The United Kingdom recently implemented strict fire safety regulations for all Houses in Multiple Occupations (HMOs). The key focus is fire safety compliance, as the government plans to improve tenants' safety whilst minimising the risks associated with fire hazards in a shared living environment. For landlords, it is important to understand why the regulations exist and why failing to comply with safety regulations can lead to penalties, licence cancellations, and even jail time. We have gathered key information you need to know! Let’s start from basics:

Why HMO Fire Door Regulations Are Needed?

These regulations have more impact than you think. They prevent fire and smoke from spreading and allow occupants to evacuate quickly. Within HMOs, the fire doors will be installed at specific locations set by the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and the Housing Act 2004, and assisted by the Building Regulations Approved Document B. Landlords have to ensure the doors are installed at:

1. The entrances of every unit or bedroom lead to the communal area. This ensures that a fire starting in one unit does not quickly pass on to other spaces.  

2. Properties with floors above 4.5 metres from ground level so that fire cannot trap people inside the home. 

3. Stairwells and all areas including the multi-storey HMOs that include doors between the rooms and staircases, ensuring that fire or smoke does not block the exit path of running tenants. 

Specifications of Fire Doors

Often landlords get confused or don’t understand the regulations for door features to ensure they meet compliance with newly applied HMO fire regulations. Let’s make it easy, here are the key points:

1. For high-risk, unique properties, the fire doors should withstand a fire for at least 30 minutes (FD30) or even 60 minutes (FD60). The rating will depend on the layout of your property and the assessment. 

2. The fire doors within the HMOs must have an auto-close mechanism because the doors that don’t get closed often fail to stop fire from spreading. 

3. Fire doors must be installed with intumescent strips that expand in extreme heat, and the edges must be sealed to prevent fire from entering through. 

4. Only a qualified professional can install the fire door, which must meet all the legal specifications. A door fitted poorly or with gaps larger than 3mm is considered non-compliant. 

5. Clear signage should describe the function of the fire doors alongside them so tenants are fully aware of their value. 

HMO Fire Door Inspection and Maintenance 

According to the Fire Safety (England) Regulations, landlords regularly inspect and monitor all doors. This should be done every six months to ensure they work correctly and there is no gap. For high-risk HMOs, a quarterly check is required.

A qualified door inspector should assess the doors so that defects like broken seals, wasted closers, or lousy signage can be rectified quickly. Landlords must also remind tenants to keep fire doors closed and report any issues they experience. 

Regulatory Authorities and Enforcement

Plenty of regulatory bodies oversee the HMO Fire Door Regulations, and landlords are responsible for monitoring them. 

1. Local housing authorities are responsible for conducting routine inspections and can give notice or make improvements if they see regulations not being followed. 

2. As per the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, these services can inspect your HMO property any time and even issue notices and suggest actions. Not following these actions will result in penalties. 

3. The building control bodies enjoy sure that any property renovation or conversion includes installing fire doors that meet requirements. 

The Penalties for Non-Compliance

In case of any failure to meet the HMO fire door regulations, landlords have to face serious consequences such as:

• Fines worth £30,000 for each non-compliance 

• Cancellation of HMO licence

• Criminal proceedings or even jail time 

• Cancellation of property insurance 

Landlords must be cautious to avoid these, so they must prioritise hiring a professional estate agent to handle all the inspections and manage their property smoothly. 

How Cribs Estates Can Help Landlords?

Cribs Estates specialises in managing HMO property that is compliant with HMO fire door regulations. We ensure proper fire door installations to keep up with inspections and paperwork that landlords are often burdened with due to

Our team ensures that your property meets all 2025 fire door regulations, preventing costly penalties and safeguarding tenants. We handle:

• Fire risk assessments and compliance checks

• Coordination of fire door installations by certified professionals

• Regular inspections and maintenance management

• Liaison with local authorities to keep your HMO fully compliant

By entrusting Cribs Estates with your property management needs, you can focus on growing your portfolio whilst we handle regulatory compliance. Contact us today to ensure your HMO meets the latest fire safety standards without hassle.