
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....
Chorlton’s popularity with young professionals and students means a lot of its Victorian terraces have been converted into HMOs and shared flats, alongside the independent shops and cafés along Beech Road and Wilbraham Road. Our certified assessors carry out fire risk assessments across Chorlton, giving landlords and business owners 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 Chorlton that covers the Victorian terraces split into HMOs and student lets, the cafés and independent shops along Beech Road and Wilbraham Road, and the offices scattered through the area.
Contact us if you’re not sure whether your property needs one.
In March 2023, a fire broke out at a commercial property on Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, with the resulting road closures affecting High Lane and Wilbraham Road during the response. Firefighters brought the blaze under control with no injuries reported, but it disrupted one of Chorlton’s busiest junctions for hours. Commercial premises on Chorlton’s main shopping streets carry the same fire safety duties as any other business, whatever the size of the building.
We provide the full range of fire safety services landlords, business owners and property managers in Chorlton 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:
Manchester City Council runs selective licensing schemes in a number of areas across the city, alongside mandatory HMO licensing for larger shared houses. Scheme boundaries change, so it’s worth checking whether your specific Chorlton street is currently covered before you let a property. We can time your fire risk assessment to fit any licence application.
Use our contact form or call us, and we’ll arrange a visit at a time that suits your property.
An assessor visits your Chorlton 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 Chorlton’s housing and commercial stock, giving landlords and businesses a compliance service they can trust.