If you own or manage a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO), then you are required to have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment carried out for the premises.
HMO is a property that is shared by three or more tenants who are not members of the same family.
These may include:
- houses converted into self-contained flats, each occupied by a single household
- shared and bedsit houses
- shared flats
- houses containing a mixture of flats in single occupation and bedsits
- hostels and hotels
- boarding houses
Licences for landlords
You must have a licence if you’re renting out a large HMO. Your property is defined as a large HMO if all the following apply:
- it’s rented to five or more people who form more than one household
- it’s at least three storeys high
- tenants share toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities
The licence ensures that the property is managed correctly and meets safety standards.
A licence is valid for a maximum of 5 years.
Even if your property is smaller and rented to fewer people, you may still need a licence depending on the area. You may need to contact your local district council.
The Housing Act 2004
All housing, including HMOs, is subject to the Housing Act 2004.
This is enforced by the local housing authority, which in most cases is the local council housing department.
Other pieces of fire safety legislation can also be applied to HMOs.
Fire safety in new and altered HMOs, flats and maisonettes are subject to local authority building regulations.
Contact us
For more information, email fire.businesssupport@suffolk.gov.uk, or call 01473 260588.
