Fire Risk Assessment from £74.99

IFSM certified fire risk assessors

Our fire risk assessors are certified members of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM), the leading professional body for fire risk assessment in the UK. IFSM membership requires demonstrated competence in fire safety management, ongoing professional development, and adherence to a strict code of ethics. It is not a qualification that can be purchased or obtained by attending a short course , it requires evidence of practical experience, technical knowledge, and a commitment to continuous professional development that is reviewed regularly.

The IFSM is recognised by the UK Government, the Home Office, and local fire and rescue services as the benchmark for fire risk assessor competence. When your fire risk assessment is carried out by an IFSM certified assessor, it carries the weight and credibility that local authorities, insurers, and the courts recognise as the gold standard, not simply a piece of paperwork, but a document produced by a demonstrably competent professional.

Our assessors also hold qualifications from the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) and carry NEBOSH Fire Safety and Risk Management certificates. This combination of professional memberships and technical qualifications means your assessment is carried out to the highest standard available, not by a general health and safety consultant who happens to offer fire risk assessments as a side service, but by specialists whose entire professional focus is fire safety.

What our fire risk assessment covers

A fire risk assessment is not a checklist, it is a professional judgement about the specific fire risks in a specific building at a specific point in time. Our IFSM certified assessors examine fourteen areas in every residential and HMO assessment.

The assessment begins with means of escape. Every escape route is walked and judged against the likely travel distances and the number and vulnerability of occupants. Corridor widths, final exit door mechanisms, obstructions, and the adequacy of signage are all evaluated. In HMOs and blocks of flats, the assessor considers whether occupants on upper floors could become trapped if the ground floor route is compromised, and whether there are adequate alternative escape routes or refuge areas.

Fire detection and warning systems are tested and assessed for adequacy relative to the size and layout of the property. This includes checking whether detectors are interlinked, whether the correct type is installed in each location, heat detectors in kitchens, smoke detectors in corridors and bedrooms, and whether the system has been tested and serviced within the required intervals. Emergency lighting is assessed for coverage, duration, and maintenance records, with particular attention to escape route illumination following a mains failure.

Fire door condition is assessed in detail. The assessor checks each door for closing mechanisms, gap tolerances (no more than 3mm at the head and sides, 8mm at the floor), intumescent strip and cold smoke seal integrity, vision panels, and whether doors are being propped open. Compartmentation, the fire-resisting construction that contains a fire within a defined area, is checked at walls, floors, ceilings, and around service penetrations such as pipes and cables, where unsealed holes are one of the most common serious findings.

Arson risk is assessed from the outside as well as the inside. Bin stores adjacent to the building, accessible voids, and external storage of combustible materials are evaluated as arson opportunities. Management procedures are reviewed, who is designated as the responsible person, what written procedures exist, whether tenants have been briefed on evacuation, and whether maintenance logs and previous assessment records are available.

Resident vulnerability is considered throughout the assessment. A property occupied by elderly residents, people with mobility impairments, or those with cognitive conditions requires a fundamentally different approach to evacuation planning than one occupied by young professionals. The assessor notes any Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) that may be required and flags these in the report.

The assessment also covers electrical sources of ignition, including any evidence of overloaded sockets, damaged wiring, or appliances left unattended, gas appliance and kitchen arrangements, storage of flammable liquids or materials, fire action notice provision and legibility, and fire extinguisher type, location, and maintenance status. Every finding is documented, risk-rated, and included in the written report with a recommended remediation timescale.

From a recent London fire risk assessment

Real photos from a fire risk assessment in a London block. Click any image to enlarge.

Communal areas & escape routes

Stairwells, corridors and escape routes checked and kept clear.

FRA

Fire door inspection

Seals, closers, gaps and glazing checked and measured.

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Escape route & final exit

Clear routes and a compliant final exit to open air.

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Smoke & heat alarm check

Detection coverage and alarm placement assessed.

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Firefighting equipment

Extinguishers, signage and servicing checked.

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Electrical intake safety

Meters, consumer units and ignition sources reviewed.

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Click any image to enlarge · Use arrows to browse

What happens after your fire risk assessment

The assessment itself is the inspection, the value is in what comes next. Here is exactly what you receive and what the process looks like from inspection to compliance.

1. 1

   Written report emailed within 48 hours

   Your full fire risk assessment report is emailed within 48 hours of the inspection. It is a formal written document, not a template with ticks in boxes, that describes the specific conditions observed in your property, references the applicable legislation and guidance, and provides the evidence base for every finding. It is accepted by all London local authorities, fire and rescue services, and HMO licensing teams.

2. 2

   Prioritised action plan — critical items first

   Every finding in the report is given a risk rating: critical (immediate risk requiring immediate action), significant (action required within 3 months), moderate (action required within 6 months), or advisory (recommended improvement with no fixed timescale). The action plan is ordered from highest to lowest priority, so you and your managing agent know exactly what needs to happen first.

3. 3

   Recommended timescales for every remediation

   Each action in the plan carries a recommended completion date. Where a matter is urgent — a propped fire door or a blocked escape route — this will be immediate or within 24 hours. Longer-term improvements such as a smoke detection upgrade or compartmentation works will have a realistic timeframe based on the severity of the risk.

4. 4

   A responsible person identified for each action

   The report names or describes who should be responsible for each corrective action, whether that is the landlord, the managing agent, the resident, or a specialist contractor. This removes ambiguity and gives managing agents a clear instruction document to work from without further interpretation.

5. 5

   We can carry out remedial work ourselves

   Where the report identifies works that need to be done, we can carry these out directly, fire door installation and replacement, fire alarm upgrades and interlinked detection systems, emergency lighting installation, fire extinguisher supply and servicing, compartmentation sealing of service penetrations, and fire safety signage. Having the same team carry out the assessment and the works ensures that the remedial action directly addresses the specific findings.

6. 6

   Review date set, typically 12 months

   The report includes a recommended review date, typically 12 months for HMOs and blocks of flats, or sooner if significant changes are made to the property or its occupants. For lower-risk single lets without communal areas, a 2-year review may be appropriate. We will remind you when your reassessment is due.

What is a Fire Risk Assessment?

A Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) is a structured inspection of a property to identify fire hazards, evaluate who is at risk, and record what actions are required to remove or reduce that risk to an acceptable level. A qualified assessor inspects escape routes, fire doors, smoke and heat detection equipment, ignition sources, and combustible materials throughout the property.

At the end of the inspection you receive a written report detailing every finding, a prioritised action plan, graded into immediate, short-term, and ongoing actions, and a recommended date for reassessment. The report is emailed to you within 48 hours of the visit.

Legal framework for landlords

Fire Risk Assessment pricing

Fixed pricing by property type and size. No call-out charges, no hidden fees, the price you see is the price you pay.

Need an FRA for a commercial property, office, or retail unit? See commercial FRA pricing →

Comparing all landlord certificate prices? View our complete pricing page →

What's included for £74.99

• Inspection of all escape routes, corridors and stairways
• Assessment of all fire doors and self-closing mechanisms
• Check of smoke and heat detection equipment and carbon monoxide alarms
• Identification of ignition sources and combustible or flammable materials
• Evaluation of fire-fighting equipment (extinguishers, fire blankets)
• Assessment of emergency lighting where fitted
• Written report with findings graded by risk priority
• Prioritised action plan, immediate, short-term, and ongoing actions
• Recommended reassessment date included in the report

Who needs a Fire Risk Assessment?

While HMOs face the strictest legal obligations, any landlord who supplies a rental property has a duty of care to ensure it is fire-safe. Here is how the requirement applies across different property types.

How it works

1. 1

   Book online

   Choose your property type, select a date, and pay securely online. The whole process takes under 3 minutes. You will receive a confirmation email immediately.

2. 2

   Assessor visits the property

   A NEBOSH qualified fire risk assessor carries out the inspection. You or your tenant can provide access, you do not need to be present. The assessor inspects every relevant area methodically and notes all findings.

3. 3

   Report emailed within 48 hours

   You receive a written Fire Risk Assessment report by email within 48 hours of the visit. The report details every finding, grades each issue by priority, sets out a recommended action plan, and gives a reassessment date.

NEBOSH qualified fire risk assessors

The government does not approve individual fire risk assessors in the same way it approves electricians or gas engineers, but it strongly recommends using a "competent" assessor with appropriate training and experience. NEBOSH, the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health, provides the industry-recognised qualification for fire risk assessors: the NEBOSH National Certificate in Fire Safety and Risk Management.

NEBOSH qualifications are recognised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), local authorities, letting agents, and landlord insurers as evidence of competence. A NEBOSH qualified assessor produces a report that stands up to scrutiny if your fire safety compliance is ever challenged.

You can verify NEBOSH qualifications via nebosh.org.uk. Read what our landlords say about our assessors on our reviews page.

How a fire risk assessment works, the 5 steps

A Fire Risk Assessment is not a form, it is a structured process defined in UK government guidance. Here are the five official steps and what each involves in a residential setting.

1. 1

   Identify fire hazards

   The assessor inspects every area of the property for: sources of ignition (electrical equipment, gas appliances, portable heaters, smoking areas); sources of fuel (furniture, bedding, curtains, paper, cooking materials, rubbish accumulations); and sources of oxygen (normal air, any oxidising chemicals stored on site).

2. 2

   Identify people at risk

   The assessment considers all occupants, particularly those most vulnerable: sleeping occupants (slower to respond to alarms), people with disabilities or mobility impairments, HMO tenants who may not know each other or the building layout, and any children in the property.

3. 3

   Evaluate, remove or reduce risk

   Based on the hazards and people identified, the assessor evaluates how likely a fire is and how serious the consequences would be. They then recommend: removing the hazard where possible; reducing the risk with fire doors, detection systems or emergency lighting; or documenting the residual risk where it cannot be eliminated.

4. 4

   Record, plan and communicate

   Findings are written up in a formal report covering: all identified hazards, existing fire safety measures, a prioritised action plan (immediate, short-term, ongoing), a recommended evacuation procedure, and any Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) required for disabled occupants.

5. 5

   Review and update

   The assessment must be reviewed after any fire or near-miss, significant building changes, a change in number of occupants, new activities that introduce new risks, and as a minimum annually. An out-of-date FRA provides no legal protection.

What the assessor looks at in your property

During the site visit, the assessor systematically examines eight areas. Each finding is recorded in the written report with a risk rating and a recommended action.

• ✓

  Escape routes

  Are all corridors, stairwells and final exits unobstructed, unlocked and clearly signed? A blocked corridor is an immediate risk.

• ✓

  Fire doors

  Are fire doors self-closing, undamaged, and fitted with intact intumescent seals and cold smoke seals? Propped fire doors are a common and serious finding.

• ✓

  Smoke and heat detection

  Are alarms fitted in appropriate locations? Are they interlinked? Have they been tested? Are they within their service life?

• ✓

  Emergency lighting

  Do escape routes have working emergency lights? Has the required 3-hour annual discharge test been carried out and recorded?

• ✓

  Fire extinguishers

  Are the correct types present, water for general areas, CO₂ near electrical equipment, wet chemical in kitchens? Are they within their annual service date?

• ✓

  Ignition sources

  Are electrical appliances maintained? Is there evidence of overloaded sockets, damaged cables, or unsafe DIY electrical work?

• ✓

  Combustible materials

  Is there excessive rubbish accumulation, furniture stored in corridors, or flammable materials stored near heat sources or electrical equipment?

• ✓

  Building fabric

  Are fire-separating walls and floors intact? Are there unsealed holes around pipes or cables that could allow fire or smoke to spread between floors or units?

Fire extinguisher types for landlords

Using the wrong extinguisher can make a fire significantly worse. Every FRA checks whether the correct types are present. Here is a plain-English guide.

Other compliance certificates you may need

Most landlords who need a Fire Risk Assessment also need an EICR and a Gas Safety Certificate (CP12). Book all three together and save with our HMO Complete bundle.