Commercial Fire Risk Assessment Bedfordshire
A commercial fire risk assessment in Bedfordshire has to follow the premises: a town-centre shop or office in Bedford is a different building from a warehouse on a business park. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service covers Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton. This page is the online assessment for straightforward premises in that area.
Serving Bedford businesses in the area covered by Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. We are independent of the fire service.
Who needs a fire risk assessment in Bedford?
Shops, offices and other commercial premises
Employers and people in control of a shop, office, café or similar workplace in Bedford need a fire risk assessment of that premises. A straightforward single unit can use the online assessment.
Warehouses and business parks
Storage, racking and larger floor areas change the risk. A simple unit may still suit the online questions. A large or complex site is better served by an assessor visit.
HMO landlords in Bedford Borough
Bedford Borough Council has designated the whole borough for additional HMO licensing from 21 May 2023 until 20 May 2028. The council's pages say a mandatory licence is for five or more people sharing facilities, and an additional licence is for three or four. That designation is Bedford Borough's. It is not a statement about Central Bedfordshire or Luton.
Fire safety duties in Bedford
Fire safety duties in England
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to relevant premises in Bedford and the rest of Bedfordshire. The responsible person must ensure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, consider those at risk and implement appropriate precautions. It is a continuing duty, not a document bought once.
Local fire authority
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is the fire and rescue service for Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton. We are independent of the fire service and do not claim that it endorses or automatically accepts our reports.
Coordination and review
Where several employers or occupiers share a building, exchange relevant information and coordinate precautions. Review the assessment when the layout, use, occupancy or risk changes, after an incident, or when there is reason to believe it is no longer valid.
Book a fire risk assessor in Bedford
The assessor visit option is £250 + VAT (£300 total) and includes an on-site inspection and written report. Use it when you need professional help with the assessment rather than only an online questionnaire. Describe the premises and the scope you need before booking if there are unusual or complex risks. Availability and the appointment must be confirmed separately; the visit report is not delivered instantly on payment.
Areas covered in Bedford
The online assessment can be completed for premises in Bedford, including addresses in MK40, MK41 and MK42, and elsewhere in Bedford Borough where MK43 and MK44 are also used. It is the same UK-wide online service. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service also covers Central Bedfordshire and Luton, which have their own councils. For a site visit, confirm that the appointment and assessment scope cover your exact address before relying on a booking.
Bedford Borough licensing and where the service applies
Bedford Borough Council's additional HMO licensing designation covers the whole borough. It came into force on 21 May 2023 and, unless revoked, runs until 20 May 2028. The council's apply page distinguishes a mandatory licence (five or more people sharing) from an additional licence (three or four people sharing). Check that page for your property. This service has no Bedford office or local phone number.
Commercial premises across Bedford and the wider county still need their own fire risk assessment under the Fire Safety Order. The online questions suit a straightforward shop, office or similar unit. They are not a fire strategy report, and this service does not produce fire strategy reports.
Commercial premises in Bedford and Bedfordshire
Offices, shops, warehouses and workshops in Bedford are relevant premises under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The responsible person is usually the employer or the person in control of the premises.
The same online assessment is available for straightforward commercial premises elsewhere in Bedfordshire. Luton and Central Bedfordshire are different councils, so do not assume Bedford Borough's HMO licensing applies there. Confirm the fire service can attend your address before booking a visit.
Common Fire Risks in Bedford Properties
Bedford town centre has shops, offices and older buildings with flats above. The borough also has warehouses and business parks. Inspect the building you control and record what you find.
Shops with flats above
Check how the commercial and residential parts are separated and whether they share an escape route. Sleeping risk above a shop needs particular care.
Warehouses and logistics
Large storage areas, racking, packaging and battery charging can let fire spread quickly. Large or complex sites usually need an assessor visit.
Shared escape routes
Check whether your unit relies on another occupier's corridor, staircase or alarm system. Confirm who maintains shared precautions and how occupants are warned, and record unresolved issues rather than assuming another party has dealt with them.
Complete Your Bedford Fire Risk Assessment Online
- Inspect your premises and gather relevant maintenance, alarm and evacuation information before answering.
- Enter the property details and complete the guided assessment accurately. Seek competent advice where an answer is uncertain.
- After payment and completion, download the PDF. Review its findings and act on recommendations; the report does not itself remove hazards.
Simple, Transparent Pricing
Online DIY: £25 + VAT (£30 total). Flats: £45 + VAT (£54 total). HMO: £80 + VAT (£96 total). An assessor visit is fixed at £250 + VAT (£300 total); appointment arrangements are confirmed separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I carry out the assessment myself?
You may carry out your own assessment if you have the knowledge, experience and understanding of the premises needed to identify hazards, evaluate risks and decide appropriate precautions. Straightforward premises may suit a guided online assessment. If you are unsure about escape routes, fire separation, sleeping accommodation or complex risks, seek competent help. Completing a questionnaire alone does not establish legal compliance.
Will a fire service, insurer or solicitor accept my report?
We cannot guarantee acceptance by a fire and rescue service, insurer, landlord or solicitor. Ask the organisation requesting the assessment what scope and competence it requires, including whether an on-site visit is needed. A building's small size or location does not establish suitability or acceptance.
What does the online PDF include?
The online report records your answers, a calculated risk score, identified findings and prioritised recommendations. The usefulness of the report depends on accurate information about the actual premises. Check the findings, assign actions and keep evidence of the precautions and maintenance you put in place.
How much does it cost?
The standard online DIY assessment costs £25 + VAT (£30 total). The separate flats assessment is £45 + VAT (£54 total), and the HMO assessment is £80 + VAT (£96 total). The advertised assessor visit is a fixed £250 + VAT (£300 total). Choose the appropriate scope before paying; contact us if the premises or required assessment are unusual.
When will I receive the report?
For the online option, the PDF is available after payment and completion of the assessment. Allow enough time to inspect the premises and answer accurately; there is no promised assessment duration. An assessor visit requires an appointment and a subsequent written report, not an instant online PDF.
How do I arrange an assessment in Bedford?
Use the existing online form to enter your Bedford premises details and choose the appropriate assessment. If you need professional help, use the assessor booking page instead. Booking availability and the appointment must be confirmed separately. Please contact support before buying if you are unsure which route meets your needs.
Further Guidance and Help
Read the government guidance on fire risk assessments, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This is general guidance for relevant premises in England, not an assessment of your building or a guarantee of acceptance.
For questions about the online service, contact support. Browse service areas, see fire risk assessment prices or learn about fire risk assessment online.
How it works
Built around the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
- 1
Tell us about your premises
Enter the responsible person and property details.
- 2
Pay a fixed price securely
One-off payment by card, processed by Stripe.
- 3
Answer the guided questions
Work through fire hazards, detection, escape routes, equipment and management.
- 4
Get your PDF report
Your report is generated when you complete the assessment, ready to download.
What's included in your report
- Executive summary with an overall risk score and risk level
- Responsible person and property details
- Findings based on your answers
- Recommendations grouped by high, medium and low priority, each with an action
- Guidance on the responsible person's duties (Article 3 of the Fire Safety Order)
- When to review your assessment
Clear, fixed prices
- Online DIY assessment£25 + VAT (£30 inc. VAT)
- Flat assessment£45 + VAT (£54 inc. VAT)
- HMO assessment£80 + VAT (£96 inc. VAT)
- On-site assessor visit£250 + VAT (£300 inc. VAT)
Each price is a one-off payment for that assessment.
Legal basis: Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Fire Safety Act 2021 and Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022; Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 in Scotland.
Secure payment: card payments are processed by Stripe.
14-day cooling-off: full refund within 14 days if the assessment hasn't been started and the report hasn't been opened. See terms.
Common questions
Is an online fire risk assessment legally acceptable?
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires a suitable and sufficient assessment by the responsible person, not a particular format. The online tool helps you record it. For complex, larger or higher-risk premises, book an assessor visit instead.
Is this a certificate of compliance?
No. The report is based on the information you provide and is not a certificate of compliance. If you are unsure, an on-site assessor visit (£250 + VAT) may suit you better.
Are there any hidden costs?
No. Each price is a one-off fixed payment for that assessment, shown with and without VAT before you pay.
Can I get a refund?
For online and HMO assessments you can request a full refund within 14 days if the assessment hasn't been started and the report hasn't been opened. Assessor visits can be cancelled for a full refund up to 48 hours before the appointment. See our terms for details.
What about Scotland and Northern Ireland?
The Fire Safety Order applies in England and Wales. Scotland has its own legislation, the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, and our Scottish pages explain the differences.