In short: A protected escape route is the stair, landing and hall that lets everyone get out if there is a fire. Across Greater London, the work is planned around England’s HMO rules and the standards the local council publishes.
- Nation
- England
- Pricing region
- London
- Postcode areas
- W, E, SW, SE
- Main towns
- London, Brent, Islington, City of Westminster, Bexley
What do escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Greater London involve?
- Photo record of hidden fire stopping
- Fire stopping around pipes, cables and voids
- Removing fire risks from the route
- Upgrading or boxing in under-stair cupboards
- Emergency lighting to the route
- Final exit door with thumb-turn
Which rules apply in Greater London?
- The Fire Safety Order 2005 applies to the common parts of HMOs, enforced by the fire and rescue authority.
- Building regulations cover structural changes, new partitions, ensuite drainage, fire-resisting construction and notifiable electrical work.
- Mandatory HMO licence for 5 or more people in 2 or more households (since October 2018); councils can add additional licensing for smaller HMOs.
- Smoke alarms on every storey with living accommodation and CO alarms by fixed combustion appliances (other than gas cookers) are required by law.
- A conversion can be a material change of use under the building regulations, so confirm with building control before work starts.
Councils in England can add additional licensing and Article 4 directions on top of the national rules. Check the council’s website for the exact address before you buy or start work.
How much do escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping cost in Greater London?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected route upgrades: fire-resisting linings, fire stopping, lighting (three-storey house, our estimate) | £2,000 – £6,000 | £2,550 – £7,700 | house |
| Emergency light fitting, installed (our estimate) | £150 – £350 | £190 – £450 | fitting |
| FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted | £300 – £600 | £380 – £770 | door |
Typical time on site: 3–8 working days. For a figure for your house, try the guide-price tool.
Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping by town in Greater London
- London
- Brent
- Islington
- City of Westminster
- Bexley
- Barking
- Archway
- Sutton
- Croydon
- Ilford
- Enfield Town
- Harrow
- Tottenham
- Walthamstow
- Dagenham
- Becontree
- Romford
- Hayes
- Wembley
- Fulham
- Edmonton
- Southall
- Putney
- Battersea
- Canary Wharf
- Purley
- Peckham
- Chingford
- Uxbridge
- Wimbledon
- Stamford Hill
- Brixton
- Hounslow
- Finchley
- Cricklewood
- Mitcham
- Feltham
- Acton
- Beckenham
- Chelsea
- Streatham
- South Croydon
- Leytonstone
- Eltham
- Morden
- Carshalton
- Catford
- Willesden
- Canning Town
- Holloway
- Welling
- Shepherds Bush
- Surbiton
- Greenford
- Heston
- Stratford
- Chiswick
- Thamesmead
- Ruislip
- Greenwich
- Barnet
- Kilburn
- Wood Green
- Muswell Hill
- Bow
- Highbury
- Camden Town
- Northolt
- Coulsdon
- Hornchurch
- Blackheath
- Isleworth
- Chalk Farm
- New Malden
- Hanworth
- Woodford Green
- Hadley Wood
- Richmond
- Barnes
- Notting Hill
- Wallington
- Pimlico
- Hampton
Questions about escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Greater London
Why do you photograph the fire stopping?
Because it is hidden once the work is finished. Photos are evidence for you, the council and future surveys.
What is fire stopping?
Sealing gaps where pipes, cables and ducts pass through fire-resisting walls and floors, so smoke and fire cannot get through.
Do you carry out escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping across Greater London?
Yes, across the whole of Greater London, including London, Brent, Islington.
Who licenses HMOs in Greater London?
HMOs in Greater London are licensed by the local council for the address. Where an area has several councils, each runs its own licensing and planning policies.
Other HMO services in Greater London
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Greater London
- Fire doors in Greater London
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Greater London
- Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Greater London
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in Greater London
- Commercial and above-shop to HMO in Greater London
- Shared bathroom and shower room refits in Greater London
- Layout changes and room reconfiguration in Greater London