Fire Safety, Security and Electrical Compliance for Landlords in Hampshire and West Sussex
As a landlord, your compliance obligations do not end when a tenant moves in. The electrical installation must be inspected every five years. Smoke alarms must be fitted and working. HMO properties face additional fire safety requirements that go well beyond standard rental properties. And keeping track of renewal dates, scheduling contractors and maintaining records across a portfolio of properties takes significant time and effort.
We provide the full range of fire safety, security and electrical compliance services for residential and commercial landlords across Hampshire and West Sussex - EICR inspections, fire alarms, fire risk assessments, home alarm systems, CCTV, PAT testing and passive fire protection. One contractor, one invoice and a scheduled programme that keeps your portfolio compliant without the administrative burden.
-
01
EICR inspections - every five years as required by the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020
-
02
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms - supply, installation and testing
-
03
Fire alarm systems for HMOs - Grade A and Grade D systems to BS 5839 Part 6
-
04
Fire risk assessments for HMOs and commercial properties
-
05
Home alarm systems and CCTV for rental properties
-
06
PAT testing for furnished lettings and HMOs
-
07
Emergency lighting for HMO communal areas
-
08
Passive fire protection through Aran Fire Protection - FIRAS-certified
-
09
Multi-property packages - scheduled programmes for portfolio landlords
Trusted, accredited & certified
4.9 / 5 from 120+ Google reviews
Fire Safety Obligations for Landlords
The extent of a landlord's fire safety obligations depends on the type of property and the terms of occupation. Understanding what applies to each property in your portfolio is the starting point for managing compliance effectively.
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 require landlords to install at least one smoke alarm on every storey of the property where there is a room used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room containing a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers). Alarms must be tested at the start of each new tenancy. Failure to comply can result in a local authority remedial notice and a penalty of up to 5,000 pounds.
See our Fire Alarms page for smoke alarm installation and servicing →
HMO properties require a more comprehensive fire alarm system than standard rental properties. Under the Housing Act 2004 and BS 5839 Part 6, most HMOs require either a Grade D1 or Grade A fire alarm system, with the appropriate LD coverage category determined by the size, layout and occupancy of the property. Both local housing authorities and fire and rescue authorities enforce HMO fire alarm requirements, and failure to comply can result in enforcement notices, licensing revocation and prosecution.
See our HMO sector page for full details on HMO fire safety requirements.
HMOs that are required to be licensed under the Housing Act 2004, and any property where the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to common areas, must have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment carried out by a competent person. Commercial landlords must ensure a fire risk assessment is in place for all common parts of their properties. The responsible person - typically the landlord, or their managing agent - is legally required to ensure the assessment is reviewed regularly and acted upon.
HMOs are required by law to install and maintain emergency lighting in communal areas - to illuminate escape routes and emergency exits in the event of a mains power failure during a fire. Emergency lighting must be installed to BS 5266-1, tested monthly and inspected by a competent engineer every six months, with certification provided on completion. We provide emergency lighting installation, servicing and certification for HMO properties across Hampshire and West Sussex.
Security Systems for Rental Properties
Security systems for rental properties protect the landlord's investment, reduce insurance costs and give tenants greater confidence in the safety of their home. For HMO properties, CCTV coverage of communal entrances and access control at communal doors address the specific security risks that come with multiple, unrelated tenants sharing a building. For individual rental properties, a professionally installed home alarm system can reduce insurance premiums and, in some cases, is a condition of landlord insurance cover.
A professionally installed home alarm system is one of the most effective deterrents against burglary. For landlords, an SSAIB-certified system installed by an accredited contractor provides documented evidence of a properly installed, maintained system - which many home insurance policies require as a condition of cover for rental properties. We install home alarm systems for rental properties across West Sussex and Hampshire, with options for self-monitoring and professionally monitored systems depending on the landlord's preference.
CCTV coverage of the communal entrance, car park and external areas of HMO properties and residential blocks provides an effective deterrent and a record in the event of disputes between tenants or with third parties. For landlords managing properties in areas with higher crime rates, external CCTV can also help reduce insurance premiums. We install home and communal CCTV systems for landlords across Hampshire and West Sussex, with systems configured to meet data protection requirements for residential settings.
Electrical Compliance for Landlords
Electrical compliance is one of the most clearly defined and most actively enforced areas of landlord obligation. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 set out specific requirements for EICR inspections, and local authorities have been increasingly active in enforcement since the Regulations came into force in April 2021.
Since 1 April 2021, all landlords in England must have the electrical installation in their rental properties inspected and tested by a qualified electrician at least every five years under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. The resulting EICR must be provided to all existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection and to new tenants before or at the start of their tenancy. Tenants, managing agents and local authorities can request a copy, which must be provided within 7 to 28 days.
Where the EICR identifies C1 or C2 remedial works, those works must be completed within 28 days of the inspection, or sooner if the EICR specifies. Failure to provide a valid EICR can result in local authority enforcement action and financial penalties of up to 30,000 pounds.
See our EICR page for full details on what the inspection covers →
Landlords who provide electrical appliances as part of a furnished tenancy have a duty to ensure those appliances are safe. While there is no statutory requirement for landlords to carry out PAT testing in the same way as commercial employers, regular PAT testing of all provided appliances is the recognised way of demonstrating compliance with this duty of care - and is increasingly specified as a condition of HMO licensing by local housing authorities. We provide PAT testing for furnished rental properties and HMO portfolios, with competitive bulk rates and certificates provided on completion.
Passive Fire Protection for Rental Properties
Passive fire protection is a legal requirement in all HMO properties and in any multi-occupied residential building where the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to communal areas. Fire doors on all habitable room doors opening onto communal escape routes are a legal requirement in HMOs under the Housing Act 2004. Fire stopping around any service penetrations in compartment walls and floors, and cavity barriers in roof and ceiling voids, must also be in place and maintained.
For landlords managing HMO portfolios, a fire door inspection programme provides documented evidence that the passive fire protection requirements of each property are being actively managed. This is important both for local authority HMO licensing purposes and in the event of enforcement action or an insurance claim following a fire.
Passive fire protection works are delivered through our specialist sister company, Aran Fire Protection - FIRAS-certified passive fire protection specialists with over 25 years of experience. Arundel Firecare, Security and Electrical remains your single point of contact.
See our Passive Fire Protection Hub for our full range of passive fire services →
See our Fire Door Surveys page for fire door inspection programmes →
Frequently Asked Questions
At least every five years, or at the start of a new tenancy if the existing EICR is more than five years old. The EICR must be provided to all tenants within 28 days of the inspection, and to new tenants before or at the start of their tenancy.
Not for a standard single-occupancy rental property. However, all HMOs require a fire risk assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Commercial landlords also require a fire risk assessment for all common parts of their properties. Contact us to confirm what applies to your specific portfolio.
Landlords can install home alarm systems and CCTV on rental properties, subject to informing tenants and complying with data protection requirements. CCTV must not cover areas where tenants have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as inside individual rooms. For HMO communal areas, CCTV coverage of entrances, corridors and external areas is generally straightforward to justify and is increasingly expected by both tenants and licensing authorities.
Landlord Compliance Services Across Hampshire and West Sussex
EICR inspections, fire alarms, home alarm systems, PAT testing and passive fire protection for landlords across Hampshire and West Sussex. Multi-property packages available.
From Our Knowledge Centre
Our fire safety team has written extensively on compliance obligations, system types and sector-specific requirements. Visit our Knowledge Centre for articles, guides and PDF downloads covering fire alarms, fire extinguishers, fire risk assessments and more.
Meeting HMO fire alarm requirements: What landlords need to know
Managing a House in Multiple…
EICRs and Electrical Repairs: What Landlords in West Sussex Need to Know in 2025
Essential guide to EICR requirements and electrical repairs for West Sussex
landlords in 2025. Stay compliant with regulations and protect your rental properties. Expert
domestic electrical repair services available.
Fire Safety Hub
See our Fire Safety Hub for our full range of active fire safety services.
Looking for a complete compliance package? We manage fire alarms, emergency lighting, passive fire protection, security and EICR under one annual service.