HMO

I own a Licenced small HMO (3-6 persons), currently let to 4 persons. It has a Grade A LD2 alarm system, that is tested weekly, with 6 monthly test certificates attained from my NICEIC registered Electrician, holding the required experience and 5839 competencies, he also installed the system back in 2017. The system has had FRA's by an accredited company. As an aside - over the years my electrician has permitted me to perform 7671 1st fix tasks on a number of my own developments, that he has then subsequently completed the remaining work (CU and final connections) and then certified, judging me to be skilled enough to do the work to the required standard. D…

Hi all, Need some advice. Renting Bron Afon property, have been told I don't need to shave the bottom of the fire door by them yet was told something completely different by a carpet company. If necessary I'd have to do it myself. There's a 1.2cm gap between bottom of the door/ floor Any thoughts?

Hi I have a number of firedoors in a HMO that require a small amount of filling. They are relatively new and structurally in good shape. A previous fire assesment did not call out issues but there are a small number of holes. Im struggling to find Fireproof filler in the usual hardware stores. Does it have to be a specific fireproof filler? Best

Is a brush at the bottom of the door ok to have? I guess it would prevent the smoke from getting through?

Hi, We have a 5-bed licensed HMO (shared cooking facilities (not bedsits) where all tenants knew each other prior and signed one tenancy agreement) which is located over 3 floors. It was first licensed in 2015 and the license was renewed in August 2020, as part of this there was a renewal inspection in January 2020. In accordance with the LACORS fire safety guidance for a "Shared house HMO of three or four storeys (shared cooking facilities)" we installed a "Grade D: LD3 coverage + additional detection to the kitchen, lounge and any cellar containing a risk (interlinked)" fire detection and warning system. We also installed one emergency light on the first floor sinc…

Hi I hope someone on here can help me out with a bit of advice. I live in a flat above a shop, the stairs to my flat are open to the air, however underneath them is enclosed. The shop is keeping stock underneath the stairs - is this a fire hazard? In my mind it is - as if their is a fire in the shop, I then would not be able to get out of my flat via the stairs. Am I correct in this thinking, if so who do I report them too (anonymously). Any advice would be appreciated.

1950s purpose built row of flats all with external access. The blocks are separated with ground, first and second floor accessed each by a single staircase that is enclosed at upper floor level but open at ground (so no common areas doors). The flat doors opening to the staircase (enclosed but not internal). I think these should be FD30s fire doors. Any thoughts much appreciated.

Morning Does anyone know what the min size measurements a kitchen fire door should be in a HMO? Many thanks in advance

Hi, recently visited a HMO which had a bolted stair gates at the top and bottom of the stairs. There is only one staircase which acts as the means of escape for the four flats on the first floor. Anyone else come across this before? My view is that they should be removed as they are compromising the means of escape in the event of an emergency. Thank you.

Hi We have 6 bed HMOs in which tenants are increasingly wanting to game such that they're keen to hard wire ethernet cable rather than relying on wireless service. Obviously we need to avoid trip and fire hazards. Whilst I appreciate it would be unsafe to run electrical cable under a carpet, is it safe to run ethernet cable under a carpet and potentially under doorway carpet too? In a world where data flow is more important to tenants than warmth, light or shelter ;-) this is becoming an increasing challenge! We have used Powerline systems in some circumstances but it'd be really useful to have thoughts from others please? With thanks in anticipation!

Hi. I have read this mark on GLORIA capsules. "MES 06/09". what does it mean? thanks alot.

Hi, Im looking for some advice on a HMO with three floors G,1,2. Currently installed is a Grade D LD2 fire alarm system and this would normally be ok. I'm sure I have read somewhere that if there is even one member of staff that the fire alarm system should be upgraded. The reason for a member of staff is that they are 17-19 years of age.

I would like to know if this is complies with bs5839 pt6. An existing system A 4 storey hmo split into 3 self contained flats with a communal staircase. The communal entrance and stairs has a fire alarm control panel with smokes, call points and sounders. Then each flat has its own mains wired smoke alarm in the entrance hall not interlinked and not wired to the control panel

Hi I’m looking for some information with testing clothing, socks. Pyjamas and robes after applying vinyl to them. Do I need to get them retested once applying vinyl to them before selling them to customers? Is it different for adults and children’s clothing? thanks Kirsty

I am a landlord of a 3 storey building. Ground Floor is leased (takeaway) and 1st/2nd floors are a HMO. I have been asked by the council to provide a 1 hour fire rating between the commercial ground floor and the 1st floor. Since the ground floor is leased and an operational business, Is there any way the fire rating can be achieved from above ? Alternatively is there anyway to mitigate not having a 1 hour celling/floors e.g. fire alarm system between commercial and HMO ect ?

Stumped on this one and any guidance appreciated. I was invited to look at a prospective HMO in a block of flats. The building in which the prospective HMO is located has four storeys, ground, first, second and third floors. The building is located in Scotland. There are two flats on each storey. A protected stairway accessed at ground floor level serves all storeys. The prospective HMO is located on the top storey/third floor. Storey height to third floor flat main entrance door is 9m. Top most storey height in building is 12m. No riser provided. The flat is accessed via your standard hardwood FD30S self-closing door into a hallway .The hallway has kitchen…

Since we have a HMO we had a certified electrician coming to fit all the smoke and heat alarms as legally required. Now almost once every week the heat alarm in the kitchen goes off whilst normal cooking with extractor hood on. No burned food or oil or anything. Maybe hot steam when opening a bigger pot, opening the oven just long enough to check if the food's ready, maybe a little bit of smoke when making pancakes... We always cook with constantly open window now even when it is freezing outside... One tenant who used to cook in the night due to his shift stopped doing it because he's afraid he might wake up everyone. When the alarm goes on it goes obviously on in every…

Can fire door lips be fitted to the door leaf retrospectively?

I've carried out a number of fire risk assessments on three buildings which are, I believe, single domestic dwellings. None of the premises are on a Register of HMOs. One bungalow has a single occupant with a 22/7 (there's a day-time 2-hour 'break' in care) carer. The house is owned by a housing association and on long-term rent to the tenant, with care provided by a third party. The second bungalow is similar, but with three residents and a 24/7 carer, each with their own bedrooms but the rest of the house is shared. The third is a two-storey house with 2 residents and a 24/7 carer, each with their own bedrooms but the rest of the house is shared. …

I have a new role in supporting residents in a HMO (supported accommodation). I weekly check the fire alarm, emergency lighting and the main door. The residents are aware if there is a fire they need to evacuate to the front car park and this was done in letter form to explain. I have never done a fire drill.I did fire awareness training back in June and have a few questions I need answered. How long do I set the fire alarm off for when doing a fire drill?There are residents that will just ignore as soon as they see me arrive as the fire alarm is in direct sight of their communal area. How do I deal with those who will ignore the alarm? Its a three story …

Hello. I would be grateful to receive some advice on the application of BS 7273-4:2015. I work for a housing provider in Northern Ireland and we have recently completed the construction of a new build HMO, which is a hostel for prisoners released on licence. The building has four levels: a lower ground floor, ground floor, first floor and second floor. The premises are managed by a homeless charity with a minimum of two staff on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Due to the clientele living in the HMO the internal communal doors (i.e. in corridors and stairwells) are access controlled with a fob; staff have access to all areas and residents have access t…

Hi. I have a house that I rent out as a HMO. I have a question about the area below a 1st storey escape window. I need to build a 6ft high timber gate half way up the driveway to improve security but it would need to be placed very near to the area beneath one of the first floor escape windows. I have not been able to find any information on this and would very much appreciate some advice. I have attached a rough picture of the situation, The escape window is the lower middle window of the bay window upstairs.

I've been asked to carry out a risk assessment for a block of flats, and I'm trying to find the best way to describe the building. Essentially, it has two four storey buildings with a common stairwell, but there is a flat on each half landing, with a total of eight flats. Is this, therefore, an eight-storey building which is only four storeys high? Thanks ? (Sorry if it's posted in the wrong forum, I couldn't see one for 'Odd Building Designs'

I am converting an internal door to a fire door in my 4 beds house, which I am converting in an HMO and in which I will be living in. When replacing the door, can I reuse the handles I already have in our standard door ? Cheers

I own a garden/basement flat in a four storey Victorian house. It is entirely self-contained with its own private garden and private entrance with a rear door to the enclosed patio garden I have no access to the common areas that the other residents need to gain entrance: a stone staircase, a front door and a common hallway. I am also a joint freeholder. The 1st floor flat is owned by a non-resident freeholder who is also a private sector landlord. After a small electrical fire in the flat above me, attended by the local Fire and Rescue, I wrote to the local council expressing concerns about the fire risks in this flat and requesting an inspection, having previously writt…