Sector

Fire alarms and security for landlords, HMOs and flats

Compliant fire alarms, emergency lighting, door entry and CCTV for HMOs, blocks of flats and rental portfolios, with the certificates you need for licensing.

Fire and security for landlords, hmos and blocks of flats

Landlords and managing agents need fire safety that satisfies the council, the insurer and the tenants, with paperwork that is easy to find when the licence is due. We install, upgrade and service systems in single HMOs, converted buildings and purpose-built blocks.

What makes landlords, hmos and blocks of flats different

HMO licensing conditions set by the local council
Tenants who disable smoke alarms after false alarms from cooking
Shared escape routes that must stay protected and lit
Communal entrances that need secure door entry
Certificates and test records that must be ready for inspections

What we usually install

Fire alarms. Grade D interlinked mains alarms or Grade A panel systems to BS 5839-6 and BS 5839-1, designed to your council’s HMO standards.

Emergency lighting. Common stairs and corridors, with annual tests and certificates.

Door entry. Audio, video and fob entry for communal doors, with fob management when tenants change.

CCTV. Entrances, bin stores, car parks and communal areas.

Fire blankets and extinguishers. Where your fire risk assessment calls for them, serviced annually.

Standards and responsibilities

HMOs are regulated through council licensing and the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, with most councils following the LACORS housing fire safety guidance. Where a building has common parts, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to those areas. In England, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 add further duties for responsible persons in blocks of flats.

Every private landlord in England must also meet the smoke and carbon monoxide alarm regulations. We can survey your property against your council’s standards and tell you exactly what is needed.

How we work

Free survey and fixed written quote before any work starts
Installation and servicing by our own engineers
Planned maintenance visits booked in advance and grouped by area to keep costs down
Certificates, logbooks and reports issued after every visit
BAFE SP203-1 (fire alarms), SSAIB and CHAS accredited

For organisations with several buildings we offer a single maintenance contract covering every site, and we work across Yorkshire, Lancashire and Greater Manchester, the North East and the East Midlands.

Common questions

What fire alarm does my HMO need?

It depends on the size and layout. Smaller shared houses usually need Grade D interlinked mains alarms. Larger HMOs and bedsits usually need a Grade A panel system. See our HMO fire alarm guide for more detail.

Can you provide certificates for my HMO licence?

Yes. We issue installation, commissioning and service certificates, and emergency lighting certificates where fitted.

Do you work with letting agents?

Yes. We can work directly with your agent to arrange access, and send certificates to both of you.

Can you stop tenants’ cooking setting off the alarm?

Yes. We use heat detection in kitchens and position detectors to reduce false alarms, which also stops tenants disabling them.

Can you look after a whole portfolio?

Yes. We can put every property on one maintenance schedule, with certificates and reminders for each address.

Talk to us about your building.