As a landlord managing one or more properties, you are legally obligated to ensure that your property is safe for the people residing, working, or visiting the area. This legal duty also includes making sure that no fire hazards take place. To ensure fire safety, a fire risk assessment is a moral and ethical obligation for landlords. As a property owner, it’s your utmost priority to make sure that anything unexpected that can potentially harm your property or tenants never happens. A fire risk assessment has your back when it comes to ensuring that your tenants are not exposed to any fire risks, your property adheres to the legal obligations, and in case of any emergencies, you are always prepared.
Fire risk assessment for landlords is a legal obligation that applies to all HMOs, flats, and a range of rental properties. Understanding the inside outs of a fire risk assessment is as necessary as getting one done for your property. Once you get a grasp of what it is, what it includes, and what benefits it provides, only then can you make sure that it is carried out in a satisfactory way, checking all boxes.
Key Takeaways
- A fire risk assessment is an obligation by law for all kinds of rental properties residing within the premises of the UK.
- It aids in diagnosing fire hazards and potential risks before they become serious.
- It allows landlords to improve their property’s safety.
- A certificate is granted at the end of the assessment, showcasing your compliance with the law.
- The costs fluctuate depending on several factors, like the category of the property and its size.
- Timely examinations act as a protector of the property you own and the tenants that reside in it.
- Regular assessments elevate your reputation as a landlord.
What is a Fire Risk Assessment for Landlords?
A fire risk assessment for landlords is a thorough examination of your property that helps with the timely diagnosis of any fire hazards and provides recommendations in order to minimize fire risks. Take an example of a human body. Just like it’s recommended to get regular medical check-ups to ensure that all parts of your body are doing well and their functioning is satisfactory, a fire risk assessment makes sure that all fire-related equipment in your building is doing well and contributing to the overall well-being of your property.
This assessment involves examining and evaluating the following:
- Potential fire sources include candles, cooking appliances, or defective wiring.
- Fire detection systems.
- Fire and smoke alarms.
- Emergency exits and escape routes.
- The general fire safety regulations of the building.
Once all of these inspections are completed and it’s made sure that no fire related risks exist within the property, you are provided with a valid certificate in fire risk assessment.
Why Landlords Need a Fire Risk Assessment
As a property manager, it is mandatory to realize that tenants put an enormous amount of trust in you in order to call your property their home. For you, your property might only be another source of income, but for them, it’s somewhere they live with their loved ones and a place they consider worthy of calling home. Therefore, having a fire risk assessment certificate depicts how much you care about the financial, mental, and physical well-being of your tenants as a landlord.
According to The Regulatory Reform Order 2005, every landlord managing a rental property is bound to get a fire risk assessment done and make sure that it’s up-to-date. Ensuring that a fire risk assessment is up-to-date means getting regular and timely check-ups done to make sure that everything is still operating in satisfactory conditions.
Not putting in efforts to become a responsible landlord has long-term drawbacks. Heavy fines, voided insurance, or even prosecution are the potential consequences of ignoring fire safety risk assessment. Moreover, ignoring it puts a lot of precious lives at risk. Therefore, making this small investment is a smart move and totally worth it as it makes a big difference.
What Does a Fire Risk Assessment Include?
Anything that can either cause a fire or make an existing fire worse in emergency situations is thoroughly examined during a fire risk assessment for landlords. A further elaboration on these potential fire-causing or worsening elements is given below:
- Identifying Fire Hazards: Anything that can possibly help start a fire or spread it. This includes gas appliances, electrical systems, and open flames.
- Identifying People at Risk: Tenants, working staff, or even visitors who can potentially be in the danger zone.
- Evaluating Risks: Assessing the chances of a fire starting and spreading.
- Implementing Safety Measures: Positioning extinguishers, emergency lighting, and alarms.
- Recording and Reviewing Findings: Keeping a record of your assessments and making sure to review them regularly.
In simple words, a fire risk assessment for landlords enables you to see the bigger picture clearly. It helps you to pinpoint the exact problematic points and aids you in getting them fixed.
Cost of Fire Risk Assessment for Landlords
The cost of a fire risk assessment for landlords fluctuates depending on various factors, like:
- Size of the property
- Complexity of the property
- Number of rooms or units within the property
- Type of tenants, for example, commercial, HMO, or residential.
- Location of the property
A general estimate of fire risk assessment for landlords cost is as follows:
| Small flats or single properties | £150-£250 |
|---|---|
| Medium-sized properties | £250-£400 |
| Larger HMOs or complex buildings | £400+ |
The main inspection, risk evaluation, report, and certificate in fire risk assessment are included in this cost range.
Our Company’s Pricing
At Landlord Safety Certification (LSC), along with staying safe and protected, we understand how important it is for landlords to stay within certain budgets. That is exactly why at LSC we offer prices that are affordable, transparent, and inclusive. Moreover, we guarantee that there are no hidden costs or surprise add-ons.
Our fire risk assessment prices start from £130.
| Communal Area (1-2 floors) | £130.99* |
|---|---|
| Communal Area (3-5 floors) | £150.99* |
| Communal Area (6-8 floors) | £170.99* |
| Studio Apartment | £90.99* |
| 1-3 Bedrooms | £140.99* |
| 4-5 Bedrooms | £180.99* |
| 6 Bedrooms | £190.99* |
- All of these prices are inclusive with no hidden costs or surprise add-ons.
- In case of paid parking, a £5 Parking fee is applicable.
- In case the property is in a congestion charge zone, a £15 Congestion Charge is applicable.
At LSC, it’s our mission to provide landlords with quality assessments without breaking the bank.
Legal Responsibilities for Landlords
Landlords are bound to do the following under UK law:
- Make sure to get a fire risk assessment done regularly.
- Keeping all emergency exits clear and accessible.
- Ensuring that the smoke and fire alarms are installed and working properly.
- Guaranteeing the right positioning and functioning of fire extinguishers.
- Educating tenants on what to do in case of a fire related emergency.
When it comes to fire risk assessment, laws are quite strict, especially in London. The main reason behind these laws being strict is that most of the hazards that take place in properties are fire risk-related in the UK. Therefore, fire risk assessment for landlords is so much more than just legal documentation; it’s a matter of life and death.
In case of ignorant compliance, heavy fines, voided insurance, or even prosecution can be the potential outcomes.
Choosing the Right Fire Risk Assessor
Tenants put a lot of trust in you by opting for your property, and you put a lot of trust in someone when you hire them for your fire risk assessment. This person/company is going to be responsible for making sure that your tenants, property, and reputation remain safe. Therefore, hire someone worthy of your trust, time, and money. When hiring someone for a fire risk assessment for landlords, make sure they check the following boxes:
- Experienced
- Qualified
- Acquainted with laws and regulations
- Able to provide a valid certificate in fire risk assessment
Moreover, look for assessors who are registered with the following known bodies:
- IFSM – Institute of Fire Safety Managers
- FPA – Fire Protection Association
- IFE – Institute of Fire Engineers
Knowing that your property, tenants, and reputation are safe provides you with peace of mind and contentment. Therefore, hire an assessor who ensures this peace of mind for you.
How Often Should You Renew a Fire Risk Assessment?
It is important to note that fire risk assessment is not a one-time job; it’s an ongoing responsibility. Take the example of a human body. Just like you need to make sure that your body is doing well, you provide it with necessary nutrients regularly and timely manner, for properties you need to do the same. By providing your property with necessary assessments on a regular and timely basis, you ensure its well-being.
It is recommended to update your fire risk assessment for landlords on the following basis:
- Annually (especially for HMOs or high-risk properties)
- Whenever any major changes take place, for example, new tenants moving in or major renovation work.
By making sure that your fire risk assessment for landlords is up-to-date, you proof that you are a responsible landlord with a strong moral sense.
Benefits of Regular Fire Risk Assessments
Making sure that you get regular fire risk assessment provides you with an extensive variety of long-term benefits. Fire risk assessment for landlords isn’t just another box that you have you tick off from your landlord responsibility list, it’s a small investment that takes you a long way. By making this investment, you unlock countless financial and legal benefits for yourself. These benefits include:
Legal Protection and Compliance
Criminal charges, heavy fines, or legal action are the possible outcomes resulting from ignorance of landlords. Moreover, in a worst-case scenario, not being compliant can result in irreversible damage like loss of life. Therefore, staying compliant with UK laws is less of an option and more of a mandatory duty as a landlord.
Enhanced Tenant Safety and Trust
The primary goal of a fire risk assessment for landlords is to ensure that tenants are physically, financially, and mentally provided with peace and protection. When tenants know that you’ve taken all the necessary steps to guarantee their safety, they trust you more. Therefore, getting assessments strengthens the landlord-tenant relationship.
Meeting Insurance Standards
Most of the time, insurance policies require you to prove that your property is fire risk-free by showing them your certification. If you don’t get your fire risk assessment done and an accident takes place, the insurers can refuse to cover it. Therefore, being on top of compliance protects you from voided insurance.
Enhanced Property Value
While looking for a property to rent, tenants prioritize properties that are well-maintained, properly certified, and safe. Therefore, getting your fire risk assessment for landlords enhances your property value.
Supporting a Safer Community
A landlord who prioritizes investing in safety measures, beyond personal benefits, helps reduce safety risks for the neighboring buildings and residents.
Moreover, the benefits do not end here; they involve other benefits like providing peace of mind, strengthening reputation, reduced long-term costs, and so on. In short, if we consider the long list of benefits, the fire assessment cost is a small amount that, if invested, makes a huge difference.
Common Mistakes Landlords Make
Even if your intentions as a landlord are great, there are some mistakes that are pretty common when it comes to fire risk safety assessment for landlords. These common mistakes involve:
- Forgetting about the renewal dates and failing to update your assessment.
- Skipping the documentation part.
- Ignoring small hazards like blocked exits or broken alarms, and then they turn into bigger problems.
- Hiring unqualified assessors to save money.
To avoid all these possible mistakes, it is important to hire a qualified person for your assessments who helps you obtain a valid certificate in fire risk assessment.
Frequently asked questions.
Final Thoughts
Think of fire risk assessment for landlords less as another expense and more as an investment you make to save your property, tenants, and your reputation. It is a perfect depiction of how responsible and caring you are as a landlord. Moreover, it catches potential hazards before they cause any major damage. So, if you manage one or more properties, book your fire risk assessment for landlords today and provide yourself with the peace of mind you deserve as a responsible and compliant property owner.
