If you’re a business owner, landlord, or property manager in Surrey — whether you’re in Guildford, Woking, Epsom, Farnham or Camberley — you already know you need a Fire Risk Assessment.
But what happens if you don’t?
What if you miss something, forget to review it, or think, “We’ll sort that later”?
Well, that “later” could turn into a fine, a court date, or worse.
Fire safety law isn’t just red tape — it’s enforceable, and the penalties can be serious.
The Law That Backs It All Up
Everything comes back to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
This law gives Surrey Fire & Rescue Service the authority to inspect premises, issue enforcement notices, and prosecute anyone who doesn’t meet their duties.
The person in the firing line is called the Responsible Person — usually the owner, landlord, employer, or managing agent.
If you’re the one in control of the building, the responsibility (and liability) sits squarely with you.
What Counts as a Breach?
You don’t need a blazing inferno to fall foul of the law.
Common breaches include:
• No current or suitable Fire Risk Assessment
• Blocked escape routes or locked fire exits
• Fire doors wedged open or missing seals
• No testing or maintenance of alarms, lighting or extinguishers
• Outdated or missing safety signage
• Poor staff training or unclear evacuation plans
Basically, if your building isn’t safe — or you can’t prove that it is — it’s a breach.
The Types of Notices You Could Receive
When Surrey Fire & Rescue inspect a property, they have a few tools they can use depending on what they find.
1. Alterations Notice
Issued when your building presents potential risks if its layout or use changes. It’s a warning to keep them informed before making alterations.
2. Enforcement Notice
This is more serious. It’s issued when the fire service finds clear breaches of fire safety law. You’ll get a list of problems, a timescale to fix them, and possibly follow-up inspections.
3. Prohibition Notice
This is the one nobody wants. It’s issued when there’s an immediate danger to life — for example, a blocked exit, faulty alarm, or severe fire hazards.
It can shut down part or all of your premises on the spot.
Ignoring any of these notices can lead straight to prosecution.
The Penalties
Fire safety offences are criminal offences.
Here’s what you could face:
• Minor offences — Fines up to £5,000 per breach
• Serious offences — Unlimited fines or up to two years in prison
• Prohibition breaches — Immediate closure and potential prosecution
And that’s before we talk about legal fees, lost business, and the reputational hit that comes with being named in local press.
To see what this looks like in practice, check the GOV.UK Fire Safety Enforcement Notices and Prosecutions database.
Real Examples from Surrey
Surrey Fire & Rescue regularly publishes enforcement data, and it makes for sobering reading.
• A restaurant in Woking was fined thousands for blocked exits and missing fire doors.
• A landlord in Guildford faced prosecution for failing to maintain alarms and lighting in an HMO.
• A workshop in Epsom was shut down temporarily after inspectors found no valid Fire Risk Assessment.
These aren’t rare cases — they happen every month somewhere in the county.
The Hidden Costs of Non-Compliance
The fines are bad enough. But the real damage often comes after.
Insurance companies may refuse to pay out if you’ve breached fire safety law.
Tenants may walk away.
And your staff or customers might not feel safe returning.
A single visit from Surrey Fire & Rescue could uncover issues that take weeks and thousands of pounds to fix — and all of it could’ve been avoided with a proper Fire Risk Assessment and a bit of upkeep.
How to Avoid Penalties in the First Place
It’s not rocket science. Staying compliant in Surrey comes down to three simple steps:
1️⃣ Have a current Fire Risk Assessment — done by a competent person and reviewed annually.
2️⃣ Act on the findings — fix what’s flagged and keep evidence.
3️⃣ Maintain and record — test alarms, lighting, extinguishers, and doors regularly.
And keep a logbook. If Surrey Fire & Rescue ever visit, it’s the first thing they’ll ask for.
Don’t Wait for a Knock at the Door
At Fire Risk Assessment Surrey, we help businesses, landlords, and property managers across Guildford, Woking, Camberley, Farnham, and Epsom stay one step ahead of the fire service — and the law.
We’ll carry out your Fire Risk Assessment, create a clear action plan, and make sure you’ve got the records and evidence to prove compliance.
Because it’s much cheaper — and safer — to get it right before an inspector walks through your door.
Book your Fire Risk Assessment in Surrey today and avoid the fines, stress, and headlines.
