What a fire risk assessment costs in Essex
The price depends mainly on the size of the premises, its type, whether people sleep there and how complex it is. Published figures vary widely, so we show them as stated, with their VAT basis. Requesting a quote is the way to get a figure for your own premises.
- Free to request, no obligation
- Independent assessors who work in Essex
- Figures sourced and dated
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What drives the price
Published prices depend on how big and how complicated a building is, what it is used for and whether anyone sleeps in it. Firms disagree widely, so a single average would mislead. Requesting a quote is the way to get a figure for your own premises.
The price pages we read show the same pattern. Business prices step up with the number of employees. One page quotes separate ranges for HMOs, residential blocks and commercial premises under 18 metres, and says taller buildings and higher-risk premises are quoted individually. Another says its range depends on size, complexity and function. One price list says HMOs, listed buildings and commercial premises may attract an agreed uplift.
When you ask for quotes, say how many floors the building has, how it is used, whether anyone sleeps there and how many flats or units there are. Ask whether the quote is for a new assessment or a review.
Published prices from assessors serving Essex
The figures below come from 6 UK firms, 4 with Essex-specific pages. They are not like for like: each row has its own scope and VAT basis, and some are guide ranges rather than prices. Treat them as context, and request quotes for your own premises.
The table groups figures by the premises type the page gives. No firm is named, and no row is an average. Where two rows overlap, they come from different pages.
| Premises type or scope | Price as stated | VAT basis | Scope | Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business premises, by headcount | ||||
| Up to 5 employees | From £199 (+ VAT) | Excluded | Essex page | 1 |
| Up to 20 employees | £349 (+ VAT) | Excluded | Essex page | 1 |
| Up to 50 employees | £549 (+ VAT) | Excluded | Essex page | 1 |
| 50 or more employees, or high risk | £849+ (+ VAT) | Excluded | Essex page | 1 |
| Commercial premises (offices, shops, restaurants) | ||||
| Commercial premises, price list | From £249 | Included | Southend page, Essex not named | 1 |
| Small commercial premises, standard, under 18 m | From £150 | Not stated | Guide | 1 |
| Commercial, under 18 m | £150 to £900 | Not stated | Guide | 1 |
| HMOs | ||||
| Small HMO, Type 1 scope | From £199 | Included | Southend page, Essex not named | 1 |
| HMO with intrusive sampling, Type 2 scope | From £299 | Included | Southend page, Essex not named | 1 |
| HMO, standard, under 18 m | £180 to £390 | Not stated | Guide | 1 |
| Residential | ||||
| Blocks of flats and single lets, under 18 m | £150 to £540 | Not stated | Guide | 1 |
| Premises type not specified | ||||
| Range not tied to a premises type | £300 to £1,000 | Not stated | Essex page | 1 |
| Range depends on size, complexity and function | Between £350 and over £1,000 | Not stated | Essex page | 1 |
| Product | Price as stated | VAT basis | Scope | Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online assessment, straightforward premises | Online from £25 + VAT | Excluded | Southend page, Essex not named | 1 |
How long does an assessment take?
We have no sourced figure for how long an assessment takes, so we do not give one. Duration depends on the size and complexity of the premises. Ask each assessor to state the length of the site visit and when you will receive the written report.
None of the price figures collected for this site state how long the visit or the report takes.
What you should get for the price
You should get a written record of the assessment: the hazards found, the people at risk, what is to be done about them and when it should next be reviewed. The record is a legal requirement for every assessment, so check it is included in the quote.
The sector's guide to choosing an assessor suggests agreeing the scope in writing and getting quotes for the same scope so that they can be compared. Ask what happens if the assessor finds something that needs further inspection, and whether any re-visit or review is included. Our page on checking an assessor's competence lists the other checks.
Costs for flats and for HMOs
Blocks of flats and HMOs are priced differently from shops and offices because people sleep there, and the assessment centres on the common parts. The published figures above include some for each. Our other pages explain what an assessment covers in each case.
For blocks, see fire risk assessments for blocks of flats, including the four assessment types. For rented property, see duties for landlords and HMO owners.
Frequently asked questions
These answers cover how to read the prices on this page and what to ask before you accept a quote. They are general guidance, not legal advice, and no figure here is an offer from this site or from any assessor, so always request a quote.
Are these prices quotes?
No. They are prices as stated on the published pages of the firms we looked at, collected on 26 October 2026, and each page may have changed since. A quote for your premises depends on its size, use and layout, so requesting one is the only way to get a figure that applies to you.
Do the prices include VAT?
It varies by row, so we show the VAT basis as each page states it. Some prices are stated as excluding VAT, one price list says its prices are inclusive of VAT, and for some the page does not say. Ask any assessor to confirm whether a quote includes VAT.
How long does an assessment take?
We do not have a sourced figure for this, so we do not give one. The time depends on the size and complexity of the premises. Ask each assessor how long the visit will take and when you will receive the written report, and compare that alongside price.
Is the cheapest figure the one to choose?
Not necessarily. Compare quotes for the same scope, agreed in writing, and check each assessor's competence, experience, insurance and complaints procedure. The sector's choosing-an-assessor guide suggests exactly that. A low online-only figure is a different product from a site visit.