risk assessment, each taken from the council's or fire service's own website.

Fire and rescue service

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service covers Cambridge.

Source: cambsfire.gov.uk
Licence fee

A new HMO licence from Cambridge costs £1,133 (£736 on application, £397 when granted), 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.

Show the official wording
“The HMO mandatory licence fee is £1,133.”
Source: cambridge.gov.uk

Applying for or renewing your Cambridge HMO licence? Fire safety law says your HMO needs a written fire risk assessment, whatever the licence form asks.

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Worked example

What your Cambridge fire risk assessment will check

A typical 3-storey shared house with 6 tenants, run through Cambridge's rules. Each item shows the wording it comes from, and what your action plan says if the house is missing it. Your own house may need more or less, which is what the assessment works out.

Fire alarm

Required

A linked fire alarm system (Grade D1, LD2)

“Existing premises - Grade D1, Category LD2 system ... New or materially altered premises – Grade D1, Category LD1 system ... Grade A, Category LD2 system in the communal areas, in accordance with British Standard 5839-1:2017 for a Category L2 system ... Grade D1, Category LD1 system in the individual dwelling units comprising of a single room, not connected to the communal system ... Heat detection to be provided to dwelling units containing cooking facilities rather than smoke detection ... Grade D1, Category LD2 system in the individual dwelling units, not connected to the communal system, comprising of two or more rooms ... New or materially altered premises – two-storey houses and maisonettes with no floor above 4.5m from ground level – Grade A, Category LD2 system ... Existing premises – four-storey house – Grade D1, Category LD1 system ... Existing, new, or materially altered premises – four-storey house – Grade A, Category LD1 system ... Any shared house where there are more than 6 persons the fire detection and alarm systems shall comply with bedsit type HMO requirements ... Existing, new, or materially altered premises – maisonettes with any floor above 4.5m from ground level - Grade D1, Category LD1 system ... Existing, new, or materially altered premises – bungalows, flats, or single-storey units – Grade D1, Category LD2 system ... New or materially altered premises – maisonettes with any floor above 4.5m from ground level – Grade A, Category LD1 system”
The Private Rented Sector Housing Standard (Cambridge City Council), Updated June 2026

If it's missing: High priority in your action plan

The fire alarm is Grade F. This house needs a Grade D1 system with LD2 coverage. Have a qualified alarm engineer upgrade it to BS 5839-6. Required by The Private Rented Sector Housing Standard (Cambridge City Council) (Updated June 2026).

Fire doors

Required

Fire doors with self-closers on every bedroom and the kitchen

“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”
LACORS Housing - Fire Safety: guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing, July 2008

If it's missing: High priority in your action plan

Not every bedroom door is a fire door with a self-closer. Fit FD30 fire doors with self-closers to all bedrooms. Required by LACORS Housing - Fire Safety: guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing (July 2008).

Escape route

Required

A protected escape route, with the hall and stairs giving 30 minutes' fire resistance

“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”
LACORS Housing - Fire Safety: guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing, July 2008

If it's missing: High priority in your action plan

The hallway and stairs are not confirmed as a 30-minute protected route. Make good any holes or open-plan gaps so walls and ceilings give 30 minutes' fire resistance. Required by LACORS Housing - Fire Safety: guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing (July 2008).

Kitchen heat detector

Required

A linked heat detector in the kitchen

“additional interlinked heat alarm with integral battery back-up located in the kitchen”
LACORS Housing - Fire Safety: guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing, July 2008

If it's missing: High priority in your action plan

Not every kitchen has a linked heat alarm. Fit an interlinked heat alarm in each kitchen. Required by LACORS Housing - Fire Safety: guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing (July 2008).

Emergency lighting

Not needed here

Not needed in this example house

“Emergency escape lighting required on long or complex escape routes or where no effective borrowed light.”
The Private Rented Sector Housing Standard (Cambridge City Council), Updated June 2026

Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it.

How it works

From Blank Screen to Finished Report in 35 Minutes

Produce a BS 9792:2025 HMO fire risk assessment, checked against the LACORS housing fire safety guide that most councils use.

You do not need to be a fire-safety expert. FRASafe turns the legal requirements into plain-English questions and builds the report for you.

1

Complete the assessment

Answer structured questions covering fire hazards, means of escape, fire detection, fire doors, and more, mapped to BS 9792:2025 and the RRO 2005. Progress saved automatically.

2

Review findings & action plan

FRASafe generates a prioritised action plan with risk ratings for every finding. Review and sign your declarations before generating the report.

3

Download your PDF report

For £45, download your finished fire risk assessment PDF, laid out for your licence application.

Real reviews

What HMO landlords say

★★★★★
“I manage three HMOs. An assessor quoted £350 each, over £1,000. I did all three with FRASafe in an afternoon for £135.”
Neil B. · HMO landlord · Nottingham
★★★★★
“I was required to undergo a fire risk assessment as part of my HMO application. I found the Frasafe online form easy to complete and upload information to produce a Fire Risk Assessment that was relevant to my property. The price point of £45 was affordable, making Frasafe the right choice for my needs as a busy Landlord.”
Karin Tong · Trustpilot review
★★★★★
“Super smooth process for getting my fire safety report for my AirBNB property. Will be using again.”
John Harrington · Trustpilot review

Free tool

How fire-safe is your HMO?

Take the free 60-second fire safety check and get an instant Red, Amber or Green score, plus the things to fix first. No obligation.

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Simple pricing

No subscription. No hidden fees. Pay once per report.

Fire Risk Assessment

£200–£500 professional assessor

£45
  • Full BS 9792:2025 questionnaire
  • Works offline on-site
  • PDF fire risk assessment in your name
  • Built on the LACORS fire safety guide
  • Lifetime access to your report
  • Annual review reminder
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One-off payment, taken securely at checkout.

Rejected report? Full refund.

If your council rejects your FRASafe report because of its format or the standard it is written to, send us their reason in writing within 30 days and we will refund your £45 in full. You take no risk. This does not apply if you went ahead after we told you your council requires a qualified assessor.

Common questions

How do I get an HMO fire risk assessment done in Cambridge?
You can pay an on-site fire risk assessor, or do it yourself online with FRASafe for £45. 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.
Does Cambridge want to see my fire risk assessment?
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.
What will my Cambridge fire risk assessment check?
For a typical 3-storey shared house with 6 tenants, Cambridge's rules ask for: a linked fire alarm system (Grade D1, LD2); fire doors with self-closers on every bedroom and the kitchen; a protected escape route, with the hall and stairs giving 30 minutes' fire resistance; a linked heat detector in the kitchen. Anything your house is missing goes into your action plan with a priority and the rule it comes from.

Start your Cambridge HMO fire risk assessment today

£45 for your PDF report. No subscription.