How Often Should a Fire Risk Assessment Be Reviewed

A fire risk assessment should be reviewed regularly, but there is no single review date that suits every property. The right timing depends on the building, how it is used, who occupies it and whether anything has changed since the last assessment. A quiet office with the same layout and staff may not carry the same level of change as an HMO, a block of flats, a shared commercial building or a warehouse with changing stock levels.

Official workplace fire safety guidance says the responsible person must carry out and regularly review a fire risk assessment, keep a written record and update it where needed. It also explains that the assessment should identify what needs to be done to prevent fire and keep people safe.

For landlords, managing agents and business owners, the mistake is often treating a fire risk assessment as a document with a long shelf life. A report from three years ago may still contain useful information, but it may not reflect the building as it stands today. If tenants have changed, storage has increased, escape routes have altered, contractors have carried out works or previous actions have not been closed off, the report may need a review.

ClearFire carries out fire risk assessments and reviews across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. Many clients get in touch because they already have an assessment, but they are not sure whether it is still current. This article explains when a fire risk assessment should be reviewed, what usually triggers a review and why keeping the report up to date matters.

There is no fixed expiry date for every building

A fire risk assessment does not expire in the same way as a certificate with a printed end date. The law expects the assessment to be kept under review, but it does not give one fixed time period for every type of premises. That is because buildings change at different speeds and carry different levels of risk.

A small office that has not changed for a year may only need a routine review to confirm that the report still matches the premises. A block of flats with regular resident movement, communal storage problems, repeated contractor visits or ongoing fire door issues may need closer attention. An HMO with new tenants, licensing requirements and shared escape routes may also need more frequent checking.

The review should be based on the building itself. The question is not only how old the report is. The question is whether the report still gives a fair and useful picture of the premises. If the answer is no, the assessment should be reviewed.

Why many people choose an annual review

Many landlords, managing agents and businesses choose to review their fire risk assessment every year. An annual review is not always written into law as a fixed rule for every premises, but it is a sensible routine for many buildings because it gives the responsible person a clear point in the year to check the report, update records and close off old actions.

For managing agents, annual reviews can fit well with service charge planning, contractor scheduling and director reporting. For landlords, they can sit alongside licence renewals, tenancy changes, insurance checks and general property reviews. For business owners, they can be built into health and safety records, staff training and maintenance planning.

The annual review should not be treated as a quick date change on an old document. It should check whether the findings are still accurate, whether previous actions have been completed and whether anything new has appeared. A report that is simply reissued without checking the building properly may not give the responsible person the clarity they need.

When you should review sooner

A fire risk assessment should be reviewed sooner if there has been a change that could affect fire safety. Some changes are obvious, such as building works or a new layout. Others are easier to miss, such as new storage habits, different tenants, changes in staffing or a shift in how the premises are used.

A review is often sensible after refurbishment, changes to escape routes, a change of tenant, new sleeping accommodation, changes in occupancy, fire safety works, alarm changes, emergency lighting works, damage to fire doors or concerns raised by residents, staff, contractors or insurers.

For shared buildings, even small changes can matter. A new tenant may bring different equipment, stock, working hours or visitors. A residents’ cupboard may start being used for storage. A corridor that was clear at the last assessment may now contain prams, bikes or deliveries. A small change in daily use can affect whether escape routes remain safe.

Review triggers by property type

What should happen during a review

A review should compare the existing report with the current condition of the premises. The assessor should check whether the building still matches the description in the report, whether the previous findings are still valid and whether actions have been completed. If something has changed, the report should be updated so the responsible person has a current record.

The review should also look at records. Fire alarm testing, emergency lighting checks, fire extinguisher servicing, staff training, fire drills and contractor visits can all show whether fire safety is being managed properly. Missing records do not always mean the building is unsafe, but they can make it difficult to show that the premises are being looked after.

A useful review does not only repeat what was said before. It should identify what has improved, what still needs attention and what has changed since the previous visit. That gives the landlord, managing agent or business owner a clearer picture of where they stand.

When a full new assessment may be better than a review

Sometimes a review is enough. Sometimes the better option is a fresh fire risk assessment. This is usually the case when the building has changed significantly, the previous report is very old, the old report is poor quality or the person responsible has no confidence in the original assessment.

A full new assessment may be needed if the property has been refurbished, converted, extended or changed from one use to another. It may also be sensible where a new managing agent has taken over and inherited incomplete records, or where a landlord has bought a property without a reliable fire safety history.

The same applies when the previous report is too vague to use. If it does not explain the building clearly, does not show what areas were assessed or does not give a useful action plan, reviewing it may not solve the problem. Starting again with a proper assessment can be the cleaner route.

Fire risk assessment reviews for landlords

Landlords should review fire risk assessments whenever the property, tenants or shared areas change. In blocks of flats, the main concern is usually the communal parts. Staircases, corridors, entrances, shared cupboards, bin stores, plant rooms and escape routes all need to stay clear and suitable for the people using the building.

In HMOs, changes can happen often. Tenants move in and out, rooms may be used differently, fire doors can be damaged, alarms may need attention and shared areas can become cluttered. An old fire risk assessment may not pick up those changes if it has not been reviewed.

A landlord should also review the report before licence renewals, insurance checks or a property sale. Waiting until someone asks for the report can create pressure. Keeping it current gives the landlord more control and makes it easier to show what has been checked.

Fire risk assessment reviews for managing agents

Managing agents need fire risk assessment reviews that help them manage buildings, not reports that create more confusion. A clear review should show which old actions have been completed, which remain open and whether any new findings have been raised. It should also help the managing agent explain priorities to directors, freeholders or residents.

Portfolio work makes this even more important. A managing agent looking after several blocks or commercial buildings across towns such as Milton Keynes, Luton, Reading, Oxford, Aylesbury or Swindon needs consistency. If every report is written differently or lacks clear priority, the managing agent spends more time trying to interpret the findings.

A good review gives the managing agent a working record. It supports contractor instructions, budget discussions, resident communication and future planning. It also reduces the risk of the same action being carried forward year after year without being properly dealt with.

Fire risk assessment reviews for business owners

Business owners should review their fire risk assessment when the workplace changes. This may include new staff numbers, different working hours, new equipment, changes to storage, altered layouts, refurbishment or changes in how visitors use the premises.

For offices, one common issue is layout change. Desks move, meeting rooms are added, hybrid working changes occupancy and storage grows over time. For shops, changes to displays and stock can affect escape routes. For warehouses, racking, machinery and stock levels can change the risk quickly.

A review helps the business owner check whether the original assumptions still apply. It also gives staff clearer fire safety arrangements. If procedures, exits, alarms or assembly points have changed, the fire risk assessment and staff information should reflect that.

What happens if you do not review the assessment

If a fire risk assessment is not reviewed, the report can become out of date without anyone noticing. That can leave the responsible person relying on information that no longer matches the premises. It can also mean that old actions remain unresolved while new risks are missed.

The main issue is not the age of the paper. The issue is whether the building is being managed safely. A report that has not been reviewed after clear changes may not be suitable for the current premises. If there is a complaint, fire safety inspection, insurance enquiry or incident, the responsible person may struggle to show that the assessment was being kept up to date.

For property owners and managers, a review is a way of staying ahead of problems. It gives you a chance to catch issues early, update records and show that fire safety is being managed rather than ignored.

How ClearFire approaches reviews

ClearFire reviews fire risk assessments by looking at the current premises, not just the date on the old report. The assessor checks whether the previous findings still make sense, whether actions have been completed and whether changes to the building or its use have affected the level of risk.

The review is written so that the client can use it. A landlord needs to know what still needs action. A managing agent needs clear priorities. A business owner needs to understand whether staff, customers and visitors are properly protected. The report should help the person responsible make decisions without having to translate technical wording.

Jon and Kevin carry out the work themselves and deal directly with clients. That matters when a review raises questions. ClearFire is not a national call centre or a lead handling website. Clients deal with local assessors who understand the type of premises found across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

Book a fire risk assessment review with ClearFire

If your fire risk assessment is old, no longer matches the building or has not been reviewed since changes were made, it may be time to have it checked. A review can confirm whether the existing report is still suitable or whether a fresh assessment would be the better option.

ClearFire can review fire risk assessments for offices, blocks of flats, HMOs, commercial premises, shared buildings and local businesses across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. The aim is to give you a clear written record and a practical action plan. Contact ClearFire to request a quote for a fire risk assessment review.