Fire Risk Assessment in London
London has around 800,000 premises covered by the Fire Safety Order, according to London Fire Brigade, which enforces it across all 33 boroughs. Most are ordinary shops, offices and restaurants, but the capital also has more tall residential and mixed-use buildings than anywhere else in the UK, and that shapes what assessors are asked to do here.
Fees follow the building rather than the postcode, though travel and parking in central London often add a little. A small shop or office typically costs £200 to £450, and a 100 to 500 m² restaurant or office floor £350 to £650, before VAT.
- Enforcer
- London Fire BrigadeAll 33 boroughs
- Premises in scope
- About 800,000LFB figure
- Small premises
- £200 to £450Up to 100 m², ex VAT
- Flats, Type 1
- £350 to £1,000Common parts
How does London Fire Brigade enforce?
LFB says it cannot visit every one of the premises it regulates, so it runs a risk-based inspection programme that puts the most vulnerable people and the premises most likely to have a fire first. Some care homes, for example, are inspected every year, and LFB uses its record of where fires happen to decide where to look.
Where risk is serious LFB uses prohibition notices, and it has issued more than 200 in the last five years, mostly to protect people in unsuitable sleeping accommodation such as flats above shops and illegal conversions. It also publishes enforcement notices.
LFB and the London housing authorities have a Pan-London Fire Safety Protocol for sharing information about residential buildings, so a council housing visit to an HMO can lead to a fire service visit and the other way round.
What do London assessors see most?
- Flats above shops and restaurants, where the only way out runs past the kitchen or through the shop. This is the classic London prohibition case.
- Purpose-built blocks over 11 metres, with the quarterly and yearly fire door checks of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, and high-rise blocks with their extra duties.
- Mixed-use buildings with offices, retail and residential floors, several responsible persons and a shared stair.
- Converted Victorian and Edwardian houses let as flats or HMOs, with timber stairs and limited separation.
- Basement kitchens, bars and storage, where escape is upwards and smoke travels the same way.
Shops, offices, blocks and HMOs across London: get written fees from a competent assessor.
Get assessor quotesWhat does it cost in London?
Typical UK fees from a council fire safety team’s 2026 fee list and published price guides we reviewed, November 2026. Fees follow the building more than the postcode; central sites can add a little for travel and parking.
| Premises | Typical fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 100 m² Small shop, café, salon, small office | £200 to £450 |
| 100 to 500 m² Restaurant, pub, surgery, office floor | £350 to £650 |
| 500 to 1,000 m² Primary school, small hotel, workshop | £500 to £950 |
| 1,000 to 2,500 m² Secondary school, warehouse, care home | £800 to £1,500 |
| Over 2,500 m² Factory, large office, multi-building site | £1,300 to £3,000 |
| Flats, Type 1 Common parts | £350 to £1,000 |
| HMO Common parts and escape route | £250 to £600 |
Questions from London
How much does a fire risk assessment cost in London?
Fees follow floor area and complexity more than postcode. Typical UK bands are £200 to £450 up to 100 m², £350 to £650 for 100 to 500 m² and £500 to £950 for 500 to 1,000 m², before VAT. Try the fee calculator for your premises.
Does a fire risk assessment have to be redone every year?
The law says it must be reviewed regularly and whenever something significant changes. Many organisations review yearly and commission a fresh assessment every few years, or after building work or a change of use.
Will London Fire Brigade carry out my fire risk assessment?
No. LFB enforces the law and can advise, but the responsible person must arrange the assessment, either themselves or through a competent assessor.
What happens if LFB inspects and finds problems?
Depending on the risk, an inspector can give informal advice, issue a notice of deficiencies, serve an enforcement notice with a deadline, or prohibit or restrict use of the premises straight away. Serious failings can be prosecuted.
Does a flat above my shop need its own assessment?
If the flat is let separately, the shop occupier, the landlord and anyone managing the shared route out all have duties. The assessment must consider how a fire in the shop would affect people sleeping above.
Where our information comes from
- London Fire Brigade: Enforce fire safety legislation (read 2 November 2026)
- London Fire Brigade: Changes to fire safety law, how it affects you (read 2 November 2026)
- GOV.UK: Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 (read 2 November 2026)
- Adur and Worthing Councils: fire safety price guide, April 2026 (read 2 November 2026)
Ask for fire risk assessment quotes in London
Three short steps: where the premises are, what they are like, and how to reach you. About two minutes.
Thanks, your enquiry is in.
- We will email or call to tell you which fire risk assessor covers your area and type of premises.
- Your details reach that firm only if you say yes.
- They agree the scope with you and give you a written fee. No marketing from us, ever.