Short answer: there is no official or fixed price for a fire risk assessment. The cost depends mainly on the size and layout of the building, how it is used, whether people sleep there and how much needs to be inspected. The reliable way to compare is a fixed written quote based on your actual building.
Why there is no standard price
The law requires a “suitable and sufficient” assessment[1]. It does not set a price, a format or a time on site. We have not found any government-published price list for fire risk assessments in the UK. Figures you see online are commercial prices from individual firms, usually for a narrowly defined building, and they rarely say what is included.
Two quotes for the “same” assessment can differ because one includes a proper walk-round of every floor, a sample of flat entrance doors and a full written action plan, and the other does not. Ask what you are getting before you compare the number.
What drives the cost
| Factor | Why it affects the price |
|---|---|
| Size and number of floors | More area and more storeys mean more time on site and more to record. |
| Use of the building | An office is simpler than a building where people sleep, such as an HMO, hotel or care home. |
| Who is at risk | Residents who would need help to escape, members of the public or lone workers add questions and recommendations. |
| Fire safety systems | Alarm systems, emergency lighting, smoke ventilation and firefighting lifts all need their arrangements and records checked. |
| Type of assessment for flats | Common parts only, or common parts and flats, non-destructive or destructive (see below). |
| Access and records | Missing keys, locked areas or no maintenance records mean extra time or a second visit. |
| First assessment or review | Reviewing a sound, recent assessment is usually quicker than starting from scratch. |
| Deadline | Tell us if a council, fire service, lender or insurer has set a date so we can plan around it. |
Types 1 to 4 for blocks of flats
For purpose-built blocks of flats, assessors often use the four types of assessment described in the 2011 Local Government Group guide, “Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats”[2]:
- Type 1: common parts only, non-destructive. The usual starting point for most purpose-built blocks.
- Type 2: common parts only, with some destructive inspection on a sampling basis, for example opening up to check compartmentation.
- Type 3: common parts and the inside of flats, non-destructive.
- Type 4: common parts and flats, with destructive inspection. Normally only used in limited circumstances, such as where serious problems are suspected.
GOV.UK still hosts that guide for fire safety professionals as an interim measure but says it is no longer fully up to date and a revised version has been commissioned[2]. Separately, Home Office guidance on the Fire Safety Act 2021 says checking the structure means a visual inspection, with intrusive inspection only where the assessor has serious concerns[3]. Destructive types need contractors, access to flats and making good afterwards, so they cost considerably more. A good assessor will recommend one only if there is a reason.
What you should get for the money
- An on-site inspection of all the areas in scope, not just a questionnaire.
- A written record of all the findings, as the law has required since 1 October 2023[4].
- The name of the person and/or organisation who carried out the assessment, which the record must now include[4].
- A prioritised action plan you can work through and hand to contractors.
- A clear statement of scope: what was inspected, what was not, and why.
For housing, BSI published BS 9792:2025, a code of practice for fire risk assessment of housing, which replaced PAS 79-2:2020[5]. You can ask an assessor which method they work to.
Want a price you can rely on? Send us the address, the type of building and anything you know about the fire safety systems, and we will give you a fixed written quote with the scope set out. Get a free quote or call 020 8066 2499.
The problem with cheap template assessments
Some low-cost assessments are produced remotely from photos or a questionnaire, or are a standard template with the address changed. The Scottish Government has warned short-term let hosts to be wary of suppliers selling assessments, such as fire risk or legionella assessments, that are “not valid or overpriced”[6]. A report that does not reflect your building is unlikely to be suitable and sufficient, and you stay legally responsible even when someone else does the work[7].
The real cost of a poor assessment usually appears later: an enforcement notice, a council asking for a fresh report, an insurer querying a claim, or works ordered that a proper assessment would have scoped correctly the first time. Failing to comply with the Fire Safety Order can lead to an unlimited fine and, in serious cases, up to two years’ imprisonment[8].
Competence: what the law says now
Under article 18 of the Fire Safety Order, the responsible person must appoint one or more competent persons to help them, and GOV.UK recommends choosing an assessor with third-party certification[7][9]. A specific duty to use a competent assessor (article 9A) was added by the Building Safety Act 2022, but it has not been brought into force in England[10]. The government consulted from March to June 2026 on making certification compulsory, so that assessors’ competence is independently checked by a UKAS-accredited body[11]. Until that becomes law, it is up to you to check.
Useful reference points when choosing an assessor:
- The Fire Sector Federation’s “A guide to choosing a competent fire risk assessor”, which explains company certification, person certification and professional registration[12].
- BS 8674:2025, a voluntary BSI code of practice setting out a competence framework for individual fire risk assessors at three levels by building complexity[13].
Our own assessors are members of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM), and we use the BS 8674:2025 framework to match assessor competence to the building. Whoever you choose, ask: what experience do you have with this type of building, which method do you work to, what will the report include, and what will you not inspect?
How to get an accurate quote
The more we know, the firmer the quote. Useful details are the address, what the building is used for, the number of floors and flats or units, rough floor area, which fire safety systems are installed, the date of the last assessment and any deadline you are working to. If a fire door survey, alarm service or emergency lighting test is also due, we can quote for fire door inspections and other services at the same time. Request a quote through our fire risk assessment page or check the areas we cover. For landlords, see also landlords and HMOs.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Check the current legislation for your premises, or ask us.
Sources
- Fire Safety Order, article 9: risk assessment (legislation.gov.uk)
- Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats (GOV.UK)
- Fire Safety Act 2021 factsheet: commencement of sections 1 and 3 (GOV.UK)
- Fire safety responsibilities under section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 (GOV.UK)
- BSI: BS 9792:2025 Fire risk assessment. Housing. Code of practice
- Scottish Government: Short-term lets business and regulatory impact assessment, consumer assessment
- Workplace fire safety: fire risk assessments (GOV.UK)
- Fire Safety Order: enforcement and sanctions for non-compliance (GOV.UK)
- Check your fire safety responsibilities under the Fire Safety Order (GOV.UK)
- Building Safety Act 2022, section 156 (legislation.gov.uk)
- MHCLG consultation: Fire risk assessors profession (GOV.UK)
- Fire Sector Federation: A guide to choosing a competent fire risk assessor (hosted by London Fire Brigade)
- BSI: BS 8674:2025 Framework for competence of individual fire risk assessors