HMO fire safety upgrades across County Londonderry

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 County Londonderry, priced against the HMO rules for Northern Ireland and the council’s own standards.

Nation: Northern Ireland
Pricing region: Northern Ireland
Postcode areas: BT
Main towns: Londonderry County Borough, Derry, Coleraine

What do HMO fire safety upgrades in County Londonderry involve?

Thumb-turn locks on exit doors
Fire doors with closers and seals
Commissioning certificates and a handover pack
Fire-resisting linings to the escape route
Fire stopping of service holes
Works priced against your fire risk assessment

Which rules apply in County Londonderry?

The NIFRS HMO Fire Safety Guide (July 2026) usually expects Grade D1 interlinked detection in smaller shared houses and a Grade A system with more than 6 occupants or over 200 m².
Licences usually last 5 years, and landlords must also register with the NI landlord registration scheme.
New HMOs need building control approval as well as planning permission.
Doors on protected routes are typically FD30 or FD30S, self-closing on three hinges; emergency lighting is required in HMOs of 4 or more storeys.

In Northern Ireland, licensing is run centrally by the NI HMO Unit, and all new HMOs need planning permission and building control approval from the local council.

How much do HMO fire safety upgrades cost in County Londonderry?

Regional adjustment for Northern Ireland. Planning budgets: see our prices page.
Item	UK typical	Local guide	Per
Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides)	£800 – £2,000	£720 – £1,800	house
Panel alarm system (Grade A type), larger HMO	£1,750 – £4,500	£1,600 – £4,050	house
FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted	£300 – £600	£270 – £540	door
New FD30S fire doorset with frame, fitted	£600 – £1,300	£540 – £1,150	door
Protected route upgrades: fire-resisting linings, fire stopping, lighting (three-storey house, our estimate)	£2,000 – £6,000	£1,800 – £5,400	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 County Londonderry

Questions about HMO fire safety upgrades in County Londonderry

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 County Londonderry?

Yes, across the whole of County Londonderry, including Londonderry County Borough, Derry, Coleraine.

Who licenses HMOs in County Londonderry?

HMO licensing in County Londonderry, as everywhere in Northern Ireland, is run by the NI HMO Unit at Belfast City Council. Planning and building control are handled by the local council.