Fire Risk Assessment Manchester
Manchester has converted mills and warehouses, city-centre offices, shops and mixed-use buildings. A fire risk assessment needs to reflect the actual layout and use of your premises, rather than assuming that a Manchester address or a particular building size makes an online assessment suitable.
Serving Manchester businesses in the area covered by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. We are independent of the fire service.
Who needs a fire risk assessment in Manchester?
Landlords of shared houses and HMOs
If you let a house to sharers, such as students in Fallowfield or young professionals near the city centre, the shared hallway, stairs and kitchen are covered by the Fire Safety Order. Assess the escape route, fire doors, alarms and what tenants keep in common areas. Manchester City Council licenses large HMOs (five or more people forming two or more households). The council says it does not currently run additional HMO licensing. Selective licensing applies only in designated areas, so check the street on the council's list.
Freeholders and agents of flats
Manchester has many apartment blocks and mills converted to flats. The responsible person, usually the freeholder or managing agent, must assess the common parts. Since the Fire Safety Act 2021 that includes the structure, external walls such as cladding and balconies, and flat entrance doors.
Shops, offices and small businesses
Cafés, salons, gyms, offices, workshops and shops all need a fire risk assessment, whether you own or rent the unit. Since 1 October 2023 the whole assessment, including all findings, and your fire safety arrangements must be recorded in writing, whatever the size of the business.
Bars, restaurants and venues
Venues around Deansgate, the Northern Quarter and the Village often combine basements, commercial kitchens and large numbers of visitors late at night. Keep the assessment current after refits, layout changes or new activities such as live events, and make sure staff know the evacuation plan.
Fire safety duties in Manchester
Who is responsible?
For relevant premises in England, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person to ensure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is carried out. The assessment must consider people who may be affected, record significant findings and lead to action on the risks identified.
Local fire authority
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is the local fire and rescue service. Its guidance can help you understand your responsibilities, but this service is independent: a report bought here is not endorsed or automatically accepted by the fire service, an insurer or a solicitor.
Shared buildings
A shop or office in a shared building may depend on communal corridors, stairs, alarms and fire doors. Coordinate with the landlord and other occupiers. Do not assume that an assessment of your unit also assesses every common part or the whole building.
Book a fire risk assessor in Manchester
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 Manchester
The online service is available for premises across Manchester, including the city centre, Ancoats, the Northern Quarter, Spinningfields and suburbs such as Fallowfield, Withington and Didsbury, where many houses are let to sharers. It can also be used elsewhere in Greater Manchester, from Salford and Trafford to Stockport, Bolton and Oldham, all covered by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. For a site visit, confirm that the appointment and assessment scope cover your exact address before relying on a booking.
Manchester fire authority, council licensing and postcodes
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is the fire and rescue service for Manchester and the other nine Greater Manchester boroughs. This online service is independent of the fire service. There is no local office, phone line or assessor based in Manchester to list here.
Manchester City Council's HMO page says a licence is required for a privately rented HMO occupied by five or more people forming two or more households who share facilities, and that the council does not currently have an additional licensing scheme. Selective licensing applies to privately rented homes in designated areas only. Schemes that started in 2022 and 2023 are still listed, and a further set of areas was designated from 24 May 2025 to 23 May 2030, including parts of Cheetham, Crumpsall, Harpurhey, Longsight, Miles Platting and Newton Heath, and Moss Side. The council page lists the streets. A postcode is not enough to decide.
Manchester addresses commonly use M postcodes, including M1 to M4 in the city centre. Some M postcodes belong to neighbouring boroughs such as Salford and Trafford. Those boroughs are still covered by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, but licensing follows the council for the address. The online assessment can be used for premises in Manchester. It is the same UK-wide service.
Commercial, industrial and factory premises in Manchester
Offices, shops, warehouses, workshops and factories are all relevant premises under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The responsible person, usually the employer or the person in control of the premises, must make sure the fire risk assessment reflects the work actually carried out there.
For factories and industrial units, look beyond the building itself: processes involving heat, dust, flammable liquids or gases, battery charging, waste and packaging storage, and out-of-hours working all change the risk. Where dangerous substances are present, the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) may also apply and need specialist input.
A straightforward single-occupancy office or shop may suit the online assessment from £25 + VAT. Larger warehouses, multi-storey mills, sites with hazardous processes or premises with sleeping accommodation are better served by an assessor visit (£250 + VAT) so that someone competent can inspect the building and its systems.
Common Fire Risks in Manchester Properties
From Ancoats and the Northern Quarter to modern commercial developments, Manchester premises can have very different escape routes and construction. Inspect the building and record what you find. An online questionnaire is a way to document your assessment, not a substitute for understanding the premises or obtaining specialist advice.
Converted mills and warehouses
Changes of use can leave complex layouts, hidden voids or uncertainty about compartmentation. Where you cannot establish the condition or performance of construction, obtain competent specialist advice instead of guessing answers.
Mixed-use premises
Check how commercial activities interact with sleeping accommodation or neighbouring occupiers. Consider shared escape routes, kitchen and electrical ignition sources, storage and the arrangements for alerting everyone who may be affected.
Managing escape routes
Walk the actual routes used by staff and visitors. Check that exits are available while the premises are occupied, storage does not obstruct the route, and evacuation arrangements account for people who may need assistance.
Complete Your Manchester 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 Manchester?
Use the existing online form to enter your Manchester 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.
Do the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 apply to my Manchester block of flats?
They apply to multi-occupied residential buildings in England with two or more sets of domestic premises. In every such building the responsible person must give residents fire safety instructions and information about fire doors. Where the building is over 11 metres high, communal fire doors must be checked quarterly and flat entrance doors annually, with further duties for buildings of at least 18 metres or seven storeys.
Does a small Manchester shop or office need a written fire risk assessment?
Yes. Since 1 October 2023 every responsible person in England must record the fire risk assessment in full, with its findings and the fire safety arrangements, regardless of how many people they employ. The record should also show who carried out the assessment.
Do factories and warehouses in Manchester need a fire risk assessment?
Yes. Factories, warehouses and industrial units are relevant premises under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, so the responsible person must ensure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is in place. Premises with hazardous processes, dangerous substances or complex construction usually need a competent assessor rather than a self-completed questionnaire.
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.