All licensed HMOs must have a fire risk assessment.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the ‘responsible person’, who could be the landlord/licence holder or an agent with full management control, to carry out and regularly review a fire risk assessment. This is enforced by the Fire and Rescue Authority.
The fire risk assessment must be ‘suitable and sufficient’, and assistance from an appropriately competent person should be sought as necessary to achieve this. A regular review must be undertaken. There is no legal definition of regular however we advise at least once a year, or change of tenancy if this occurs sooner than once a year. You do not need to re-write the risk assessment each year. You can make a note on the assessment of the date of the review and if any action is required or not, and where action is required then to make a note when completed.
Further information and guidance on completing a fire risk assessment see Fire safety in the workplace at GOV.UK
Self-certification
We now accept a signed self-certification form declaring that you have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment in place for your HMO, as an alternative to requiring you to provide a copy of the full risk assessment at each licence renewal. Instead, we may request and audit your assessment and other records at any time during the lifetime of the licence. If you cannot satisfactorily provide all documents when requested, we may revoke your licence.
Our acceptance of your fire risk assessment/self-declaration does not protect you from any action required by the Fire and Rescue Authority. Should the Fire and Rescue Authority carry out an audit of your risk assessment, you could be asked to undertake further work or be subject to enforcement action.
