HMO fire safety upgrades bring a shared house up to the fire standard its size and layout need. In Chichester, a town of about 32,000 people in West Sussex, the work is planned around the HMO rules for England and the council’s written HMO standards. Chichester has a university population, so many shared houses are let to students on yearly tenancies, and summer is the main window for works.
- Area
- West Sussex, England
- Postcodes
- PO19 and PO20
- Location
- 28 miles east of Southampton
- Pricing region
- South East
What do HMO fire safety upgrades in Chichester involve?
- Thumb-turn locks on exit doors
- Interlinked smoke and heat detection
- Emergency lighting where needed
- Fire stopping of service holes
- Fire doors with closers and seals
Which rules apply in Chichester?
HMO fire safety upgrades in Chichester must satisfy national law for England, the council’s written HMO standards and, where walls, drainage or fire separation change, the building rules. In short:
- Smoke alarms on every storey with living accommodation and CO alarms by fixed combustion appliances (other than gas cookers) are required by law.
- 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.
- The Fire Safety Order 2005 applies to the common parts of HMOs, enforced by the fire and rescue authority.
How much do HMO fire safety upgrades cost in Chichester?
| 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 |
These are typical ranges including VAT, adjusted for South East, where costs run above the UK average. The fixed price for a house in Chichester follows a site visit.
How long does it take?
Allow 3–10 working days on site for a typical job. Drawings, approvals and long-lead items such as kitchens or fire door sets are booked before we start.
For student houses in Chichester, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Chichester landlords need it?
Typical reasons for this work in Chichester:
- A fire risk assessment has listed actions
- Converting a house to an HMO
Questions about HMO fire safety upgrades in Chichester
Who writes the fire risk assessment?
You arrange it, through a competent assessor. We price and carry out the works it recommends and give you the evidence.
How far do you travel from Chichester?
We cover the whole of West Sussex and work UK-wide. For Chichester the nearest towns on our list are Bognor Regis (6 miles), Havant (9 miles), Littlehampton (11 miles).
Where do I check the HMO rules for an address in Chichester?
With the local council for the address. 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 Chichester?
Our guide ranges for South East are in the table on this page, and the guide-price tool gives a figure for your house. A fixed written quote follows a free site visit.
HMO fire safety upgrades near Chichester
- Bognor Regis · 6 mi
- Havant · 9 mi
- Littlehampton · 11 mi
- Waterlooville · 11 mi
- Portsmouth · 14 mi
- Gosport · 16 mi
- All of West Sussex
Other HMO services in Chichester
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Chichester
- Fire doors in Chichester
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Chichester
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in Chichester
- Rewires and EICR remedials in Chichester
- Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Chichester
- Ensuite installation in Chichester
- Extensions for extra rooms in Chichester