HMO fire risk assessment
Fire risk assessments for Oxford HMOs.
Every Oxford HMO needs a written fire risk assessment. Do yours online to BS 9792:2025, and see what Oxford's own fire safety rules mean for your house.
Skip the £200–£500 assessor bill. Built on the guidance councils use, for £45.
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
Written by Bradley, Founder of FRASafeCouncil rules last checked 15 October 2026How we check →
South East
Oxford's HMO fire safety rules
Oxford publishes its own HMO fire safety standard, "Landlord's Guide to Amenities and Facilities for Houses in Multiple Occupation" (2019). FRASafe's assessment follows BS 9792:2025 and LACORS. Below is what Oxford's rules ask for in a typical house, so you know what to expect.
- Assessment for the licence
- Yes, with your licence application
- Who can carry it out
- No rule on who writes it
- Last checked
- 15 October 2026
Running an HMO in Oxford
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
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service covers Oxford.
Source: oxfordshire.gov.uk- Additional licensing
Oxford runs additional licensing in the whole city, from 25th June 2026 to 25th June 2031, so smaller HMOs there need a licence too, not only those big enough for a mandatory licence.
Source: oxford.gov.ukShow the official wording
“This designation is made on 25th March 2026 and shall come into force at midnight (00.00hrs) on the 25th June 2026.”
- Selective licensing
Oxford runs selective licensing in the whole city, from 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2027, so most privately rented homes there need a licence, not just HMOs.
Source: oxford.gov.ukShow the official wording
“The selective licensing scheme will come into effect on 1 September 2022 and end on 31 August 2027 (midnight).”
- Planning
Turning a family home into a small HMO needs planning permission in the whole city (an Article 4 direction, in force since 25 February 2012).
Source: oxford.gov.ukShow the official wording
“An Article 4 Direction came into force on 25 February 2012 that introduced local planning controls for HMOs in the whole Oxford City Council area.”
- Licence fee
A new HMO licence from Oxford costs £858 for a standard one-year licence (£407 on application, £451 later), from 1 April 2026.
Source: oxford.gov.ukShow the official wording
“Standard New Application - New application for a one-year* licence where: The HMO was acquired and/or began operating as an HMO within the previous 12 weeks;”
Applying for or renewing your Oxford HMO licence? Oxford wants a written fire risk assessment with your application.
Get my fire risk assessmentWorked example
What your Oxford fire risk assessment will check
A typical 3-storey shared house with 6 tenants, run through Oxford'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, LD2)
“Low risk shared houses (shared kitchen facilities and joint tenancy agreement) ... Grade D LD2 fire alarm system with smoke detectors in escape route at all levels and heat alarm in kitchen (interlinked)”
If it's missing: High priority in your action plan
The fire alarm is Grade F. This house needs a Grade D2 system with LD2 coverage. Have a qualified alarm engineer upgrade it to BS 5839-6. Required by Landlord's Guide to Amenities and Facilities for Houses in Multiple Occupation (Oxford City Council) (2019).
Fire doors
RequiredFire doors with self-closers on every bedroom and the kitchen
The council asks for less here, so the LACORS minimum is used.
“Bedroom doors must be solid and close fitting ... Bedroom doors must be 30-minute fire doors with heat seals, smoke seals and self-closer1”
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
RequiredA protected escape route, with the hall and stairs giving 30 minutes' fire resistance
The council asks for less here, so the LACORS minimum is used.
“Basement/cellars must have a ceiling that is 30-minute fire resistant ... = Best practice 30-minute protected escape route”
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
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
“Emergency lighting is not normally required in small, low risk HMOs. Where the escape route is long or complicated or there is no effective borrowed light then emergency lighting is required.”
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.”
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.
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
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
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Start your Oxford HMO fire risk assessment today
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