Cost guide

What a fire risk assessment costs, and why

Nobody can price a fire risk assessment without knowing the building. This guide explains what moves the price, what a proper quote includes and where portfolio clients save, so you can compare quotes on the same basis.

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What drives the price

Building type and use

A purpose-built block with one staircase is quicker to assess than a converted building with several cores, mixed uses and commercial units at ground level. HMOs, sheltered housing and student accommodation each bring their own checks.

Size and height

Price follows time on site. The number of storeys, cores, plant rooms and escape routes sets the length of the visit. Buildings over 11 metres and over 18 metres carry extra duties under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, which the assessment has to cover.

Assessment type

A Type 1 assessment of the common parts is the standard for most blocks. Type 2 adds destructive sampling, and Types 3 and 4 add a sample of flats, which means access arrangements and more time.

Records and condition

A building with a current fire strategy, alarm and door records and a previous assessment is faster to assess than one with no paperwork. Poor condition also means more findings to document.

Location and travel

We cover London, Essex, Hertfordshire and Cambridge from London and Essex. Sites outside that area carry travel time.

Urgency

A visit at short notice after an enforcement letter or an insurer's request is priced differently from a planned assessment on a schedule.

What a proper quote includes

Compare quotes on what they cover rather than the number at the bottom. Ours include all of the following.

  • A named assessor with their qualification and registration stated. Since 1 October 2023 the assessment record must name the person who carried it out.
  • The assessment type and the standard used: BS 9792:2025 for housing, PAS 79-1:2020 for non-domestic premises.
  • A full walk of the common parts, plant rooms, roof spaces and escape routes, with the external wall and flat entrance doors checked from the common side.
  • A written report within 48 hours of the visit, with a prioritised action plan and photographs.
  • A same-day call about anything urgent found on site.
  • Plain guidance on which actions matter most and where to start.

Watch for quotes that exclude the report writing, charge extra for photographs or do not say who will attend. A low price for a visit that produces a two-page tick list is not a saving when an enforcing authority asks to see the assessment.

Where portfolios save

  • Scheduling. Assessing several buildings in the same area on consecutive days cuts travel and set-up time, and we pass that on.
  • Consistency. The same assessor and report format across a portfolio means less time explaining each building from scratch at review.
  • Records ready. Sending the previous assessment, the fire strategy and the door and alarm records before the visit shortens the time on site.
  • Review cycle. An annual review of a building we already know costs less than a first assessment, because the baseline is done.
  • Combined visits. Where we also look after the building's maintenance, the assessor and the maintenance team share what they find.

Questions to ask before you accept a quote

  • Who will carry out the assessment, and what is their qualification and registration?
  • Which standard will the report follow, and which assessment type is being quoted?
  • Does the price include the written report, photographs and action plan, and when will it arrive?
  • Will the external wall, the flat entrance doors and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 duties be covered?
  • What happens if something urgent is found on the day?

What the assessment is protecting you from

The cost of not having a suitable and sufficient assessment is the better comparison. Enforcement notices, unlimited fines under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, an insurer refusing a claim, and in serious cases prosecution of the Responsible Person. A missing or out-of-date assessment can be treated as though you have none.

How to get a fixed price

Send us the address, the number of storeys and flats or units, the building's use and the date of the last assessment. We come back with a fixed quote and a proposed date. For a portfolio, send the list and we will price it as a schedule. Read more about our fire risk assessments and the assessors who carry them out.

Common questions

Why do quotes for the same building vary so much?

Because they cover different things. Some quotes are for a short visit and a template report. Others include a named Level 6 assessor, a full survey, a written report with photographs and an action plan, and a follow-up call. Ask what is included and who will attend.

Is a cheap fire risk assessment worth having?

Only if it is suitable and sufficient. The law does not set a price, but it does require the assessment to be carried out by a competent person and to cover the building properly. An assessment that misses the external wall, the flat entrance doors or the 2022 Regulations duties leaves the Responsible Person exposed.

Do you charge for the report separately?

No. The written report, the photographs and the action plan are part of the price, and the report is delivered within 48 hours of the visit.

Is there a discount for several buildings?

Yes. Portfolios are priced as a schedule, with travel and set-up shared across the visits and a lower rate per building than a one-off.

How often will I pay for a review?

Best practice is a review at least once a year, and sooner after building work, a change of use or a fire. A review of a building we already know costs less than the first assessment.

Can the assessment be combined with other work?

Yes. Where SeeForth also handles the building's planned maintenance, or prepares its fire strategy, the visits and findings are shared, which keeps the overall cost down.

Tell us the building and we will tell you what it needs. Call 020 4634 3089 or send the details.

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