Fire Risk Assessments for Commercial and Residential Properties
A fire risk assessment is a legal requirement for most non-domestic premises. Safe and Sealed carries out thorough, clearly documented fire risk assessments for businesses and landlords across the UK, helping you meet your obligations and keep your occupants safe.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person for any non-domestic premises must ensure that a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is carried out and kept up to date. This applies to commercial businesses, landlords of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), communal areas of residential blocks and a wide range of other premises.
A fire risk assessment is not simply a piece of paperwork. It is a structured process of identifying fire hazards, evaluating the risk to people, and putting in place measures to remove or reduce that risk to an acceptable level. Done properly, it can save lives.
Safe and Sealed carries out fire risk assessments that are thorough, proportionate and written in plain English, with a clear action plan to address any significant findings.
Our consultants hold membership of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM), providing you with confidence in the quality and competence of the service you receive.
Our Fire Risk Assessment Services
Commercial Fire Risk Assessments
We carry out fire risk assessments for a wide range of commercial premises, including:
- Offices and business premises
- Retail outlets and shopping units
- Warehouses and industrial units
- Hospitality and leisure venues (pubs, restaurants, hotels, bingo halls, leisure centres and more)
- Healthcare and care settings
- Educational establishments
Every assessment follows a structured methodology and is documented in a clear, professionally presented report. Where significant hazards or deficiencies are identified, we will discuss our findings with you and help you understand the most practical and cost-effective way to address them.
Residential Fire Risk Assessments and HMOs
Landlords of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and residential blocks have specific fire safety obligations. These have become increasingly stringent in recent years, and failure to comply can result in enforcement action, prohibition notices and, in the most serious cases, criminal prosecution.
Safe and Sealed carries out fire risk assessments for:
- Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), including licensed HMOs
- Purpose-built and converted blocks of flats (communal areas)
- Bedsits and shared housing
- Short-term and holiday lets, including AirBnBs
- Student accommodation
- Supported living and care home settings
We understand the specific requirements placed on landlords and property managers, and our reports clearly distinguish between immediate actions, short-term improvements and longer-term recommendations, so you can plan your response effectively.
Clear Action Plans and Ongoing Support
Our fire risk assessment reports are designed to be used, not filed away. Each report includes:
- A clear summary of the findings
- A risk rating for each identified hazard
- An action plan with prioritised recommendations, distinguishing between immediate, short-term and longer-term actions
- Reference to relevant guidance and legislation where appropriate
We are also available to provide ongoing fire safety support, including review and update of existing fire risk assessments (recommended every 12 months, or following a significant change), fire safety advice for proposed alterations or change of use, support with emergency evacuation planning and fire safety procedures, and liaison with the fire authority where required.
Who We Work With
- Hospitality and leisure businesses, including pubs, hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues
- Retail and commercial premises of all sizes
- Landlords and letting agents managing HMOs, residential blocks and AirBnBs
- Property management companies responsible for communal areas
- Facilities management companies with multiple sites under their remit
Frequently Asked Questions
If your premises are non-domestic (or if you are a landlord of an HMO or a building containing multiple flats), then yes, you are required by law to have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment in place under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
There is no fixed statutory interval, but it is generally recommended that fire risk assessments are reviewed at least annually, and immediately following any significant change to the premises, its use or its occupancy. A previous assessment that is out of date may not satisfy your legal obligations.
The responsible person must ensure that the person carrying out the assessment is competent to do so. Using a qualified, accredited assessor, such as a member of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers, provides a much stronger defence in the event of challenge or enforcement action than using a non-qualified individual.
Our assessments are not pass-or-fail exercises. They identify areas where your fire safety arrangements need improvement and help you understand how to address them. Where we identify immediate life safety risks, we will draw these to your attention clearly so you can take prompt action.
Possibly. If there have been any changes to the premises, the number of occupants, the way the building is used or the fire safety provisions in place, the assessment should be reviewed. We can carry out a review of an existing assessment and advise whether a full reassessment is required.
Yes. We regularly carry out fire risk assessments for HMOs and residential blocks, and we are familiar with the specific obligations placed on landlords and managing agents.
If you let out a property on a short-term basis, including through platforms such as AirBnB, you are likely to be the responsible person under the Fire Safety Order and should have a suitable fire risk assessment in place. The requirements will depend on the type and layout of the property, but the obligation applies regardless of how frequently the property is let.