HMO escape routes and fire stopping across Hampshire

In short: A protected escape route is the stair, landing and hall that lets everyone get out if there is a fire. Across Hampshire, the work is planned around England’s HMO rules and the standards the local council publishes.

Nation: England
Pricing region: South East
Postcode areas: SO, RG, GU, SP
Main towns: Southampton, Portsmouth, Basingstoke, Gosport, Waterlooville

What do escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Hampshire involve?

Upgrading or boxing in under-stair cupboards
Fire stopping around pipes, cables and voids
Fire-resisting plasterboard to walls and ceilings
Glazing upgrades in doors and fanlights
Photo record of hidden fire stopping
Removing fire risks from the route

Which rules apply in Hampshire?

Fire precautions follow a risk assessment; the LACORS Housing – Fire Safety guide (2008) is guidance, not law, but many councils base their standards on it.
A conversion can be a material change of use under the building regulations, so confirm with building control before work starts.
Under the Renters’ Rights Act, civil penalties reach £40,000 for offences such as running an unlicensed HMO.
Smoke alarms on every storey with living accommodation and CO alarms by fixed combustion appliances (other than gas cookers) are required by law.
The Fire Safety Order 2005 applies to the common parts of HMOs, enforced by the fire and rescue authority.

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 Hampshire?

Regional adjustment for South East. Planning budgets: see our prices page.
Item	UK typical	Local guide	Per
Protected route upgrades: fire-resisting linings, fire stopping, lighting (three-storey house, our estimate)	£2,000 – £6,000	£2,250 – £6,700	house
Emergency light fitting, installed (our estimate)	£150 – £350	£170 – £390	fitting
FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted	£300 – £600	£340 – £670	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 Hampshire

Questions about escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Hampshire

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.

Does every HMO need emergency lighting?

Not every one. Guidance tends to expect it where the escape route is long, complex or has no borrowed light, which is more common in larger houses.

Do you carry out escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping across Hampshire?

Yes, across the whole of Hampshire, including Southampton, Portsmouth, Basingstoke.

Who licenses HMOs in Hampshire?

HMOs in Hampshire are licensed by the local council for the address. Where an area has several councils, each runs its own licensing and planning policies.

Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping across Hampshire

What do escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Hampshire involve?

Which rules apply in Hampshire?

How much do escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping cost in Hampshire?

Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping by town in Hampshire

Questions about escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Hampshire

Other HMO services in Hampshire

Planning HMO works?