Ten people escaped unhurt after the Marylebone HMO fire broke out in a shared house on Shroton Street on Sunday afternoon.
The blaze took hold in a second-floor room of the shared property on Shroton Street, with the alarm first raised at 2.35pm on Sunday, October 4.
Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were sent to the scene. By the time crews arrived, all ten occupants had already managed to get themselves out of the building. No injuries were reported.
Crews worked to bring the fire under control and had the situation contained by 3.11pm, around half an hour after the first emergency call. Most of the room where the blaze started was left badly damaged by the flames.
The fire is believed to have been caused by the unsafe disposal of smoking materials.
Houses in multiple occupation – homes where three or more people from more than one household share facilities such as kitchens or bathrooms – are subject to some of the toughest fire-safety duties in the rented sector. Those responsible for running them must make sure there are working smoke alarms on every storey, keep shared hallways and escape routes clear, and fit fire doors where they are needed. Local councils can also require larger shared houses to hold a licence, with conditions designed to keep residents safe.
Tenants who spot missing alarms, blocked exits or faulty fire doors should raise it with their landlord or letting agent straight away – and can report concerns to the council if nothing is done.
Sunday’s Marylebone HMO fire is a stark reminder of how quickly a discarded cigarette can turn into a serious blaze. The London Fire Brigade has repeatedly warned that smoking materials are among the most common causes of accidental house fires in the capital, and firefighters regularly urge smokers to make sure cigarettes are fully out and never left unattended.
It comes amid renewed scrutiny of residential fire safety across the capital, following the fatal Neutron Tower fire, which broke out just a day after a 31-week wait for building safety approval.
In Poplar, residents displaced by a tower block fire were still living in hotels a week later, describing themselves as stuck in “limbo” while repairs dragged on.
Enforcement against landlords who fail their tenants has also made headlines recently. A Wembley landlord was hit with a £90,000 fine after 21 people were found living in a cockroach-infested house.
For people living in shared houses, the brigade’s safety advice is straightforward: test smoke alarms at least once a month, agree an escape plan that everyone in the property knows, keep hallways and exits free of clutter, and close internal doors at night to slow the spread of smoke and flames.
Smokers are urged to use a proper, sturdy ashtray, never to smoke in bed, and to check that cigarettes are completely extinguished – cold to the touch – before emptying ashtrays into a bin. Matches and lighters should be kept well out of the reach of children.
Given that ten people were inside the Shroton Street property when the fire started, Sunday’s outcome could easily have been far worse. Working smoke alarms, a clear escape route and a swift response from the brigade all played their part in making sure everyone got out safely.
Anyone worried about fire safety in a rented or shared home can contact their local council’s housing team or the London Fire Brigade, which offers free home fire-safety advice.
The property is now likely to face a full damage assessment before residents can return to the worst-affected rooms, though the rest of the building appears to have escaped the flames. London Streets will update this story if further details emerge.
