HMO fire safety upgrades across West Sussex

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 West Sussex, priced against the HMO rules for England and the council’s own standards.

Nation: England
Pricing region: South East
Postcode areas: RH, PO, BN, GU
Main towns: Crawley, Worthing, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Horsham

What do HMO fire safety upgrades in West Sussex involve?

Fire doors with closers and seals
Emergency lighting where needed
Commissioning certificates and a handover pack
Thumb-turn locks on exit doors
Fire-resisting linings to the escape route
Works priced against your fire risk assessment

Which rules apply in West Sussex?

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.
Mandatory HMO licence for 5 or more people in 2 or more households (since October 2018); councils can add additional licensing for smaller HMOs.
A conversion can be a material change of use under the building regulations, so confirm with building control before work starts.
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 HMO fire safety upgrades cost in West Sussex?

Regional adjustment for South East. 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	£900 – £2,250	house
Panel alarm system (Grade A type), larger HMO	£1,750 – £4,500	£1,950 – £5,050	house
FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted	£300 – £600	£340 – £670	door
New FD30S fire doorset with frame, fitted	£600 – £1,300	£670 – £1,450	door
Protected route upgrades: fire-resisting linings, fire stopping, lighting (three-storey house, our estimate)	£2,000 – £6,000	£2,250 – £6,700	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 West Sussex

Questions about HMO fire safety upgrades in West Sussex

What fire safety does an HMO legally need?

The law asks for the house to be reasonably safe, with suitable fire precautions for its size and layout. The detail usually comes from a fire risk assessment and council guidance, so the right answer for a three-storey seven-bed house is very different from a two-storey three-bed one.

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.

Do you carry out HMO fire safety upgrades across West Sussex?

Yes, across the whole of West Sussex, including Crawley, Worthing, Bognor Regis.

Who licenses HMOs in West Sussex?

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