If you own a business, run a shop, manage a block of flats or rent out offices anywhere in Surrey — Guildford, Woking, Farnham, wherever — here’s something you can’t afford to ignore.
You legally need a Fire Risk Assessment.
Not “it’s a good idea” or “you should probably think about it.”
The law says you must have one. And if you don’t, it’s not just a slap on the wrist — it can get very expensive, very quickly.
The Law Bit (Without the Legal Headache)
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, anyone responsible for a building where people work or live has to make sure a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) is in place.
That includes offices, warehouses, cafés, shops, restaurants, HMOs, flats, you name it.
If people use it — and it’s not a private house — you’re covered by the law.
The Order calls you the Responsible Person. That’s the person who has to make sure it’s all done properly — and if it isn’t, you’re the one who gets the fine.
You can check out the official guidance here on Surrey Fire & Rescue’s Business Safety page.
So, Who Actually Counts as the “Responsible Person”?
In plain English?
If you’re the one in charge, that’s you.
The landlord, the facilities manager, the business owner — even a charity trustee.
If you’re running the place or renting it out, you’re on the hook.
And here’s the kicker: the law doesn’t say you have to physically do the assessment.
But you do have to make sure whoever does it knows what they’re doing.
That means someone properly qualified — ideally a professional fire risk assessor.
Look for assessors who are registered with the Institute of Fire Safety Managers, Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE) or the Fire Sector Federation competence register.
If you’re tempted to just “download a template from Google” — don’t.
That’s like diagnosing yourself on WebMD. You’ll probably miss the important bit.
🧯 What’s Actually Involved?
A good Fire Risk Assessment isn’t just a few boxes on a form.
It’s a look at how your building, your people, and your day-to-day operations handle fire risk.
They’ll look at:
- What could start a fire.
- Who could be affected.
- How your alarms, lighting, signage and exits would perform if it all went wrong.
- Whether your fire doors actually close properly (half don’t).
- And what you need to fix — in order of importance.
At the end, you get a written report with clear, actionable recommendations.
Not guesswork. Not jargon. Just a list of what needs doing and why.
🔁 How Often Should You Do It?
There’s no hard and fast rule — but the general advice is every 12 months, or sooner if something significant changes.
That could mean:
- You’ve changed the layout or added new equipment.
- Staff numbers have increased.
- You’ve had a small fire or a near miss.
- Or you’ve just realised your emergency lighting hasn’t worked since the Queen’s Jubilee.
Basically, if the building or the way it’s used changes, the assessment should too.
And don’t forget, for flats and HMOs, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 now add extra responsibilities — like regular fire door checks and residents’ fire information.
🚒 What Happens If You Ignore It?
Ask Surrey Fire & Rescue.
They’re the ones who show up when things go wrong — and yes, they do carry out inspections.
If they visit and find you’ve not got an up-to-date FRA, they can issue an Enforcement Notice, fine you thousands (per offence), or even close your building until it’s sorted.
In some cases, people have been prosecuted.
Not just in London — right here in Surrey. Businesses in Woking, Epsom, and Guildford have been hit with heavy fines for missing assessments or blocked fire exits.
You can see some examples on the GOV.UK Enforcement Notices database.
It’s not scare tactics — it’s reality.
💡 Why Bother?
Because a Fire Risk Assessment isn’t about paperwork.
It’s about people.
Your staff, your customers, your tenants — and you.
It’s proof that you take their safety (and your legal responsibilities) seriously.
Plus, if something ever did happen, it’s your best defence when the questions start flying.
✅ Getting It Sorted
At Fire Risk Assessment Surrey, we help local businesses, landlords and property managers across Guildford, Farnham, Camberley, Woking and Epsom stay compliant — and sleep better.
Our team are fully qualified, up-to-date with all the British Standards (BS 9999, BS 5839, BS 5266), and actually speak in plain English.
We’ll give you the facts, not the fluff — and a clear plan to get (and stay) compliant.
👉 Book your Fire Risk Assessment in Surrey today and get it off your worry list.
