The consequences of fire can be devastating for everyone involved, resulting in the destruction of buildings and their contents as well as the harm, injury or even loss of life that can occur.
If you are a landlord, property manager or person responsible for a property, then it is important that you fully understand the important legislation regarding to fire safety relating to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO’s).
Fire risk assessments for HMO’s are an essential part of ensuring that your tenants are safe from the risks of fire and work to help identify any hazards so that they can be addressed.
What is a Fire Risk Assessment?
A fire risk assessment is a thorough, methodical and in-depth evaluation of a property in which the fire safety measures are reviewed. During the risk assessment, the assessor will identify any potential fire hazards and make suitable recommendations on what can be done to help reduce or remove them.
What Does a Fire Risk Assessment Cover?
Some of the elements covered during a HMO fire risk assessment include;
- Potential hazards and risks on the premises such as ignition sources, accelerants, flammable materials, fuel and oxygen sources etc.
- Recommendations on how and where changes are needed to reduce or remove the identified risks.
- Areas that should be covered by the assessment are – all the common areas of the building, stairwells, lobbies, hallways, corridors, exits and entrances etc.
- How many occupants there are and their tenant risk profile – identifying any vulnerable people who are more at risk such as the disabled, elderly or young children.
- The properties layout, construction and the building materials are evaluated and reviewed to ensure that residents can safely exit the building in the event of a fire.
- The presence and condition of existing fire safety equipment in place.
- Confirming that the relevant persons are adequately trained in fire safety and risk management.
- All the findings from the assessment are properly recorded and documented, detailing any concerns and recommendations for improvement.
- An emergency plan is also created that needs to be shared with tenants so that they know what to do in the event of a fire and how to safely evacuate.
Is a Fire Risk Assessment a Legal Requirement for HMO’s?
Yes! In England and Wales, under the 2005 Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order), all properties with shared living spaces or those with 3 or more tenants from 2 or more households are required by law to have a fire risk assessment.
Failure to carry out a fire risk assessment for your HMO property can have severe consequences for those responsible, resulting in large fines, penalties and even imprisonment.
Can I Hire Someone to Conduct my Fire Risk Assessment?
A fire risk assessment must be carried out by a ‘Responsible Person’ with the sufficient knowledge and ability to identify any potential fire risks and make accurate recommendations on how they should be reduced or removed.
A lot of landlords prefer not to leave anything to chance when it comes to fire risk assessments for their HMO properties and choose to outsource the task to a professional, reliable, experienced assessor who will manage the whole process for them. This can be a fast, efficient and cost-effective way to ensure that your tenants are safe from the risks of fire and that your building is compliant.