A fire risk assessment for a shop, café or small office typically costs £250 to £500 plus VAT. Larger offices, pubs and the common parts of a block of flats usually cost £450 to £1,000, and care homes, hotels and large multi-storey buildings £900 to £3,000. The price depends mostly on the size and complexity of the building, and on how long the assessor needs on site and writing the report.
Typical prices
These are guide ranges based on typical UK rates. They are not fixed prices, and your quotes will depend on the details of your building.
| Building | Typical price, excluding VAT |
|---|---|
| Shop, café or small office | £250 – £500 |
| Larger office, pub, or the common parts of a block of flats | £450 – £1,000 |
| Care home, hotel or large multi-storey building | £900 – £3,000 |
Firms that are registered for VAT add it at 20%, so a £600 quote becomes £720 including VAT. Check whether the figure you are given includes VAT before you compare it with others.
What affects the price
An assessor's price is mainly a reflection of time: travel, the site visit, and writing a report that is specific to your building. The things that change that time are fairly predictable.
Floor area and number of storeys
More floors and more rooms take longer to walk through, and larger buildings usually have more fire doors, more plant, and more complex escape routes. A four-storey office with a basement plant room will cost more than a ground-floor shop, even if the business inside is smaller.
Whether people sleep on the premises
Buildings where people sleep carry a higher risk, because occupants may be slow to wake and leave. Care homes, hotels, hostels and HMOs need closer attention to detection, compartmentation, night-time staffing and evacuation arrangements, such as personal emergency evacuation plans for residents who need help. That takes longer and is reflected in the price.
The type of assessment for blocks of flats
Assessments of blocks of flats are commonly described by type:
| Type | Scope |
|---|---|
| Type 1 | Common parts only, without opening up the construction |
| Type 2 | Common parts, with some construction opened up |
| Type 3 | Common parts and the flats, without opening up |
| Type 4 | Common parts and the flats, with some construction opened up |
A Type 1 assessment is the usual starting point and the least expensive. Types 3 and 4 cost considerably more, because the assessor needs access to individual flats, and opening up construction usually needs a contractor to make and repair the openings.
Access to plans and previous assessments
Floor plans, the previous fire risk assessment, and certificates for the fire alarm and emergency lighting help an assessor prepare and work efficiently on site. Without them, the assessor may need more time to understand the building, and some firms price that in.
Complexity and mixed use
Buildings with several tenants, a mix of uses (such as a shop with flats above), roof plant, basements or unusual layouts take longer to assess properly. So do buildings where the fire strategy is unclear or has been changed over the years.
Location and timing
Firms usually include travel in the price, so a remote site or one far from the assessor's base can cost more. Visits outside normal working hours, or a fast turnaround on the report, may also carry a premium.
What the price should include
When you compare quotes, check that each one covers the same things:
- A site visit by a named, competent assessor
- A written report following a recognised method, usually PAS 79-1:2020 for non-housing premises or PAS 79-2:2020 for housing
- A prioritised action plan that says what needs doing and how urgently
- The name of the person or organisation who carried out the assessment, which you must record in England
- How long the report will take to arrive after the visit
- Whether amendments, a follow-up call or a review visit are included
Also check what is excluded. Opening up construction, out-of-hours visits, extra copies of the report, and quotes for any remedial work are often priced separately.
Why the cheapest quote is not always the best value
A low price often reflects less time on site or a report built mostly from a template. That can mean an assessment that misses problems, such as gaps in fire stopping above ceilings or fire doors that don't close properly. If an inspection by the fire and rescue service or your insurer later finds those problems, you may need a new assessment and face urgent remedial work.
Ask each firm how long the assessor expects to spend on site, who the assessor will be, and which register or certification scheme they belong to. A good assessor will be happy to tell you.
The cost of the work the assessment recommends
The assessment itself is usually the smaller part of the cost. Its action plan may recommend work such as:
- Repairing or replacing fire doors
- Sealing gaps in compartment walls and floors with fire stopping
- Upgrading or servicing the fire alarm
- Adding or testing emergency lighting
- Staff training and new procedures
Each of these is quoted separately, by firms that specialise in the work. The action plan's priorities help you plan the spending, starting with the most serious risks.
How often you will pay for it
The law does not set a fixed interval for reviewing a fire risk assessment. It must be reviewed regularly, and whenever something significant changes. Many insurers and managing agents expect a review every year. A review by the assessor who carried out the original assessment is often priced lower than a first assessment, because much of the groundwork is already done. A full new assessment is more likely after major building work or a change of use.
If you are not sure whether you need one at all, read do I need a fire risk assessment?
How to compare quotes like for like
Quotes are only comparable if every firm is pricing the same scope. Give each firm the same information: the type of building, floor area, number of storeys, whether people sleep there, the type of assessment you need for flats, and copies of your previous report and plans.
Then compare:
- The price, with VAT shown the same way on each quote
- The assessor's competence, such as IFE, IFSM or FRACS registration, or BAFE SP205 certification for the company
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- What is included and excluded
- When the visit can happen and when the report will arrive
On FireBid, every firm quotes against the same written brief, so the differences are easy to see, and we check certification with the scheme before a firm can quote. You can get quotes for a fire risk assessment for your building.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Requirements depend on your building, and they differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Last updated 21 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.