Fire safety for resident directors
Fire risk assessment
As a director of a right to manage company or residents’ management company you’ll need to make sure that a fire risk assessment (FRA) has been done, covering the common parts of your building, entrance doors to flats that open onto common parts, and the external walls.
A fire risk assessment reviews the dangers of a fire breaking out in your building and recommends ways to reduce risks and protect residents. The law says it must be “suitable and sufficient” for the building.
How often to do the fire risk assessment
You must make sure the fire risk assessment is reviewed regularly to keep it up to date, and any changes that it recommends are done. The law does not give specific timings for how often to do this, but it will need to be reviewed if:
- there is any reason to think it needs updating – for example, if there has been a fire in the shared parts of the building
- there have been significant changes since the assessment was done – for example, major building works or more people using the building
The assessment might also include a recommendation on how often it should be reviewed or updated.
Who can do the fire risk assessment
Smaller buildings in England
If you have a small and simple building in England, you can use the government’s checklist to do the fire risk assessment yourself, if you feel capable. This includes small blocks of flats with no more than 3 storeys, that were purpose-built or converted in line with recent building regulations, and designed for a “stay put” strategy.
You should also review the government’s guide to making your small block of flats safe from fire.
Smaller buildings in Wales
For small buildings in Wales, see the Welsh Government’s guidance:
- Fire risk assessment checklist: small premises
- A guide to making your small block of flats safe from fire
Larger buildings
In a larger building (more than 3 storeys, older conversions, or blocks with a simultaneous evacuation strategy), your managing agent might do the fire risk assessment, or they may recommend using a professional fire risk assessor.
Paying for a fire risk assessment
The cost of a fire risk assessment can normally be charged to leaseholders through the service charge, if the leases allow this.
For example, the leases may say that the landlord can recover costs of complying with a statutory obligation, or there may be a general “sweeping up clause” that covers any expenditure reasonably incurred in managing the building.
- Last updated:
- 2 April 2026
- Next review:
- 2 April 2028
Related content
Guide for leaseholders taking on the director's role of a right to manage company
Advice guideWho is responsible for the fire risk assessment and how recommendations are implemented
Advice guide