If you are a tenant or a landlord and would like to discuss anything on this page or would like to arrange a visit to an HMO please contact housing@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk

If you would like to print off a table form of the standard below please click on the link to thr right hand side of this page.

 

These should be mains powered and interlinked so that when one is triggered they all sound.
There are two different types of smoke detector:

Ionisation detectors are more expensive but are best used in rooms where cigarette smoke may be present.

Optical detectors are best used near kitchens, as they are less likely to be triggered by cooking fumes.

Smoke detectors will be required at the following locations:
Landings, halls, understairs cupboards, bedrooms and sitting rooms - not bathrooms, wcs or kitchens
If cooking takes place in any of the rooms where a smoke detector would be required under the preceding paragraph then a heat detector should be used instead.

 

A 13A rated fire extinguisher may be provided on each floor.
A fire blanket is required in shared kitchens

 

This is an exit route out of the house which has a fire resistance of 30 minutes; it usually consists of the landing and hall leading to the front door. Any doors or staircases situated on the route should have a 30 minute fire resistance - this should mean that there is a safe route of exit through the house for 30 minutes. It also should mean that, should it be preferable for someone to stay in their room because the fire is outside their door, they will be safe there for 30 minutes before the fire would burn through the door. It is worth noting  that in reality 30 minutes of fire resistance would not be achieved because of faults in door frames etc which compromise the fire resistance.

 

Fire doors and frames should have smoke seals and self-closers. Smoke seals prevent cold smoke entering the room around the door and self closing devices mean that doors remain closed  to protect the escape route. Fire doors are required to all cupboards and rooms which open onto the escape route with the exception of bathrooms and WCs

 

Staircases should be in good condition and underdrawn with a fire resistant lining.eg plasterboard. If there is an infill panel to make a cupboard under the stairs it should be fire resistant material eg plasterboard and not wood.

 

Any free standing cupboards situated on the escape route should be constructed of fire resistant materials - wooden cupboards should not be used.

 

Doors to and from the escape route, including the front door should be openable at all times from the inside without the use of a key, for example by a thumb turn or panic bolt.

A bath or shower is required for every 5 occupants or part thereafter,  so 1-5 occupants require 1 bath or shower, 6-10 occupants require 2 baths/showers.

 

A wc is required for every 5 occupants or part thereof,  so 1-5 occupants require 1 WC, 6-10 occupants require 2 WCs.

 

A wash basin is required for every 5 occupants or part thereof, so 1-5 occupants require 1 wash basin, 6-10 occupants require 2 wash basins. A wash basin should be of an adequate size for personal washing. If small hand rinse basins are used in WC compartments these will not count towards the wash basin provision. A wash basin or hand rinse basin must be placed with or close to the WC. A kitchen sink cannot be used as a handwashing facility.

 

A four ring cooker and a sink with drainer should be provided for the first 5 occupants, thereafter  a cooker and sink will be required for every 3 occupants. So 6 occupants will require 2 sets of facilities, and 9 people will require 3 sets. A dishwasher may be used to replace the second sink and a microwave oven may be used to replace the second cooker.

6 electrical sockets is considered adequate for  upto 5 people, with an extra socket for each person above that number.

 

Worktop area should be allowed at a rate of 0.5m linear length per person upto a max of 2m. 

Food storage space should be allowed at a rate of half a shelf of refrigerator space per person and one shelf of dry storage space per person.

An extractor fan should be provided.

 

Airing cupboards usually contain electrical wiring and may be used by occupants as drying and storage areas with the risk of dislodging cabling. Advice from the Fire Authority is to prevent access to airing cupboards, any necessary controls and switches should be placed on the outside of the cupboards.

 

Another area of concern is the amount of electrical appliances a student for example will place in their room often necessitating the use of  multi outlet extension  leads. Consideration should be given to this matter, providing extra wall sockets where considered appropriate.