Fire Risk Assessment Portsmouth
Professional fire risk assessments for HMOs, rental properties, blocks of flats, communal areas and commercial premises across Portsmouth and nearby areas.
Clear written reports with practical, prioritised recommendations.
Starting From £120 | Clear Pricing Before Booking
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Professional fire risk assessments across Portsmouth and nearby areas
Professional Fire Risk Assessments Across Portsmouth
A fire risk assessment identifies fire hazards, considers who could be harmed and evaluates whether the existing fire precautions are suitable for the premises. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Responsible Person must ensure that a suitable and sufficient assessment is completed and kept under review for premises within the scope of the Order.
The Fire Safety Order applies to workplaces and other non-domestic premises. It also applies to relevant parts of buildings containing two or more domestic premises, including common parts, the building’s structure, external walls and doors between domestic premises and common parts. The precise assessment scope depends on the building, its use and the areas under the Responsible Person’s control.
Essential Checks carries out fire risk assessments for landlords, licence holders, freeholders, managing agents, employers and other people with control of relevant premises. Following the inspection, the client receives a written report setting out significant findings and prioritised recommendations.
Common Portsmouth Property Types
- Student HMOs and shared houses
- Converted houses and flats
- Purpose-built residential blocks
- Shops with flats above
- Offices, shops and hospitality premises
- Supported living and care-related premises, subject to scope
Fire Risk Assessments for Portsmouth HMOs
Portsmouth’s current licensing scheme requires HMOs across the city to be licensed. Portsmouth City Council states that all licensed HMOs must have a fire risk assessment and requests a copy as part of the licence application process.
The Responsible Person may be the landlord, licence holder or an agent with full management control. The assessment must be suitable and sufficient for the property, its occupants, layout, use and fire-safety arrangements.
An HMO assessment may consider:
- The number and characteristics of occupants
- Shared kitchens, living spaces and other higher-risk areas
- Protected escape routes and final exits
- Fire doors and self-closing arrangements
- Fire detection and alarm provision
- Emergency lighting where applicable
- Visible fire separation and compartmentation
- Fire-safety signs and resident information
- Testing, maintenance and management records
- Significant findings from previous assessments or inspections
Only the matters relevant to the individual building and agreed scope will be assessed.
Portsmouth HMO Review Guidance
Portsmouth City Council advises that a licensed HMO fire risk assessment should be reviewed regularly and recommends a review at least once a year, or when the tenancy changes if that occurs sooner. A review does not necessarily require the entire assessment to be rewritten where no material change has occurred.
The assessment should also be reviewed following a significant change, a fire, evidence that it may no longer be valid or another event that materially affects the premises or its fire precautions.
HMO licensing requirements can change. Landlords and licence holders should confirm the current requirements for their property directly with Portsmouth City Council.
This service may be suitable for shared houses, student HMOs, converted properties and relevant Section 257 buildings in areas such as Southsea, Fratton, North End, Milton and locations around the University of Portsmouth. The correct assessment scope must be confirmed from the building type and licensing circumstances.
Property Types We Assess in Portsmouth
The inspection and report are tailored to the premises, occupancy, layout, use, management arrangements and agreed scope.
What the Fire Risk Assessment Covers
The assessment considers the fire-safety matters relevant to the premises and agreed inspection scope. Not every item applies to every building.
Fire Hazards and Ignition Sources
Potential ignition sources, combustible materials, higher-risk activities, housekeeping and waste arrangements.
People at Risk
Occupants, employees, visitors, contractors and people who may require additional assistance during an emergency.
Means of Escape
Escape routes, travel arrangements, exits, doors and factors that could affect safe evacuation.
Fire Detection and Warning
The suitability of fire detection and warning arrangements for the premises and the available evidence of testing and maintenance.
Emergency Lighting
Emergency-lighting provision where applicable, together with available testing and maintenance information.
Fire Doors
The visible condition and operation of fire doors included within the agreed scope, including relevant self-closing arrangements.
Fire Separation
Visible and reasonably accessible evidence relating to fire-resisting construction, compartmentation and service penetrations.
Signs and Fire-Safety Information
Relevant signs, notices, emergency information and instructions provided to occupants or staff.
Firefighting Equipment
Portable firefighting equipment where its provision is relevant, including available servicing and maintenance information.
Fire-Safety Management
Responsibilities, procedures, testing, maintenance, training, records and arrangements for keeping fire precautions effective.
Significant Findings
Material deficiencies, risk priorities and the actions recommended to improve fire safety.
Action Plan
A prioritised list of recommendations presented in clear, practical language.
Assessment Methodology and Inspection Scope
Appropriate Methodology
The assessor selects a recognised methodology appropriate to the premises and agreed scope. Depending on the building type, this may include PAS 79-1 for relevant non-housing premises, BS 9792:2025 for relevant housing premises, and applicable government or sector-specific guidance.
The methodology used for one property type is not automatically suitable for every other building. The scope must reflect the premises, occupancy, use, complexity and the assessor’s competence.
Visual and Non-Destructive Inspection
Unless a different service is expressly agreed in writing, the standard assessment is visual and non-destructive. It covers visible and reasonably accessible areas within the agreed scope.
The assessment cannot confirm the condition of concealed construction or hidden defects. Intrusive investigations, destructive opening-up, specialist fire-engineering analysis and external-wall fire-risk appraisals are not included unless separately agreed.
Observations concerning walls, floors, ceilings, fire stopping, service penetrations, external walls, structure and flat entrance doors are limited to what is visible, reasonably accessible and within the agreed scope.
Services Outside the Standard Scope
- Intrusive Type 2, Type 3 or Type 4 investigations unless separately agreed
- Fire Risk Appraisals of External Walls
- Destructive compartmentation surveys
- Fire-engineering design or calculations
- Testing or certification of fire alarms, emergency lighting or other systems
- Asbestos, electrical, structural or building-condition surveys
Where additional specialist work appears necessary, the report may recommend that the Responsible Person obtains further investigation from an appropriately competent specialist.
What You Receive
Following the assessment, the client receives a written fire risk assessment report for the agreed premises and scope.
- Property and assessment details
- Description of the premises and agreed scope
- Relevant people at risk
- Identified fire hazards
- Existing fire precautions
- Significant findings
- Photographs where relevant
- Prioritised recommendations
- Suggested action timescales where appropriate
- A practical fire-safety action plan
The report records the assessment findings but does not guarantee approval by a council, licensing authority, insurer, lender, fire and rescue authority or another third party.
Why Choose Essential Checks
Qualified Fire Risk Assessors
Our assessors hold qualifications from NEBOSH, IFE, IFSM and other OFQUAL-regulated bodies.
Clear, Actionable Reports
Findings are presented in clear language with prioritised recommendations, helping the Responsible Person understand what requires attention and why.
Transparent Pricing
The applicable price and any known travel, parking or additional charges are confirmed before the booking is completed.
Practical Recommendations
Recommendations are intended to be proportionate to the building, its use, occupancy and identified level of risk.
Direct Support
Clients can contact the team if they need clarification about the assessment scope, booking or completed report.
Portsmouth and Nearby Coverage
Assessments are available across Portsmouth and selected nearby areas of Hampshire and West Sussex.
How the Assessment Works
Book Your Assessment
Select the relevant service through the existing booking system or contact the team to discuss the property and required scope.
Confirm the Scope and Access
The appointment details, property information, access arrangements and any relevant documents are confirmed before the visit.
On-Site Inspection
The assessor inspects the visible and reasonably accessible areas included within the agreed scope and reviews relevant information made available during the visit.
Receive Your Written Report
The completed report records the significant findings and provides prioritised recommendations and an action plan.
Report turnaround depends on the size and complexity of the premises. The expected timeframe will be confirmed when the assessment is arranged.
Fire Risk Assessment Prices in Portsmouth
The prices below are starting prices for the listed property categories. The final price depends on the property type, size, number of floors, occupancy, complexity and agreed scope.
Additional charges may apply for travel, parking, congestion zones, key collection or services outside the standard scope. Applicable charges will be confirmed before booking.
All prices exclude VAT.
Communal Areas
- Single-storey building£150
- Two-storey building£180
- Three-storey building£200
- Four-storey building£220
- Five-storey building£240
- Six-storey building£260
HMOs and Rental Properties
- Studio apartment£120
- 1–3 bedrooms£180
- 4–6 bedrooms£200
- 7–8 bedrooms£220
- 9–10 bedrooms£240
Commercial Properties
- Small premises up to 1,000 sq ft£180
- Medium premises from 1,000 to 2,500 sq ft£220
- Large premises from 2,500 to 3,000 sq ft£260
- Larger or complex premisesPrice on application
Portsmouth and Nearby Areas We Cover
Our Coverage Area
Essential Checks serves landlords, managing agents, freeholders and businesses across Portsmouth, surrounding areas of Hampshire and nearby parts of West Sussex.
The service covers individual properties and portfolios, subject to assessor availability, travel arrangements and the suitability of the requested assessment.
Portsmouth Areas
Nearby Locations
Portsmouth includes a varied mix of student HMOs, converted houses, older terraced properties, purpose-built blocks, mixed-use buildings, shops with accommodation above and commercial premises. The assessment scope is therefore determined from the individual building rather than from its postcode alone.
Managing agents and portfolio landlords can provide property details and access requirements when arranging assessments for more than one address.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about fire risk assessments in Portsmouth.
Book a Fire Risk Assessment in Portsmouth
Arrange a professional fire risk assessment for an HMO, rental property, block of flats, communal area or commercial premises in Portsmouth.
Book through the existing online system or contact the team to confirm the most suitable assessment scope.
Speak directly with the team if you are unsure which assessment applies to your property.