Fire Risk Assessment for HMOs

Professional Fire Risk Assessments for Houses in Multiple Occupation Across South Wales

Helping HMO Landlords Stay Compliant, Legal & Protected

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Fire Risk Assessments for HMOs in South Wales

FireBugged provides professional fire risk assessments for HMOs — Houses in Multiple Occupation — across South Wales. If you let a property to three or more tenants who form more than one household and share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom, your property is likely classified as an HMO and you are legally required to have a fire risk assessment in place.

Led by Paul Williams, a Level 4 qualified Fire Risk Assessor with over 26 years’ experience, we work with HMO landlords and letting agents across Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, Bridgend, Pontypridd and the wider South Wales region to ensure their properties are fully compliant, properly assessed and protected.

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Are Fire Risk Assessments a Legal Requirement for HMOs?

Yes. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, landlords of HMOs are required to carry out — or arrange — a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment for the common parts of the property. For larger or licensed HMOs, this is also a condition of your HMO licence issued by your local council.

In Wales, HMO licensing requirements are enforced by local authorities including Cardiff Council, Newport City Council and Swansea Council. Failure to hold a valid fire risk assessment can result in your licence application being refused or revoked, as well as enforcement action and fines.

Beyond licensing, a properly conducted fire risk assessment demonstrates to your insurer, your tenants and any enforcing authority that you have taken your fire safety responsibilities seriously. In the event of a fire, the absence of a valid assessment can have serious legal and financial consequences for a landlord.

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What Does an HMO Fire Risk Assessment Cover?

An HMO fire risk assessment focuses on the shared and common areas of the property, as well as the overall fire safety arrangements that protect all occupants. A FireBugged HMO assessment will cover:

• Escape routes — hallways, stairwells, landings and final exits inspected for obstructions, condition and suitability
• Fire doors — checking that fire doors throughout the property are correctly installed, self-closing, undamaged and compliant
• Fire detection and alarm systems — assessing the type, coverage and condition of smoke and heat detectors and alarm systems
• Emergency lighting — checking that escape routes are adequately lit in the event of a power failure
• Fire safety signage — ensuring exit signs and fire action notices are correctly positioned and visible
• Fire extinguishers — checking that appropriate extinguishers are provided, correctly sited and in date
• Compartmentation — assessing whether fire and smoke can spread between rooms and floors
• Ignition and fuel source identification — identifying hazards within common areas and assessing risk
• Photographic evidence of all findings
• A written report with prioritised recommendations and clear timescales for remedial action

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What Type of HMOs Do We Assess?

We carry out fire risk assessments for all types of HMO across South Wales, including:

• Student HMOs and shared houses
• Professional house shares
• Bedsits and converted properties
• Larger licensed HMOs with five or more occupants
• Converted flats and maisonettes
• Supported living and exempt accommodation

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How Often Should an HMO Fire Risk Assessment Be Reviewed?

HMO fire risk assessments should be reviewed regularly — as a minimum, annually, and whenever there is a change that could affect the fire risk. This includes:

• Changes in the number of occupants or tenancy arrangements
• Refurbishment or building works
• Changes to the layout or use of rooms
• Installation or replacement of fire safety equipment
• Any fire, near-miss or complaint from tenants or the local authority

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Areas We Cover

We provide HMO fire risk assessments across South Wales, including:

• Cardiff
• Newport
• Swansea
• Bridgend
• Vale of Glamorgan
• Pontypridd
• The South Wales Valleys and surrounding areas

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FireBugged provides HMO fire risk assessments across South Wales. Get in touch to discuss your requirements or request a quote.