Fire risk assessments
Responsibilities for fire risk assessments
Responsibilities for making sure a fire risk assessment is done
Under the law the person who is responsible for the safety of the residential building’s shared areas is known as the “responsible person”. This could be the owner of the building (the freeholder or landlord) or whoever who has control of the building (such as a right to manage company).
This responsible person has a duty to ensure a “suitable and sufficient” fire risk assessment is carried out.
An FRA may involve reviewing current fire safety measures or conducting a new assessment.
The responsible person or their agent may carry out the fire risk assessment themselves or may employ someone else to do it.
The responsible person must also:
- get the fire risk assessment reviewed regularly
- carry out recommendations made in the FRA within a timescale based on risk
Buildings over 18 metres (7 or more storeys)
For residential buildings over 18 metres (or 7 or more storeys) in height, the “principal accountable person” (PAP) is legally responsible for assessing building safety risks.
The PAP is the person or organisation that is responsible for repair of the building’s outside walls and structure.
Who can do a fire risk assessment
The law does not specify who is allowed to carry out a fire risk assessment. It simply states that the person must be competent enough to complete a “suitable and sufficient” assessment for the building.
A competent person for a fire risk assessment is someone with sufficient training, experience, knowledge and qualifications to identify hazards, evaluate risks and advise on safety measures.
A specialist will usually be needed to carry out an FRA in a large or complex building.
- Last updated:
- 21 April 2026
- Next review:
- 21 April 2027
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