Fire safety is the single most important factor in HMO management. Because more people living independently under one roof increases the risk, the law is much stricter than in a standard family home.

The “Protected Route”

Your primary right is a “protected route” of escape. This means the hallways and stairs should stay clear of fire and smoke for at least 30 minutes to allow everyone to get out.

• Fire Doors: Every bedroom and “high risk” room (like the kitchen) must have a fire door. These are heavy, thick doors designed to withstand heat.
• Self-Closers: Your door should have a device at the top that automatically pulls it shut. If you have to “click” it shut manually, it isn’t working correctly.

Alarms and Extinguishers

Your landlord must provide a mains-powered, interlinked smoke alarm system. If a piece of toast burns in the kitchen, the alarm in your bedroom should also sound. You should also find a fire blanket in the kitchen and, in some larger HMOs, fire extinguishers in the hallways.

Thumb-Turn Locks

To ensure a quick escape, you should never be “locked in” your room. Any lock on the inside of a bedroom door or a final exit door should be a thumb-turn—meaning you can open it by hand without searching for a key in the dark.