Fire Risk Assessments
Are all landlords legally required to have a Fire Risk Assessment?
No. The legal requirement for a Fire Risk Assessment comes from Section 9(1) of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, though the Order only applies to the non-domestic (communal) areas of flats and properties let on a room-by-room basis, meaning assessments are only legally required in these property types.
What is a Fire Risk Assessment?
A Fire Risk Assessment is a written record that identifies any fire hazards in a property and those at risk, as well as the measures in place to prevent fire and the alarm/alert systems in place to alert occupants to any potential fire. The assessment should include a recommended improvement plan if ways of reducing the level of risk have been identified by the assessor.
What part(s) of the building should be covered by a Fire Risk Assessment?
The short answer is the non-domestic (communal) area of the building, whereas the long answer is that The Fire Safety Act 2021 amends The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to clarify which parts of the premise are to be included in the risk assessment. Section 1(b) says:
(a)the building's structure and external walls and any common parts;
(b)all doors between the domestic premises and common parts (so far as not falling within sub-paragraph (a)).
(1B)The reference to external walls includes—
(a)doors or windows in those walls, and
(b)anything attached to the exterior of those walls (including balconies).”
How often do I need to review the Fire Risk Assessment?
There is no definitive period of time for a Fire Risk Assessment to be reviewed, but we would recommend annually, or sooner if there has been a significant chance.
Section 9(3) of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states that “any such assessment must be reviewed by the responsible person regularly so as to keep it up to date and particularly if—
(a) there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid; or
(b) there has been a significant change in the matters to which it relates including when the premises, special, technical and organisational measures, or organisation of the work undergo significant changes, extensions, or conversions”
Who can conduct the Fire Risk Assessment?
Currently, anybody can complete the risk assessment as long as they're competent enough to do so, with Welsh Government producing a template the assessor may wish to follow. Soon, when Section 156 of The Building Safety Act 2022 amends The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, if the person responsible for having the risk assessment appoints somebody to assist them in completing the assessment, that person must have had "sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities to enable the person properly to assist in making or reviewing the assessment.”
CPS Homes always recommends employing a trained and accredited fire risk assessor to conduct fire risk assessments.
What happens after a Fire Risk Assessment is completed?
If ways of reducing the level of risk have been identified by the assessor, the assessment should include a recommended improvement plan and a recommended timescale for each improvement.
How much does a Fire Risk Assessment cost?
At CPS Homes, we have trusted connections with local, qualified trades who can get your assessment issued quickly and professionally, all for a very reasonable cost due to the amount of work we issue to them. If you are a landlord in Cardiff and want to learn more about this benefit offered exclusively to our managed clients, get in touch with us today on 02920 668585 or lettings@cpshomes.co.uk
Disclaimer: whilst we endeavour to keep the information on this page up-to-date, legislation, British Standards and general guidance can and do change, often without prior notice. As such, CPS Homes cannot guarantee with absolute certainty that the information on this page is fully up-to-date.
