In many cases, yes. But the exact duty depends on the type of property and which parts of the building the landlord controls.
In England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to workplaces and to the common parts of buildings containing two or more domestic premises. That means landlords and managing agents are commonly responsible for fire risk assessment duties in shared areas such as corridors, stairs, entrance halls, plant rooms, and other communal spaces. In blocks of flats and HMOs with common parts, the responsible person must carry out and keep under review a suitable fire risk assessment and maintain appropriate fire precautions.
For private rented homes in England, landlords also have separate duties on smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. At least one smoke alarm is required on every storey used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm is required in any room used as living accommodation containing a fixed combustion appliance, excluding gas cookers. Landlords must also make sure alarms are working at the start of a new tenancy and repair or replace faulty alarms once informed.
Last Updated: 2026
Reviewed By: London Safety Certificate Compliance Team
Key Takeaways
- Landlords must perform regular inspections to identify and mitigate potential fire hazards in the property.
- Installation and maintenance of smoke detectors in required areas are mandatory.
- Clear, accessible emergency evacuation plans must be tailored to the property and communicated to tenants.
- Fire safety protocols, including equipment usage and risks, must be clearly explained to all tenants.
- All fire risk assessments and safety measures should be documented for legal compliance.
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Landlord Obligations Fire Risk Assessment
A landlord’s fire risk assessment obligations are strongest where they are the responsible person for the parts of the building covered by fire safety law.
That usually means responsibility for:
- common parts of blocks of flats
- shared areas in HMOs
- mixed-use buildings with residential and commercial elements
- non-domestic parts of a property
- communal escape routes and fire doors
- shared fire alarm, emergency lighting, and other common fire precautions
Where those duties apply, the landlord or person in control must identify fire hazards, assess the risk to relevant persons, put suitable precautions in place, and review the assessment when needed. The Fire Safety Act and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 also strengthened duties around flat entrance doors, external walls, and additional measures in certain multi-occupied residential buildings, with extra duties for high-rise buildings and buildings over 11 metres.
When a Landlord Will Usually Need a Fire Risk Assessment
The simplest way to understand the issue is to separate single private dwellings from buildings with shared or common parts.
| Property type | Is a fire risk assessment usually needed? | Main reason |
|---|---|---|
| Block of flats with common parts | Yes | Common parts fall under fire safety law |
| HMO with shared areas | Yes | Shared escape routes and communal areas require assessment |
| Mixed-use building | Yes | Common and non-domestic areas require assessment |
| High-rise or taller multi-occupied residential building | Yes, with added duties | Additional legal requirements apply |
| Single self-contained house or flat with no common parts | Not usually under the Fire Safety Order in the same way | Other housing and alarm duties still apply |
That is why the answer to “do landlords need a fire risk assessment?” is not always a flat yes or no. The key issue is the building layout, the presence of common parts, and whether the landlord is the responsible person for those areas.
What a Landlord Fire Risk Assessment Should Cover
A landlord fire risk assessment should focus on the actual risks in the building, not just a generic checklist.
In practical terms, it should review matters such as:
- sources of ignition
- combustible materials and storage
- condition of escape routes
- fire doors and self-closing devices
- emergency lighting where required
- alarm and detection systems
- compartmentation and fire stopping where relevant
- housekeeping in communal areas
- information provided to residents
- maintenance arrangements and review dates
For blocks of flats and similar buildings, the assessment should be centred on the common parts and the measures that help people detect fire, escape safely, and limit fire spread. In some buildings, especially taller or more complex residential buildings, additional checks and legal duties apply. For the wider assessment process, see what is a fire risk assessment.
Landlord Fire Safety Obligations Beyond the Assessment
A fire risk assessment is not the only landlord fire safety duty.
Landlords may also need to make sure that:
- smoke alarms are installed correctly
- carbon monoxide alarms are installed where required
- communal escape routes are kept clear
- fire doors are maintained
- residents receive relevant fire safety information
- changes to the building are reflected in the fire risk assessment
- defects found during inspections are put right promptly
The legal duty is not just to produce a document. It is to manage fire risk properly and keep precautions effective. A weak, outdated, or generic assessment will not help if the building is unsafe in practice. For the wider legal framework, see what is the legal requirement for fire risk assessments.
Do Landlords Need a Fire Risk Assessment in London?
For landlords in London, the same legal principles apply, but the issue is often more urgent because of the building stock, conversions, mixed-use premises, and the number of rented flats with shared access arrangements.
London Fire Brigade states that landlords must make sure there is a comprehensive fire risk assessment detailing the fire safety provisions in the property, and its landlord guidance places clear emphasis on common parts, smoke detection, evacuation arrangements, and resident information.
That means landlords in London should not treat fire risk assessment as an optional extra or a one-off document. It should be part of active property management.
Landlord Fire Risk Assessment Checklist
A practical landlord fire safety checklist should include the following points:
- confirm whether the building has common parts or shared escape routes
- identify who the responsible person is
- review the latest fire risk assessment
- check that alarms are installed and functioning
- inspect fire doors, communal lighting, and escape routes
- remove combustible storage from common areas
- check that residents have the necessary fire safety information
- record defects and arrange remedial works
- review the assessment after significant changes
This is not a substitute for a proper assessment, but it is a sensible management checklist for ongoing compliance. For the core assessment process, see fire risk assessment must cover the following steps.
Can a Landlord Use a Fire Risk Assessment Template?
A template can help with structure, but it should never replace a suitable and sufficient assessment of the actual building.
One of the biggest mistakes landlords make is relying on a copied template that does not reflect the layout, occupancy, common parts, fire doors, alarm arrangements, or fire risks in the property. A useful landlord fire risk assessment template is one that helps record the real findings for the real building. It should not be treated as a shortcut.
What Happens If a Landlord Does Not Comply?
If a landlord or responsible person fails to meet fire safety duties, the consequences can include enforcement action, prosecution, fines, insurance problems, and serious reputational damage. More importantly, poor fire safety management can put residents at real risk.
That is why landlord fire risk assessment obligations should be treated as a core compliance issue, not a paperwork exercise. Fire safety law is there to reduce the chance of injury, death, and major property loss.
Final Answer
Landlords often do need a fire risk assessment, especially where they control the common parts of a block of flats, HMO, or other multi-occupied residential building. In England and Wales, the Fire Safety Order applies to those common parts, and the responsible person must assess the fire risk and maintain suitable precautions. In England, landlords also have separate duties for smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms in rented homes.
So if the question is whether landlords have to provide a fire risk assessment, the safest professional answer is this: if you are responsible for common parts or shared areas, you should expect to need one, and it should be suitable, specific, and kept under review. For the different types and scope of fire risk assessment, see fire risk assessment types.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do landlords need a fire risk assessment?
Often yes, especially where they are responsible for the common parts of blocks of flats, HMOs, or other multi-occupied residential buildings.
Is a landlord fire risk assessment a legal requirement?
For common parts covered by the Fire Safety Order, yes. The responsible person must carry out and review a suitable fire risk assessment.
Do private rented landlords need smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms?
In England, landlords must install at least one smoke alarm on each storey used as living accommodation and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room used as living accommodation containing a fixed combustion appliance, excluding gas cookers.
Do landlords need a fire risk assessment in London?
The same legal principles apply in London, and London Fire Brigade guidance makes clear that landlords should ensure there is a comprehensive fire risk assessment for relevant properties.
Can a landlord use a fire risk assessment template?
A template can help with structure, but it should not replace a building-specific assessment.
What should a landlord fire risk assessment include?
It should assess fire hazards, escape routes, alarm arrangements, fire doors, communal areas, combustible storage, and the precautions needed to keep relevant persons safe.