HOW TO HIRE · BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

How to hire a fire risk assessor in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

The fire risk assessment duty is yours as the responsible person. Here is how to choose a competent assessor and what the report should include.

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THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a fire risk assessor in five steps

  1. Confirm you are the responsible personEmployer, owner, landlord, occupier or manager of the premises.
  2. Describe the premisesFloors, rooms, people who sleep there, vulnerable occupants and current fire systems.
  3. Check the assessor's competenceExperience with your type of premises, and any register or accreditation they hold.
  4. Insist on a site visitA proper walk-round, not a desk exercise.
  5. Act on the action planPrioritised actions with dates, then review regularly.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

No statutory licence or register applies to fire risk assessors in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. gov.uk says that if you lack the expertise or time you need to appoint a competent person, such as a professional risk assessor, to help.

Ask the fire risk assessor for examples of assessments on premises like yours and any voluntary accreditation. gov.uk →

Your duty under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Article 9 of the Order puts the duty on the responsible person, in England and Wales, to assess fire risks to a suitable and sufficient standard. gov.uk adds that the assessment must be kept as a written record and reviewed regularly; the duty stays with you even when an assessor does the work.

Keep the written assessment and diary its review. legislation.gov.uk →

Scotland: Fire (Scotland) Act 2005

In Scotland the duty to assess fire risk in relevant premises comes from the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, with government guidance for different premises types.

Ask the fire risk assessor to work to the Scottish legislation and guidance. legislation.gov.uk →

Professional indemnity insurance

A poor assessment can leave people at risk and you exposed. No register sets the cover, so ask about insurance as part of competence.

Ask for the fire risk assessor's insurer and the cover level.

VAT

Fire risk assessment is standard-rated, so a registered fire risk assessor adds 20% to the site visit, the report and the action plan. Registration becomes compulsory once a fire risk assessor has VAT-taxable turnover over £90,000 in any rolling 12 months; from then VAT must be charged and shown as a separate line on the invoice.

Ask the fire risk assessor for the VAT number when booking and for the assessment fee and VAT shown separately. gov.uk →

“Have you assessed premises like mine as a fire risk assessor?”

A good answer: Specific examples: HMOs, shops, offices, blocks of flats or care settings.

“Will you visit the whole premises?”

A good answer: Yes, every floor, escape route and plant room.

“Which law and guide will the fire risk assessment follow?”

A good answer: The right one for your nation and premises type.

“What will the written assessment include?”

A good answer: Hazards, people at risk, existing measures, the risk level and a prioritised action plan.

“Do you hold professional indemnity insurance?”

A good answer: Yes, with the insurer named.

“Will you check alarms, emergency lighting and doors?”

A good answer: A clear statement of what is inspected and what is only noted.

“When should the assessment be reviewed?”

A good answer: A review date, and triggers such as building changes.

Getting the quote right

  • Premises, floors and areas included
  • Who actually attends the premises: the fire risk assessor named, an employed assessor, or a subcontracted one
  • Site visit and the time on site
  • Type of assessment for flats (common parts or into flats)
  • Written report and action plan, with delivery date
  • Insurance and competence details
  • The VAT number, with VAT at 20% on the assessment and report

Walk away if

  • A cheap assessment with no site visit
  • A generic template with your name on top
  • No action plan or priorities
  • Cannot explain which law applies in your nation
  • No insurance
  • Sells you equipment as part of the findings
LOW
£150
TYPICAL
£300
HIGH
£900

What a fire risk assessor costs: £150–£900 per assessment

Fire risk assessments are priced per assessment from the premises type, size and depth of inspection. Fire Risk Assessment price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

Fire risk assessors near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you.

  1. InformationPlans, occupancy and previous assessments gathered.
  2. Site inspectionHazards, escape routes and people at risk examined.
  3. Systems checkAlarms, emergency lighting, doors and extinguishers reviewed.
  4. Written assessmentFindings and risk level recorded.
  5. Action planPrioritised actions with suggested timescales.

Responsible person
Whoever controls the premises and holds the fire safety duties.
Suitable and sufficient
The legal standard the fire risk assessment must meet.
Compartmentation
Walls and floors that stop fire spreading between areas.
Means of escape
The routes people use to get out safely.
Emergency lighting
Lights that work when the power fails.
HMO
A house in multiple occupation.

AFTER

When the job is done

Keep the written assessmentIt is your record of compliance; inspectors may ask for it.
Work through the actionsFix the high-priority items first and record when each is done.
Review itAfter changes to the building or its use, and on the date set.
Rate the workYour review helps the next person choose; Locufy only accepts reviews of booked work. If there is a problem with the fire risk assessor, the make-it-right step gives them a chance to fix it first.

STEP 1Raise it with the fire risk assessorSet out the problem, the date and what would put it right. Trading as a business, the fire risk assessor owes you reasonable care and skill under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, and where that was missing you can require the work done again or a lower price.
STEP 2Ask Locufy to help put it rightUnder four stars, you are asked whether to send the problem to the fire risk assessor before reviewing. We chase it with them, and your review follows.
STEP 3The fire and rescue authorityIf you are unsure the assessment was carried out properly, gov.uk says your local fire and rescue authority may be able to advise. For your consumer rights against the assessor: Citizens Advice 0808 223 1133, Advice Direct Scotland 0808 800 9060, Consumerline 0300 123 6262.
STEP 4Small claims courtIf nothing else works, claim from the fire risk assessor in the small claims court: up to £10,000 in England and Wales, up to £5,000 in Scotland by simple procedure, and up to £5,000 in Northern Ireland.

Hiring a fire risk assessor: questions people ask

No licence or statutory register applies; you must choose someone competent if you do not do it yourself.

In England and Wales the responsible person must carry out the assessment and keep a written record, and review it regularly.

The responsible person: the employer, owner, landlord, occupier or anyone else in control of the premises.

Usually £150–£900 per assessment, with £300 typical. Sleeping risks, size and layout, and assessments into individual flats push the price up. See the fire risk assessor price guide for the detail, or enter your town above for fire risk assessors near you.

No. Scotland has the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, and Northern Ireland has its own rules.

One to four hours on site for small premises, with the report within a week.

MORE GUIDES

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How to hire: Health & Safety ConsultantHow to hire: Building SurveyorHow to hire: ISO Certification ConsultantHow to hire: Business ConsultantHow to hire: HR ConsultantHow to hire: Insurance BrokerHow to hire: Management ConsultantHow to hire: BER / EPC AssessorAll 701 hiring guides →

Fire risk assessors near you

Fire risk assessors in LondonFire risk assessors in ManchesterFire risk assessors in BirminghamFire risk assessors in GlasgowFire risk assessors in BelfastAll fire risk assessors on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. gov.uk — fire safety in the workplace: fire risk assessments
  2. gov.uk — fire safety in the workplace: who is responsible
  3. Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, article 9 — risk assessment
  4. Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, section 53
  5. gov.scot — fire safety guidance for existing premises with sleeping accommodation
  6. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
  7. Citizens Advice — more help with a consumer issue
  8. gov.uk — make a court claim for money: court fees
  9. VAT rates — VAT rates for goods and services: standard rate 20% on most goods and services
  10. GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register