What this topic is
- Fire safety duties for landlords cover alarms, means of escape, furniture and furnishings regulations, electrical and gas safety, and the condition of any common areas.
- Properties with common areas, and most HMOs, fall under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and require a recorded fire risk assessment by a competent person.
- The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 added further duties for higher risk and multi-occupied buildings.
Why it matters to landlords, letting agents and homeowners
- Fire is one of the most serious HHSRS hazard categories, with high potential for harm.
- Failures around fire risk assessments, alarms and means of escape can lead to prosecution and significant penalties.
- Letting agents managing HMOs need a clear record of when fire risk assessments are due to be reviewed.
How it connects to property safety and compliance
- Working smoke alarms on every storey are a baseline.
- Furniture supplied by the landlord must meet the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 as amended.
- Annual gas and periodic electrical inspections reduce the chance of fires starting in the first place.
How Sunderland Landlord Compliance can help
- Coordinate annual Gas Safety and EICR visits that reduce the underlying fire risk.
- Provide a place to store fire risk assessment review dates and supporting evidence against each property.
Relevant SLC services and pages
Official sources
General awareness only
This page is published for general awareness and education. It is not legal advice and does not replace formal advice from a solicitor, surveyor or your local authority. Sunderland Landlord Compliance is a compliance coordination service and does not act as a legal adviser, local authority, enforcement body, surveyor, solicitor or housing inspector. SLC does not guarantee compliance.