Student HMO

[Nicky]

I have a 3 storey house let to 4 students, so this is clearly an HMO, though not a licensable one. I am somewhat confused as to whether I need to upgrade various doors to fire doors and whether I need to put in a hardwired fire alarm system. It seems to me that some student landlords are going the whole hog and putting in entire systems and others are just doing certain things. My questions are, is it the law to put in these systems ? Do the doors have to include intumescent strips ? Do the door frames also need upgrading ?

[john carling]

hi its up to interprtation your best bet is to speak to hmo in your area and ask them they will come around and let you know,,,you will only have to talk to them in the end anyway and they have final say. in my property i have been told to put strips around door they need to be fire doors though. and hard wire fire system but then he said i might not need to hard wire, i allready have fire alarm on each floor so i am waiting to hear so they not even sure what to do.be straight and helpfull with them and they will try to help you ,with the grey areas.have fun,,john

[propman2]

i have had to install smoke/fire alarms(look like smoke alarms) hard wired with smoke and heat detectors in some rooms. all this i must say is very unintrusive and very cheap.........

i was told that smoke seals not intumescent strips are required round doors and unlockable, from the inside of bedrooms, doors ie no safety latch as is usual on yale type locks

other ususal items were fireproofing landing cupboard doors/extinguisher and fire blanket

[philip benham]

[QUOTE=Nicky;24281]I have a 3 storey house let to 4 students, so this is clearly an HMO, though not a licensable one.
Fire alarm could be bit pricey because of three storey. Last time I had one done was about 3.5k seven years ago. council insisted on L2 install because of three storey. Another house, two storey, simpler system, cost about 1500 also seven years ago.

I am somewhat confused as to whether I need to upgrade various doors to fire doors and whether I need to put in a hardwired fire alarm system.
most likely.

It seems to me that some student landlords are going the whole hog and putting in entire systems and others are just doing certain things.
True. Perhaps some of the landlords doing just certain things have not yet had a visit from enviromental health. Also perhaps things can vary in different council areas.

My questions are, is it the law to put in these systems ?
If you dont and its not a licensable house then if and when they find out that you are using it as an HMO the enviromental health will tell you to upgrade. If you dont they can serve a notice which will force you in law. If it should be licensed they have a lot more power in law.

Do the doors have to include intumescent strips ? Do the door frames also need upgrading ?
All depends on your council, you may be able to leave existing frames and upgrade.

[Nicky]

Spoke with EHO, who told me that it is up to me whether I do the upgrade. The Council would only get involved if they had a complaint from a tenant. To be honest, I think I will probably do the upgrade as surely its only a metter of time before all HMOs need these upgrades.

[Lyndon]

Small word of caution. Make sure that none of your tenants moves a partner in - that will mean that you will need a license.