Fire Risk Assessment for Simple, Low-Risk Premises

Yes — but only in certain situations.

You can complete your own fire risk assessment online if the property is simple, low-risk, and you are competent to do so. UK fire safety law requires the assessment to be suitable and sufficient, not just a quick checklist.

That’s why EasyComplianceTools.com is designed specifically for straightforward premises, guiding you through the correct process step-by-step so you don’t miss key legal requirements

In some cases, yes — but it must be done properly.

The law allows the “responsible person” (such as a landlord or small business owner) to carry out the assessment themselves only if they understand fire risks and the control measures required.

If the building is complex, high occupancy, or higher risk, a professional fire risk assessor is usually required.

Our Simple Fire Risk Assessment Online service helps ensure you cover the essentials, but the responsibility still sits with the duty holder.

Yes — landlords have legal responsibilities for fire safety.

In particular, you must ensure proper fire risk assessment coverage for:

• HMOs

• Flats with communal areas

• Shared accommodation

• Any building with multiple occupants
  
  

For simple, low-risk properties, EasyComplianceTools.com can provide an affordable way to complete and store your assessment correctly.

Fire risk assessments must be kept up to date.

They should be reviewed:

• At least annually (common best practice)

• If the building layout changes

• If occupancy increases

• After a fire incident or near miss

• If new hazards are introduced
  
  

Staying organised through an online compliance platform makes this much easier.

No.

Online self-assessments are generally only suitable for simple, low-risk premises, such as:

• Small single-let rental properties

• Small offices with limited staff

• Low-occupancy shops or salons

• Straightforward layouts with clear exits
  
  

Buildings like care homes, large HMOs, factories, or complex blocks of flats usually require a professional fire risk assessor.

Yes — but only if it is:

• Suitable for the type of property

• Completed by a competent person

• Properly recorded

• Regularly reviewed
  
  

An online fire risk assessment is not automatically compliant just because it’s digital. The assessment must genuinely identify risks and actions.

EasyComplianceTools.com provides a structured, compliance-focused system for simple properties, helping you produce a proper documented assessment.

A compliant fire risk assessment should include:

• Identification of fire hazards
  People at risk (including vulnerable persons)
  Evaluation of existing safety measures

• Fire escape routes and exits

• Fire detection and warning systems

• Emergency procedures

• An action plan and review date
  
  

EasyComplianceTools.com ensures these areas are covered clearly, especially for straightforward properties.

Failing to have a suitable and sufficient assessment can lead to:

• Enforcement notices

• Heavy fines
  Legal action

• Increased liability if a fire occurs
  
  

Using a structured tool like EasyComplianceTools.com helps duty holders meet their responsibilities properly, especially in low-risk settings.

A fire risk assessment is not acceptable if it is:

• A generic template with no property-specific detail

• Completed without understanding the risks

• Missing key safety controls

• Not written down (where required)

• Not reviewed when circumstances change

Fire safety compliance is a legal duty, not a tick-box exercise.

A fire risk assessment must be completed by a competent person.

Competence means having enough knowledge and understanding of:

• Fire hazards and ignition sources
  People especially at risk

• Escape routes and fire exits
  Fire detection and alarm systems

• Emergency lighting and extinguishers

• The actions needed to reduce risk
  
  

For low-risk premises, this can sometimes be done in-house with the right guidance. For higher-risk buildings, a qualified assessor is the safest and most appropriate option.