Is Your London Property Compliant? The Truth About Fire Risk Assessments

Objective

This guide explains what a fire risk assessment should cover, who is responsible for it, and how you can spot common fire-safety gaps in your London property.

Key Takeaways

• A fire risk assessment is an ongoing process, not simply a document.
• Significant building changes may require your assessment to be reviewed.
• Fire doors, escape routes, compartmentation and firestopping all matter.
• Your assessment should lead to clear action where risks are found.
• Professional advice can help you deal with complex fire-safety issues.

Introduction

A fire risk assessment on your desk may look like proof that your London property is compliant. But here’s the thing: the document itself is not the goal. What matters is whether it reflects the building today and whether the risks it identifies have been dealt with.

For landlords, freeholders, property managers and other Responsible Persons, this matters because fire safety duties continue after an assessment has been completed. London Fire Brigade explains that a suitable fire risk assessment should identify fire hazards, people at risk and the measures needed to reduce those risks. It should also be reviewed when significant changes affect the premises.

So, what does a Fire risk assessment for a London property really need? Let’s look at what should be checked, where common gaps can appear, and what you should do when your assessment highlights a problem.

Table of Contents

1. What Does Fire Safety Compliance Really Mean?
2. Who Is Responsible for Your Property?
3. What Should an Assessment Check?
4. Common Problems Found in London Buildings
5. What Do Approved Document B Changes Mean?
6. What Should You Do After an Assessment?
7. Quick Property Compliance Check
8. FAQs

What Does Fire Safety Compliance Really Mean?

A Fire risk assessment for a London property is more than a form completed and stored in a filing cabinet.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Responsible Person must ensure that a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is carried out where the legislation applies. London Fire Brigade describes an FRA as a careful review of the premises, the people using it and the measures needed to reduce fire risk.

The important point is simple: your building needs to match what your assessment says.

If work has changed the layout, introduced new services or affected fire protection, the old assessment may no longer give you a true view of the risk.

Fire safety law and Building Regulations are not the same.

Your fire risk assessment deals with ongoing fire safety management. Approved Document B provides guidance linked to fire safety in building design and construction. They work together, but they are not the same thing.

Who Is Responsible for Your Property?

If you own, manage or control relevant premises, you may have duties as the Responsible Person.

For landlords and property managers, this means you cannot assume that having a managing agent or contractor removes your responsibilities.

Fire risk assessment for landlords London

You need to know:

• When your assessment was completed
• Who carried it out
• What risks were found
• Which actions remain open
• Whether the property has changed since the assessment

For residential blocks, this can also include shared areas, escape routes and fire precautions. London Fire Brigade advises responsible persons to complete an assessment, act on its findings and keep suitable general fire precautions in place.

What Should a Fire Risk Assessment Check?

A useful Fire risk assessment London report should look at the building as a whole, rather than focusing only on alarms.

It should consider:

• Fire hazards: possible ignition sources and combustible materials
• People at risk: occupants, employees, visitors and people who may need additional help
• Escape routes: stairs, corridors, exits and emergency arrangements
• Fire doors: condition, closing action and overall performance
• Compartmentation: whether fire and smoke can be contained
• Firestopping: whether gaps around pipes, cables and ducts have been properly sealed
• Passive fire protection: barriers and other measures designed to slow fire and smoke spread

CA Fire Protection’s London service covers fire doors, cavity barriers, penetration seals, compartmentation and other passive fire protection measures as part of its wider fire-safety work.

Common Problems Found in London Buildings

Here’s where a practical inspection can reveal something an old report cannot.

A block of flats may have a valid FRA, for example, but later electrical work could leave openings around cables. If those openings have not been properly sealed, the condition of the building has changed.

London Fire Brigade guidance explains that an FRA should be reviewed when significant changes may introduce new hazards or alter existing risks.

Other common areas to check include:

This is especially important after refurbishment, changes to internal layouts or new service installations.

What Do the Latest Approved Document B Changes Mean?

Approved Document B changes should not be treated as a reason to make assumptions about every existing building.

Approved Document B provides guidance on fire safety in buildings in England, and the Government continues to update it. The current GOV. publication includes updates covering 2025, 2026 and future changes.

For you as a property owner, the useful lesson is to check how any new building work, design change or refurbishment affects your own property rather than relying on a general statement that the building is compliant.

What Should You Do After Your Assessment?

Your report should not be the end of the process.

Follow these four steps:

1. Read the findings. Understand what has been identified and where.
2. Prioritise the risks. Deal with issues that could affect escape, fire containment or occupant safety.
3. Complete the required work. This may include firestopping, fire door work, cavity barriers or other passive fire protection.
4. Keep your records. Retain the assessment, photographs, remedial records and review information.

CA Fire Protection provides assessment, passive fire protection surveys and remedial services, allowing property owners to address identified issues with one specialist team.

Your Quick London Property Compliance Check

Before you assume your building is compliant, ask:

• Is our FRA current?
• Does it reflect the building today?
• Have all important recommendations been completed?
• Are fire doors and escape routes properly maintained?
• Has recent work affected compartmentation or firestopping?
• Are our fire-safety records up to date?

If you cannot confidently answer these questions, it is worth getting the position reviewed.

Your FRA Should Lead to Action

A fire risk assessment is useful because it tells you what needs attention. It should not simply sit in a folder while the building changes around it.

If you own or manage a London property, Fire risk assessment London requirements should be treated as part of your ongoing fire-safety management. Review your assessment when significant changes occur, act on its findings and keep evidence of the work completed.

Need help checking your property’s fire-safety position? Contact CA Fire Protection to discuss a professional assessment, passive fire protection survey or remedial work for your building.