Cutting the risk of fires in the home. That is the simple goal of a joint initiative between the Fire Service and all seven district and borough councils in Suffolk. A new protocol concerning fire risks in Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) has been launched at Ipswich's Princes Street fire station and uses a risk based system to make these buildings safer. The new protocol introduces a risk-rating system and tightens up safety regulations.
A fire is six times more likely to break out in an HMO than in a single occupancy type of house or flat. In the UK 200 people die and 6,500 people are injured in HMO fires each year. An HMO is defined as a property shared by three or more tenants (who aren't members of the same family) and in which at least one amenity, such as a bathroom or a kitchen, is shared.
Ipswich Borough Council undertakes regular inspections of premises and, along with the Fire Service, advise owners on a wide range of safety measures.