HMO fire risk assessment
Fire risk assessments for Chester HMOs.
Every Chester HMO needs a written fire risk assessment. Do yours online to BS 9792:2025, and see what Cheshire West and Chester's own fire safety rules mean for your house.
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Written by Bradley, Founder of FRASafeCouncil rules last checked 14 October 2026How we check →
North West
Cheshire West and Chester's HMO fire safety rules
Cheshire West and Chester follows the Homestamp standard, which 10 other councils use too. FRASafe's assessment follows BS 9792:2025 and LACORS. Below is what Cheshire West and Chester's rules ask for in a typical house, so you know what to expect.
- Standard
- Property and Management Standards Applicable to Houses of Multiple Occupation (Amenity Standards)
- Assessment for the licence
- Expected, but not sent in
- Who can carry it out
- No rule on who writes it
- Last checked
- 14 October 2026
Running an HMO in Chester
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
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service covers Chester.
Source: cheshirefire.gov.uk- Planning
Turning a family home into a small HMO needs planning permission in Chester Garden Quarter (an Article 4 direction, in force since 8 July 2013).
Source: planningpolicy.cheshirewestandchester.gov.ukShow the official wording
“Cheshire West and Chester has Article 4 Directions in place for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in areas of Chester. These include Chester Garden Quarter (8 July 2013), Newry Park (2 May 2016) and King Street (2 May 2016).”
- Planning
Turning a family home into a small HMO needs planning permission in the Newry Park and King Street areas of Chester (an Article 4 direction, in force since 2 May 2016).
Source: planningpolicy.cheshirewestandchester.gov.ukShow the official wording
“Cheshire West and Chester has Article 4 Directions in place for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in areas of Chester. These include Chester Garden Quarter (8 July 2013), Newry Park (2 May 2016) and King Street (2 May 2016).”
- Licence fee
A new HMO licence from Cheshire West and Chester costs £786 for up to six habitable rooms (more for larger HMOs).
Source: cheshirewestandchester.gov.ukShow the official wording
“£786: up to six habitable rooms”
Applying for or renewing your Chester HMO licence? Fire safety law says your HMO needs a written fire risk assessment, whatever the licence form asks.
Get my fire risk assessmentWorked example
What your Chester fire risk assessment will check
A typical 3-storey shared house with 6 tenants, run through Cheshire West and Chester'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
RequiredA linked fire alarm system (Grade D2, LD3)
“A system of mains powered automatic smoke detectors with battery back up, to achieve a Grade D system in accordance with the current BS 5839 Part 6 (or equivalent), must be installed. ... In kitchens a heat detector, rather than a smoke detector, must be installed. ... By providing a detector/ sounder in the communal areas ... Detectors must be sited in all areas containing a fire risk. ... The main system shall provide heat detectors in individual lets and smoke detectors in common areas and any storerooms/cellars (interlinked system). ... single point smoke alarms are also required. These detectors are not interlinked between rooms. ... GRADE A of the current BS 5859 Part 6 (or equivalent). Automatic detection must provide LD2 coverage. ... comprising of GRADE A (main system) and GRADE D (Single point smoke alarms). The main system must provide LD2 coverage.”
If it's missing: High priority in your action plan
The fire alarm is Grade F. This house needs a Grade D2 system with LD3 coverage. Have a qualified alarm engineer upgrade it to BS 5839-6. Required by A Guide to Fire and Security Protection in Multi-Occupied Residential Properties (Homestamp Consortium) (Revision 2015).
Fire doors
RequiredFire doors with self-closers on every bedroom and the kitchen
“A protected means of escape is generally required with Fire doors (FD30s) on all bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens that lead onto the hall stairs and landing.”
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 Property and Management Standards Applicable to Houses of Multiple Occupation (Amenity Standards), Cheshire West and Chester Council (Undated (PDF modified December 2022)).
Escape route
RequiredA protected escape route, with the hall and stairs giving 30 minutes' fire resistance
“A protected means of escape is generally required with Fire doors (FD30s) on all bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens that lead onto the hall stairs and landing.”
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 Property and Management Standards Applicable to Houses of Multiple Occupation (Amenity Standards), Cheshire West and Chester Council (Undated (PDF modified December 2022)).
Kitchen heat detector
RequiredA linked heat detector in the kitchen
“additional interlinked heat alarm with integral battery back-up located in the kitchen”
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 hereNot needed in this example house
“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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.”
“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.”
“Super smooth process for getting my fire safety report for my AirBNB property. Will be using again.”
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Simple pricing
No subscription. No hidden fees. Pay once per report.
£200–£500 professional assessor
- 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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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
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