How much does a fire risk assessment cost in the UK?
A fire risk assessment costs £350 on average in the UK. Most jobs fall between £175 and £650 per assessment. Property size and type: Small HMO £175 to £300, Larger HMO £300 to £475, Large commercial £475 to £650. Prices reviewed July 2026.
A fire risk assessment usually costs £175 to £650 in the UK, with most landlords and small businesses paying around £350. The price is set mainly by the size, type and complexity of the property, and covers the assessment and written report only, not any remedial work found.
Fire risk assessment cost calculator
Use the calculator to price your fire risk assessment in 2026. Adjust the options and area for a UK cost range. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Fire risk assessment cost breakdown
Typical fire risk assessment costs, by option:
| Property size and type | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| Small HMO, shop, office or block up to 6 flats | £175 to £300 |
| Larger HMO, office, restaurant or block of 7-20 flats | £300 to £475 |
| Large commercial, industrial unit or bigger residential block | £475 to £650 |
What's included in the price?
Typical fire risk assessment prices include:
- A site visit and walk-through of the premises, checking escape routes, fire doors, alarms, emergency lighting, extinguishers and signage
- A review of how the building is used and who is at risk, including staff, tenants, visitors and anyone less able to escape
- A written fire risk assessment report that lists the hazards found and gives each one a risk rating
- A prioritised action plan setting out what needs fixing, and by when, to meet the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
- A suggested date for the next review of the assessment
- The assessor's time on site plus the desk time to write up the report, usually emailed within a few days
What changes the price?
The things that move fire risk assessment prices most:
The size of the premises and the number of floors or units, the biggest driver, since a larger building takes longer to walk and write up
The type of premises, as an HMO, office, shop, restaurant, care home or factory each carry different risks and rules
Whether a basic non-intrusive Type 1 assessment is enough, or a more detailed Type 3 or 4 that looks inside walls and flats
Your region, with London and the South East charging the most
The age, layout and condition of the building, since older or complex sites take longer to assess
Travel and access, as remote sites or several separate buildings add time
These are why two quotes for the same job can differ, and the only way to know your price is to get prices from local firms (through Bark; we may earn a fee, at no extra cost to you).
How the price is built up
The fee is built from the assessor's time on site plus the desk time to write up the report and action plan, so the size and complexity of the building are the main drivers. A small HMO, shop or office that takes an hour or two on site sits near £175 to £300, a medium building assessed over half a day around £300 to £475, and a larger commercial or residential site needing a full day £475 to £650. Sleeping accommodation and higher-risk uses push towards the top of each band, as do London prices and older or awkward buildings. Very large, high-rise or high-risk premises such as care homes, hotels and factories fall outside this range and often run £800 to £2,000 or more. Any remedial work found is always quoted separately. A fire risk assessment is a pure service fee for the assessor's time, expertise and written report. There are no materials involved. Any remedial work the report recommends, such as fire doors, alarms, emergency lighting or signage, is quoted and paid for separately.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Get two or three quotes from assessors with a recognised accreditation, since fees for the same building vary widely
- Have your floor plans, the previous assessment and details of alarms and extinguishers ready so the assessor is not held up
- Book a standard, non-urgent appointment rather than a rush job
- If you own several properties, ask about a portfolio rate across all of them
Does where you live change the cost?
In London, a fire risk assessment typically costs around £420, about 20% above the UK average of £350. In the North, Scotland and Wales the guide figure is nearer £340.
| Region | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midlands / East (UK average) | £180 | £350 | £650 |
| London | £210 | £420 | £780 |
| South East / South West | £180 | £370 | £680 |
| North / Scotland / Wales | £170 | £340 | £630 |
Guide prices per assessment, scaled with the same regional multipliers as the calculator. Not quotes.
Fire risk assessment cost in major UK cities
| City | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | £170 | £330 | £620 |
| Birmingham | £180 | £350 | £650 |
| Bristol | £180 | £370 | £680 |
| Cardiff | £170 | £340 | £630 |
| Edinburgh | £170 | £340 | £630 |
| Glasgow | £170 | £340 | £630 |
| Leeds | £170 | £340 | £630 |
| Liverpool | £170 | £340 | £630 |
| London | £210 | £420 | £780 |
| Manchester | £170 | £340 | £630 |
| Newcastle | £170 | £340 | £630 |
| Sheffield | £170 | £340 | £630 |
City guide estimates, scaled by local labour costs. Indicative averages for fire risk assessment, not quotes.
Assessors in London and the South East charge the most. The Midlands, the North, Wales and Scotland are typically cheaper. Rural or hard-to-reach sites can attract an added travel charge.
Compare this with a real quote
The figures above are guide prices. Two or three quotes for your fire risk assessment tell you what it costs where you live.
Free and no obligation. You answer a few questions on Bark, local pros get in touch, and you decide who, if anyone, to hire. We may earn a fee, at no extra cost to you.Common questions
How much does a fire risk assessment cost in 2026?
For a typical small HMO, shop, office or a small block of flats, expect roughly £175 to £650, with around £350 being common for a medium property. A small single premises can be £175 to £300, a medium office or restaurant £300 to £500, and a larger commercial building £500 to £650. Very large, high-rise or higher-risk premises such as care homes and factories run higher, often £800 to £2,000 or more. The price depends mainly on the size, type and complexity of the building.
What changes the price of a fire risk assessment?
The biggest driver is the size and complexity of the premises, since a larger building with more floors, units and escape routes takes longer to inspect and write up. The type of use matters too, as sleeping accommodation such as HMOs, hotels and care homes carries stricter rules than a simple office. The depth of assessment also counts, because a basic non-intrusive Type 1 costs less than a detailed Type 3 or 4 that looks inside walls and flats. Location, building age and travel to site all shift the figure as well.
How often do I need a fire risk assessment?
There is no fixed legal interval, but the law says the assessment must be kept up to date, reviewed regularly, and redone whenever there is a significant change to the building, its use or the people in it. In practice most assessors and insurers suggest a review every year and a full reassessment every one to two years for higher-risk premises, or up to every five years for simple low-risk ones. Many councils expect an annual review for licensed HMOs. Keep the report and action plan on file, as you may be asked to produce it.
Do I legally need a fire risk assessment?
Yes. For almost all non-domestic premises, and for the shared parts of blocks of flats and HMOs, it is a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The responsible person, usually the employer, landlord, owner or managing agent, must carry one out and record the findings in writing. Since 1 October 2023 that applies in every case: section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 removed the old threshold that let smaller premises keep the assessment in their head. Beyond the law it is worth doing, since a proper assessment can prevent a fire, protect tenants and staff, and is often required by insurers and lenders. Being caught without one can mean an enforcement notice, a fine or, in serious cases, prosecution.
Can I do my own fire risk assessment?
Legally you can if the premises is small and low risk and you are competent to do it, as there is no rule that it must be done by a professional. In practice, for an HMO, a business with staff, or any building with sleeping accommodation, a qualified assessor is strongly advised and usually expected by insurers and councils. A professional knows the current rules, spots hazards an owner would miss, and produces a report that stands up to scrutiny. For a simple single office or shop, a careful assessment using the government guides can be reasonable.
Does the fee include fixing the problems found?
No. The fee covers the assessment visit and the written report with its action plan only. Any remedial work it recommends, such as fitting fire doors, alarms, emergency lighting, extinguishers or signage, is quoted and paid for separately. A low headline price does not protect you from those follow-on costs, so budget for the actions as well. Ask the assessor for a rough idea of likely remedial work before you book, and get separate quotes for the fixes.
Official guidance and sources
The rules and schemes referenced on this page come from these official UK sources. The price figures are Costwise's own; see how we price.
- Fire safety: your responsibilities GOV.UK · A fire risk assessment is a legal duty for the responsible person of a non-domestic or shared building.
- Fire risk assessments GOV.UK · What a fire risk assessment must cover under the Fire Safety Order 2005.
Cite this data
These figures are free to use in articles, reports and research under a CC BY 4.0 licence. All we ask is a credit to Costwise, and online a link. Where your style allows, please make "Costwise" the linked word so readers can check the figure for their own region.
Costwise (2026): A fire risk assessment typically costs £350 in the UK, ranging from £175 to £650. Reviewed July 2026. costwiseuk.co.ukSource: Costwise (costwiseuk.co.uk)Costwise (2026). Fire risk assessment cost. Costwise UK cost data, version 2026-10-12. https://costwiseuk.co.uk/fire-risk-assessment-cost/2026-10-12 (158 jobs)Dataset DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21159943 · also on Kaggle, Hugging Face and Figshare. Method: how we price. Downloadable CSV.
These are independent guide prices based on typical UK jobs in 2026. Your actual cost depends on your property, spec, access and where you live. Always get at least three written quotes before committing.