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 councils in Suffolk.
A new protocol concerning fire risks in Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) is being launched next week at Ipswich’s Princes Street fire station and uses a risk based system to make these buildings safer.
Across Suffolk there are estimated to be up to 2,000 HMOs. There are around 900 in Ipswich alone and these are set to increase after University Campus Suffolk opens later this year. 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.
All seven councils undertake regular inspections of premises and, along with the Fire service, can advise owners on a wide range of safety measures. The protocol allows Councils to share information and good practice and ensures consistent enforcement of standards across the county.
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.