In short: HMO fire safety upgrades bring a shared house up to the fire standard its size and layout need. We carry this out across City of Edinburgh, priced against the HMO rules for Scotland and the council’s own standards.
- Nation
- Scotland
- Pricing region
- Scotland
- Postcode areas
- EH
- Main towns
- Edinburgh
What do HMO fire safety upgrades in City of Edinburgh involve?
- Works priced against your fire risk assessment
- Fire stopping of service holes
- Thumb-turn locks on exit doors
- Emergency lighting where needed
- Fire-resisting linings to the escape route
- Commissioning certificates and a handover pack
Which rules apply in City of Edinburgh?
- The tolerable standard requires interlinked smoke alarms in the main living room and circulation spaces and a heat alarm in the kitchen; licensed HMOs must meet the council’s higher standard.
- Every HMO needs a council licence: 3 or more people who are not all from one or two families, sharing basic amenities. Licences last up to 3 years.
- A building warrant may be needed for a change of use or for installing a fire alarm system; check with the council’s building standards service.
- Councils set HMO fire standards through licence conditions, often including emergency lighting in larger HMOs.
- Landlords must also be on the Scottish landlord register, renewed every 3 years.
How much do HMO fire safety upgrades cost in City of Edinburgh?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £760 – £1,900 | house |
| Panel alarm system (Grade A type), larger HMO | £1,750 – £4,500 | £1,650 – £4,300 | house |
| FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted | £300 – £600 | £280 – £570 | door |
| New FD30S fire doorset with frame, fitted | £600 – £1,300 | £570 – £1,250 | door |
| Protected route upgrades: fire-resisting linings, fire stopping, lighting (three-storey house, our estimate) | £2,000 – £6,000 | £1,900 – £5,700 | house |
Typical time on site: 3–10 working days. For a figure for your house, try the guide-price tool.
HMO fire safety upgrades by town in City of Edinburgh
Questions about HMO fire safety upgrades in City of Edinburgh
Do all doors need to be fire doors?
Not always. Guidance usually focuses on doors to rooms that open onto the escape route. The assessment sets out which doors need upgrading.
Can you upgrade existing doors?
Sometimes, if the door and frame are sound. Often a certified fire door set is the cheaper and more reliable option.
Do you carry out HMO fire safety upgrades across City of Edinburgh?
Yes, across the whole of City of Edinburgh, including Edinburgh.
Who licenses HMOs in City of Edinburgh?
City of Edinburgh council licenses HMOs in its area. Every HMO in Scotland needs a licence.
Other HMO services in City of Edinburgh
- Fire alarm and detection systems in City of Edinburgh
- Fire doors in City of Edinburgh
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in City of Edinburgh
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in City of Edinburgh
- Rewires and EICR remedials in City of Edinburgh
- Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in City of Edinburgh
- Commercial and above-shop to HMO in City of Edinburgh
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in City of Edinburgh