
Furniture Fire Safety in HMOs: What Manchester Landlords Must Legally Provide
Most HMO landlords I talk to can rattle off their fire door requirements, their alarm grade, and their emergency lighting checks without missing a beat....
Bury’s rental market and high street are built largely on Victorian terraces and older commercial units, both of which bring particular fire safety considerations. Our certified assessors carry out fire risk assessments across Bury, giving landlords, employers and property managers a compliant report and a clear plan of action.


Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, anyone responsible for a non-domestic building or shared rented housing must keep a current fire risk assessment. In Bury that includes the terraced HMOs found across the borough, shops and units around the town centre and market, and the offices and light industrial premises further out.
Contact us if you’re not sure whether your property needs one.
On 28 February 2024, an explosion tore through a mid-terrace house on Nelson Street, Bury, causing a partial structural collapse and a fire that spread to neighbouring properties. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service sent five fire engines, a command unit and a turntable ladder, working alongside police, ambulance crews and the gas network. One person was taken to hospital and the whole row of terraces had to be evacuated. It’s a reminder of how quickly a single-property incident can put an entire terraced street at risk.
We provide the full range of fire safety services landlords, business owners and property managers in Bury need to stay compliant.
A full inspection covering hazards, people at risk and the condition of escape routes and safety equipment, with a clear written report and action plan. More on our Fire Risk Assessment service.
Once recommended work is complete, we issue a certificate confirming compliance, useful for insurers, licensing applications and council checks. Read about our Fire Assessment Certificate service.
A focused check of alarms, extinguishers, signage and exit routes, useful between full assessments. Learn about our Fire Safety Inspections.
You’ll need a valid fire risk assessment if you’re responsible for:
Unlike some neighbouring boroughs, Bury Council currently operates mandatory HMO licensing only, with no additional or selective licensing scheme in place. That still means any HMO with five or more occupants from two or more households sharing facilities needs a licence, with fire safety assessed as part of the application. We can time your assessment to fit your licence application or renewal.
Use our contact form or call us, and we’ll arrange a visit at a time that suits your property.
An assessor visits your Bury property, checks it against current fire safety standards, and notes any issues found.
You’ll receive your written report within 48 hours. Once any required work is done, we issue your Fire Assessment Certificate.

Most HMO landlords I talk to can rattle off their fire door requirements, their alarm grade, and their emergency lighting checks without missing a beat....
We combine national fire safety expertise with real knowledge of Bury’s housing and commercial stock, giving landlords and businesses a compliance service they can trust.