Room in student house without a window

[Evalina]

DD's in her second year and has moved into what is otherwise a nice student house. However her room has no window. It has 2 doors, one into the hall and the other into a kitchen/lounge. So she has no natural light and no direct ventilation. She does get some light (and reduced privacy) through the frosted glazed door between her and the kitchen, but if she opens it to get air, then she gets cooking fumes and noise too.

We have raised it with local council HMO office who are not being very responsive, although they have spoken to landlord who has put in a brighter lightbulb! Landlord has said to DD's housemates that he knows loads of people at the council, and that if he's told to do anything it won't happen until next summer, so DD is wasting her time complaining about it. He's also said his wife is having a baby and is stressed at the thought they might have to pay to sort it out. As a result DD's housemates, who all have nice rooms with proper windows, are telling her to drop it, even though they have all declined to swap rooms with her.

I believe the problem could be fixed for less than £5k, which given collectively they are paying £38k in rent for the year is not too shocking.

Not sure what else to do really. Anyone got any advice?

Well done op. These changes could save people's lives.

I'm so glad you pushed for this. It is too awful to think there could have been a fire and your DD and others could have been put at risk.

Do update with the end resolution, please!

It doesn't matter, they have been incredibly unfair to the dd by charging her the same rent and refusing to share out the misery.

If they enclose the skylight to be part of your DDs room, will it still leave a window in the kitchen?
Also if the kitcjen is in a ground floor, lean to extension, then I assume the wall between the kitchen and your DD'sroom is the original house external wall? That might mean it is loadbearing

I don't know why you think he will get rid of teh door altogether I thinka cheaper solution forhim will be to fit double fire doors

I don't know why you think he will get rid of teh door altogether I thinka cheaper solution forhim will be to fit double fire doors

It might be cheaper, but it won't meet the ventilation requirements. It also won't improve the light levels, and depending on the doors chosen could reduce the light further.

Yes the kitchen is a flat roof extension across the width of the back of the house. It has a single door and standard kitchen windows above the sink, and I would say has a good level of light.

Where the skylight is, doesn't really add light into the kitchen as it is in the corner. I believe it was probably put there to provide light into what was probably then an open plan dining room (and is now DD's bedroom).

well good luck anyway Evalina I really do hope you get something sorted for your DD

Booe you get some answes soon.

HMO officer has said to Firewoman that the bedroom doors could be fire doors (surely he should know?), and is checking. I sent Firewoman a picture of the door, and apparently they can look like this. So maybe it is after all, although it doesn't have self closing hinges or a fire door sign?

More guidance that maybe useful www.harlow.gov.uk/sites/harlow/files/documents/files/HMO%20Lacors%20fire%20safety%20guidance.pdf

Thanks PseudoBadger, I read that one, think you posted it for me before. It says:
21.5 In most multi-occupancy situations, fire-resisting doors should be fitted with approved self-closing devices. This may be relaxed for doors within houses or flats occupied by a single household and doors within low-risk, shared houses.

so it doesn't look like it is then, or maybe it is a fire door, but it just needs proper hinges and a fire door sign.

they are supposed to have indicator marks on the top, that you can see if you stand on a chair or steps.

You can get an unofficial idea by the thickness (should be 44mm) and the weight.

the hinges look correct from here

it probably needs a closer added

the officer might also require intumescent strips.

The architrave looks very old so the door lining might not be correct.

concealed closer

www.screwfix.com/p/perko-r2-concealed-door-closer-polished-brass/55437

I think because it opens directly on to the hallway on the ground floor it probably does not class as high risk.

You mean it's a door which opens into the hall, which I guess would be an exit in case of fire? And I guess has the staircase in it? So a fire in that room could fill the hall and stairway with smoke and flame, obstructing the escape route?

It sounds like just the sort of door that should be a fire barrier.

Yes that's right PigletJohn, DD's door to the hall is right next to the bottom of the stairs. Her other door is a glass door to the kitchen. Neither are self closing so not fire doors as far as I can tell. The house is high risk as a 3 storey house with 6 bedrooms.

Yet it has been a licenced HMO for 5 years which is worrying as common sense says that it is a fire risk.

Any news Evalina? unfortunately we these things you do have to nag a bit to get an answer but I am right behind you pursuing it. if its a fire door in an HMO with 6 individuals then in my opinion it needs a self closer. interested to see how this pans out so keep us updated.

Delurking to wish you luck Evalina Hope you get somewhere with this soon.

Thanks all, no news yet - hopefully early next week.

What bugs me OP is the fact that the landlord thinks he can do what he wants because he has influence in the council.
How dare he!!!

Any update?